by Mridul Chowdhury
Published in the Daily Star on April 22nd, 2007
http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/04/22/d704221502118.htm
I have so many questions to those in control of the country that I do not know where to begin. The initial euphoria that began when this the caretaker government (CTG) led by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed took over reached a climax when Tarique Rahman was arrested, but has ever since gradually transformed into a feeling of restless discomfort and uncertainty. The recent steps of the CTG to put into exile the leaders of the two major parties revive the nagging doubt about the real motivation of the government and also brings into question how much independence this CTG really has in terms of decision-making.
One cannot but wonder about the curious timing of the charges against Sheikh Hasina and Tarique Rahman's brother combined with direct and indirect threats to ensure the exile of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia (along with their families) and ask why these are necessary. The government with support from the military has clearly been in total control of the country's political space. Many of the leaders from both parties are in jail. The ban on indoor politics is maintained without much resistance. Under these circumstances, is it justified to send these leaders to exile on the grounds that they may cause undue political and social unrest? If they do, the government clearly has enough strength and control to counter it -- what is the point of sending these leaders to exile?
There is a difference between rooting out corrupt elements from the political parties and rooting out political parties altogether and right now the CTG is walking along the thin line that distinguishes the two. If the motivation of this CTG is to re-establish democracy, shouldn't they be concentrating more on strengthening the democratic institutions, the judiciary and the anti-corruption commission instead of going to great lengths to forcibly send leaders to exile.
I am not saying that the country will lose much without leaders like Sheikh Hasina or Khaleda Zia since it may well be argued that they have possibly collectively done more harm to the country than good over the years. But it should be left to the people's mandate to decide whether to accept or reject them and to the legal system to decide their fate -- not unanimous and uncontested decision by the government to keep them out of the country.
Also, why are the trials of the thousands in jail taking so long? This unexplained delay in their trials is beginning to bring into question whether the CTG really wants to put them through a fair trial or just keep them out of politics for the time being and then free them when the time is right and their allegiance is aligned with the powers that behold.
Another nagging question is why are the leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party relatively untouched? Have the leaders of those parties not done anything to deserve exile or jail? This selective punishment by the CTG also arises curiosities that have no clear responses.
The feeling of uncertainty is compounded by the army chief's proclamation of the need for a "new kind of democracy" and then falling short of clarifying what he exactly means. The citizens of this country are indebted to the army for stepping up in a crucial moment and leading the drive against corruption. But when the army steps out of its boundaries and starts defining the political system of a country, there is adequate reason to worry.
I sincerely hope that these worries and curiosities will prove to be unjustified in the long run and that the CTG in collaboration with the army will make way for democracy to flourish so that the existing parties can re-define their priorities and leadership, the emerging parties such as Nagorik Shakti can make a headway as an alternative political platform, and the new generation can participate in clean and honest politics of reform rather than destruction.
For now, my one source of comfort and hope is that I am able to write my thoughts in a newspaper. A corner of my mind still dreads the day that this government will "put the press to exile" too by saying that the press is contributing to political unrest. If the CTG ends up doing that, no amount of justification will be able to convince me that the CTG is not just "new wine in old bottle."
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7 comments:
What about general people of Bangladesh who are in Bangladesh are thinking in this regard? What are the political leaders thinking? Why no leader of AL/BNP is vocal about the exile of their leaders? Are they so unpopular within their own parties? Or is it a fear of army? Or harassment? Or they are thinking of their own fate? I want an explanation from them as well.
I thank Mridul for his timely article and also agree with him that we need an explanation from CG why are they taking such steps? And why are they still not putting corrupt people in trail?
Tahmina
Mridul could write the untold concerns of the citizens of Bangladesh who simultaneously understand rule of law, democracy and politics, and at the same time speaks for a prosperous and a livable Bangladesh.
Bravo Mridul! Carry on.
How many martial law we need before we call it a rogue
Bangalee is a rare nation which feels euphoric when calamity like 'martial law' or 'emergency' anoints upon her. Again, soon eulogy turns into agony, optimism turns into despair, and national hero reduces to zero - anything is possible and visible in capricious history of Bangladesh where truth can be hardly differentiated from the false. If we consider Bangladesh Army as clone of patriarch Pakistan, how contradictory it is with the eulogy often heard in the mass media these days portraying our army as true flag bearer of our liberation war and saviour of the nation in critical juncture of history.
Direct and visible participation of army in our politics started on August 15, 1975. Ziaur Rahman spearheaded that campaign. Dissecting ethics from politics and turning it as a saleable commodity was his only achievement. When the killers of women and children were medalled as national hero by him, he has been recognized as hero at par with Mujib and Bhashani in our history. The next hero of martial law is Hussain Ershad , unlike his ruthless guru General Zia, he was an acclaimed debonair and a poet in his own right. He has successfully completed the incomplete historical task bestowed upon him by his martyr guru to turn secular Bangladesh into a fundamentalist state. Yet Ershad,s position in the history is not at par with his guru, because his image was not of a blood-thirsty warrior, rather a Lt. General poet with extraordinary taming skill of the shrew. He is still alive but his guru has got martyrdom. The third advent of martial law (civil version) took place, amid much funfair and upsurge of national optimism, on January 11, 2007 under the command of General Moin, a World Bank cadre Fakruddin in the forefront as dummy and two photo-phobic demagogue General Matin and Barrister Mainul as civilian stooges. This martial law is evangelized with only agenda to uproot corruption from every sphere of nation. A day after the promulgation of emergency, none other than Tofael Ahmed, a name synonymous with the history of our independence, gave an interview to BBC in a trembling emotion choked voice eulogizing this clique as saviour of our nation. I was numbed. . Only three months have passed since. Mr. Tofael Ahmed, our political leader of unparallel stature – is your eulogy too soon turning into haunting nightmare! I wonder.
First political stunt of the bossman was to decry the nation for failing to recognize father of the nation. Quickly pro-liberation friend of mine sent a brief message bitterly denouncing my scepticism about the current affairs in the country. Second bombshell was photo collage of national heroes at parade ground on Independence Day. I considered it as the funeral of our history when a formerly communist editor of a prestigious Bengali daily dubbed it as true portrait of our history. My friends of hope remained silent. Recently from a podium shared with Dr. Zillur Rahman Khan, General Moin has hinted of a special recipe of democracy to cure the ills of our nation. Now, the series of events; Hasina in exile, to be followed by Khaleda anytime soon and government’s denial of involvement, arrest and release of Koko, etc. has sent a clear message across the nation about the uncertainty of our future. In fact, from Tareq to Mayor Mahiuddin, under the pretext of house cleaning thousands detained for political strategy and soon will be used as pawns on political chess game.To substantiate this claim look at Pakistan, our patriarch of martial law.
@ Manirul Bhai
How can one say that East Bengalis rejoiced at martial law...jekhane gonotontro nai, sheykhane jonogoner swotosphurto shomnorthon, pothe ghate manush anonde nachche, eshob kothar ki kono mane ache, promanjogyota ache?
Jonomotamot prokasher ekmatro poth holo gonotantrik podhyoti, kagojer column ba anondito manusher chhobi ba parar chayer dokane anondito lokjon na.
Mridul, btw, this is Garga
Thanks Mridul for your article.I am very happy to see that still there are people who can think like you.Yeah i am agree with you.Every wrongdoer should face trial in his/her own country.But
no conspiracy.CTG should not be a
doll for anybody's purpose.
Great work.
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