Nadeem Qadir
The appointment of this war criminal as a minister was a slap in the face of the martyrs and their families
Photo- Syed Zakir Hossain
In sentencing Jamaat-e-Islami leader Matiur Rahman Nizami, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 categorically said the appointment of this convicted war criminal as a government minister was a slap in the face of the martyrs and their families. It said it was a great blunder on the part of the then government to make such a move.
The court said in its verdict: “It is very hard to believe that a person who actively opposed the very Liberation War of Bangladesh was appointed as a minister of the republic … and as such, this shameful act was disgraceful for the nation as a whole.”
The court’s reference is to the appointment of Nizami and his cohort Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed as ministers holding important portfolios during the 2001-2006 government led by Begum Khaleda Zia. The appointments were apparently made on electoral understanding. But is power worth slapping the martyrs and their families for? Or was it just a continuation of the process of Pakistanisation of Bangladesh started by General Ziaur Rahman, and also followed to some extent by General Hussein Muhammad Ershad.
The process started by General Zia is a mystery. How could a man, who himself was a valiant freedom fighter, indulge in rehabilitating anti-Bangladesh elements and war criminals, and why would he be more inclined towards Pakistan?
It is true Pakistan and Bangladesh enjoy warmer ties when BNP is in power because BNP hardly refers to these issues of importance for the Bengali nation.
Pakistan’s home minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali, expressed concern over Nizami’s death sentence, while that country’s Jamaat-e-Islami organised a janaza after war criminal Ghulam Azam’s death. Nisar Ali said he believed that Bangladesh had “misused” the process of law as a “political tool against the Jamaat leader.” Birds of the same feather? That only proves that Pakistan is still unrepentant, like the Razakars, on the issue of the genocide in 1971.
We have not forgotten the comments of one Pakistani high commissioner during Sheikh Hasina’s first stint in office from 1996. He was declared persona non grata.
Returning to Ziaur Rahman, one can question the number of coups during his time and his grisly death in 1981. On one hand, he patronised anti-liberation and pro-Pakistani elements, and on the other, a large number of freedom fighters were hanged, and that includes Colonel Abu Taher of the left wing JSD.
Then comes Ershad, who followed suit by choosing culprits like Maulana MA Mannan who was saved by natural death. However, Ershad also built monuments dedicated to the Liberation War, including one in Meherpur where the Mujibnagar government in exile took oath on April 17, 1971. Lesser crime? No, but he had some respect for the martyrs.
Enter Begum Khaleda Zia – Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister. From 1991 to 1995, she was learning, but the loss in 1996 to her bitter rival Sheikh Hasina made her close her eyes to everything except power. Thus entered the great alliance of BNP and Jamaat in the 2001 polls.
There were a lot of rumours that Razakars and Pakistani army cohorts of 1971 would be inducted in the cabinet. But again, is it possible? Would the wife of a freedom fighter compromise everything for power?
The big day of oath-taking came. I was among those in the darbar hall of Bangabhaban, the president’s residence. Names were being announced of full ministers. Then came the harrowing news: Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujaheed were appointed.
Tears came to my eyes and my anger was possibly visible as one of my father’s former army colleagues-turned-politician told me: “Be a journalist, don’t be emotional.” I did my duty as a journalist and filed my story amid great pain. I was wondering what my martyred father and late mother were thinking from up there somewhere. Is this a return to Pakistan?
I also saw how the Bangladesh flag was disrespected, as these two war criminals had our flag fluttering on their vehicles, along with police escorts.
BNP says people are fed-up with the AL, but they forget they salute Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister, for having such courage and determination to bring these criminals to justice. Before saying that it is time, the BNP and its leadership should apologise to the nation for their crimes by appointing such elements as ministers, and the ICT’s judgment is only an indication towards that end. BNP must apologise, or it should abandon its thought of being voted to power. Ignoring the war is negating Bangladesh.
I would like to quote Mahfuz Anam from his commentary published in The Daily Star: “Totally overshadowing everything else, AL’s stance on war crimes trial and the steadfastness of Sheikh Hasina in making it a reality are unique examples of courage and commitment to the memory of our martyrs.”
To Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we can never repay you for what you have done for the martyrs and their families. Salute.
I need not say anything more, but will wait for BNP to wake up to the reality that it has to seek forgiveness before it is too late.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
Expressions of a not-so-mature journalist, and not a statesmen! However, the journalist has an duty and obligation of study history for he has the media to inform public! Read the history of US president Abraham Lincoln’s treatment of Gen. Lee; Gandhi and Nehru’s treatment and overtures to the British; Nelson Mandela’s treatment of his tormentors during apartheid, Vietnam’s relationship with the US, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s treatise and friendship towards Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Policies on Nation Building cannot be based on childish emotion, but far-sighted statesmanship as displayed in the foregoing examples. Can you deal with China, US, Saudi Arabia if one’s whole relationship should be based on past and hatred!! This one single quality that’s lacking in BD, i.e., look at the future and big picture, and don’t get bogged down by past!!