Rakkhi Bahini
Sheikh Mujib was never fond of the military. Its leaders, particularly then Major Ziaur Rahman, took the lead in the liberation war, in absence of any political direction. In addition, Zia had the 'audacity' to announce independence; an honor reserved for him alone, and stole the show. So, Rakkhi Bahini, under the direct command and control of Mujib, was created to contain the military dominance. In affect, the Rakkhi Bahini became a torture tool for the political opponents of Sheikh Mujib and AL. Stories of its atrocities are abound and used to be cited to quell the unruly children. In addition, there were Lal Bahini, Sabuj Bahini, Mujib Bahini, Awami Sechha Sebak Bahini etc geared to quell the 'unruly' people. According to ASM Abdur Rab of JSD, some 40 thousand of his cadres were killed by these bahinis. The late Enayetullah Khan of Holiday, put the total death figure at 35 thousand. Mujib himself bragged in the parliament about the killing of Siraj Sikdar, a left leader.
Man-Made Famine
The famine that followed the floods, coupled with administrative corruption of the highest order, killed nearly half a million people in 1974/75. Local and international observers termed the famine man-made because there was no dearth of relief materials which were either selectively distributed for political purpose or sold in the black markets, locally and across the border. Please turn pages of any local and international papers of the time to ascertain facts. Then US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger termed Bangladesh as a "bottomless basket".
Whereas, around the same time, Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal were married in royal style and with unprecedented fanfare at Gonobhaban.
Emergency
In December 1974, emergency was clamped. All fundamental rights were suspended, all but 4 government owned newspapers were closed and political activities were totally banned. Anyone not towing the Awami line, was either eliminated or jailed.
4th Amendment
In January 1975, Sheikh Mujib declared himself president, amassing all powers and state control in his hands. There was hardly any debate in the floor of the parliament and none was allowed to challenge the passage of the 4th Amendment within 20 minutes, changing the administration from parliamentary to presidential system, as well as making Sheikh Mujib the Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation and the President. Poor Mohammad Ullah was shown the exit gate of the Bangabhaban unceremoniously.
One Party BAKSAL
In March 1975, BAKSAL—Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League— was created on a Soviet one party style. All other political parties were banned. For the first time, military and bureaucracy could join a political party–the BAKSAL, making these state organs part of politics.
These are no inventions. Ask your elders, go to the newspaper archives and ascertain the true facts. Do not just buy the stories told to you by the blind followers of Sheikh Mujib.
A ONE-PARTY DICTATORSHIP surrounding Sheikh Mujib was established. People were groaning under that suffocating situation and were looking for an alternative.
Alternative to Change Government
Was there an alternative to change the government or leadership? Constitutional way– impeachment: that is vote of no confidence in the parliament. Not possible in an Awami-Baksali controlled rubber stamp parliament. By elections– under the situation, Sheikh Mujib looked destined to rule for perpetuity. Reportedly, the Chatra League was to make a proposal to make Mujib the life-long president at its national convention on August 15, 1975. It was a matter of formality then after.
Only alternative to change the government was an extra constitutional one. The silent majority looked forward to the military. So, the patriotic and democratic elements of the military came forward to bail the nation out. They took initiative on March 26, 1971, they did it again on August 15, 1975.
It was unfortunate, however, that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and some of his family members and relations died in the short military action on August 15, 1975. The post coup reaction among the general public was known to all. It was like the victory day, a day of deliverance. Please go to the archives of any local newspapers and dig out the pages of August 16, 1975 and following dates, and see for yourselves the facts. A local commentator once put it like this: to prevent killing of thousands, a death of 22 is insignificant.
Coup or Killing?
Was the death of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others on August 15, 1975 a murder? It was a military coup and some persons from both sides died during the action. I am not aware if the deaths were intended or circumstantial. The coup leaders and planners perhaps can answer that question. Nobody for 21 years raised any question about the coup.
Chiefs of army, navy, ariforce, Bangladesh Rifles, police and even Rakkhi Bahini rushed to the new president and made public announcements of their support, allegiance and loyalty to the new administration.
Notably, the new cabinet was composed entirely of the AL elected representatives; and none of the coup leaders were seen in any leadership position.
It is ludicrous to hear some of those military chiefs now saying that they were forced to do so. What happened to the huge forces under their respective commands? Why couldn't they just move immediately and crush the handful men that staged the coup? One does not need a rocket science degree to understand that it means either i) the coup had their silent blessings or ii) the troops deserted them and aligned with the August Revolution.
Since 1996, Sheikh Hasina and her followers have been telling the nation and the world that Sheikh Mujib and others were 'murdered' on August 15, 1975 and needed to be punished. Yes, any killing needs to be punished. I believe killing does not solve any problem, rather it aggravates the issue. But, August 15 was not a killing mission, it was a successful military coup, a revolution that saved the nation from an imminent catastrophe. The new generations need to know that.
Travel Back to 1974/75
We are living in 2009, in a rather democratic and reasonably peaceful environment, in a kind of affluent and better social order. Bangladesh was very different during the "Golden Period" of Sheikh Mujib. As such, looking at things of 3 decades past at the present perspective would be wrong.
To understand August 15, one needs to travel back in time to the early 70s of Bangladesh. One needs to visualize the scenario that prevailed in the country then. One needs to question the following:
• Why half a million people had to die for want of food, shelter and clothing in 1974/75 when cash donations were aplenty and warehouses of AL leaders were full of relief materials?
• Why emergency had to be clamped in 1974, suspending fundamental rights and freedom, banning political activities, restricting press freedom?
• Why no opposition was tolerated then?
• Why thousands of innocents died under the heavy hands of Rakkhi Bahini and other Baksali forces in 1972-75?
• Why the common people suffered under the one man, one-party dictatorship?
If Hasina and the AL can answer these questions to the satisfaction of the Bangladeshis, and the Bangladeshis are convinced that August 15, 1975 was a "murder", not a coup, not a revolution, and then I should say the murderers should be punished.
A Caution
If Hasina hangs these saviors to satisfy her personal ego or, as she said recently in London, "what am I going to respond to my late father for my unfinished tasks", perhaps hinting at the execution of the August revolutionary leaders, it would be very unfortunate for the nation. The nation will in turn torment itself for the rest of its history for its ungratefulness to the "Surja Santans" that saved it.
Hasina should not be allowed to follow her "Hidden Agenda", side-stepping the mandate the new generations gave her.
R Chowdhury