Rogue governance annoying BangladeshSalah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
During electoral campaign of December 29, 2008 general election in Bangladesh, president of Bangladesh Awami League and daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – the founding father of the nation, Sheikh Hasina made series of promises to the voters of starting a journey of chanting time. This was the main theme of her electoral manifesto titled 'Vision 2021' with the loud promise of transforming yet backward Bangladesh into a digital nation. Most surely, almost ninety per cent of the 150 million population of the country failed to even understand the mere meaning of 'Digital Bangladesh'. To them, this is a kind of very alien word if not only a few numbers imagining the country where everything would be done just by pushing the button of remote control. When Sheikh Hasina's party won landslide victory, they promised to show certain significant result to the nation just in first 100 days. By now, that '100 days' are already over. This is the fifth month of governance of Sheikh Hasina government. What differences people have so far witnessed in this country? Violence in almost all the campuses by the student wing activist of the ruling party causing closure of many educational institutions? Beating of journalists by the MPs of the ruling party? Assault on the religious minorities? Worst ever law and order situation? Rise of Islamist militancy where even Al Qaeda gave threats to a number of foreign missions? Anger in the minds of business community at the huge rise in extortion? Daily murders and rapes? Grabbing of properties by the members of the ruling party? Turning national broadcast media into mere family property of Bangabandhu family? Lauding family dynasty in politics? What? And what not? According to codes of political science, today's Bangladesh is under the rogue governance of a particular political party, whose majority of leaders are known corrupts and even aligned with various forms of evil activities. Now, the biggest ever challenge in front of the present government are two. One is of course, the probe report on February 25-26 massacre, where dozens of army officers were killed and large number of female members of the officers abused. And the second challenge is the ongoing investigation on the 10-truck arms case, which possibly is going right against the National Security Intelligence [NSI].. Prestigious daily in United States, New York Times [NYT] published a commentary by its correspondent Somini Sen Gupta on March 13, 2009 titled, Bangladeshi Premier Faces a Grim Crucible, where she, while commenting on the forthcoming result of the 3 investigation teams to probe the February 25-26 massacre inside Bangladesh Riffles headquarters said, "The truth of what happened may never be known." NYT commenting on the present relations between the government and armed forces said, "Today, about two months into her tenure as prime minister of this fractious, poor and coup-prone country, she confronts her greatest crucible yet: an unusually savage mutiny by border guards last month that left soldiers buried in mass graves and widened the gulf between her fragile administration and the military. Altogether, 74 people were killed, mostly army officers in command of the border force." Commenting on the two investigation committees formed so far, the New York Times said, "Two separate investigations are under way: one by the army, another by Mrs. Hasina´s government. Whether either will yield credible results or whether their findings will be consistent is unknown. Mrs. Hasina´s fate and the stability of the country depend on a satisfactory resolution." Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in an interview termed the February massacre as an attempt against her agenda establishing secular democracy in the Muslim majority nation of 150 million. Here we may rewind our memory to the fact of signing of a treaty between Bangladesh Awami League and Islamist party named Khelafat Majlish on December 23, 2007. Let us see the contents of the treaty:"Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish committing to this agreement on following 5 points for jointly participating in the ensuing 9th National Parliamentary Election, and if Allah the Great blesses victory shall implement these points. No law shall be enacted contrary to the Quran, Sunnah and Shariah. Government Recognition to Quaumi Madrasa [Koranic Madrassa] Certificate will be duly implemented. Laws will be enacted as follows: Hazrat Muhammad [PBUH] is the Last and the Greatest Messenger of Allah. Certified Righteous Ulemas reserve the right to issue Fatwa. One who is not certified shall not have the right to issue Fatwa. Defamation or criticism of Messengers of Allah and Sahabas [Companions of Hazrat Muhammad SAWS] is punishable crime." Now, let us evaluate the contents of this treaty, which goes against the ´secularist´ claim of Sheikh Hasina and her government.In the treaty, it is clearly mentioned that, Islamist clergies will have the right to issue fatwa [Sermons], which had already been questioned by the people of Bangladesh as well as the judiciaries. In the treaty it is also mentioned that, no anti-Shariah law shall be enacted in Bangladesh. In fact, this is a very twisted language of saying that the government of Bangladesh Awami League will enact Shariah Law. The treaty also agrees to pronounce that, Prophet of Islam is the last and greatest messenger of God. But, Qur´an never creates any differentiations amongst the prophets of God. Such notion is imported from Islamist countries like Syria, Iran etc. Most importantly, one of the major partners of the Grand Alliance [which has formed the present government in Bangladesh]; Jatiyo Party has specifically said in their electoral manifesto that, Blasphemy Laws will be enacted in the country. Certainly, there is already pressure from the major ally of the present government in enacting the blasphemy law as soon as possible. Government has also agreed to duly recognize the certificates issued by Qaomi [Qur´anic] Madrassas. It may be mentioned here that, presently there are more than 69,000 Qur´anic Madrassas in Bangladesh. Counter-terrorism experts have already identified these Madrassas as potential breeding ground of Jihadists. So, in other words, Sheikh Hasina´s government is set to give recognition to the breeding grounds of Jihadists as part of their strategy of gaining support from the radical Muslims in the country. None of these facts at all show that Sheikh Hasina is willing to establish secularist democracy in Bangladesh. She might be using this term with the goal of attaining support from the Western world. Let us get back to the NYT commentary! It also focused on the point that Sheikh Hasina already alleged Islamist militancy to be behind the February Massacre in Dhaka. Although the matter is under investigation, such remarks by the Chief Executive of the country may ultimately influence the investigation result, at least those conducted by the government and Criminal Investigation Department. The Prime Minister even asserted that such massacre may happen again. Anyone may raise a simple question as to how the PM is assumptive of repetition of such notoriety in the country. Any intelligence report? The mystery of PM´s refusal to attend the dinner at BDR headquarters on February 26, 2009 is yet to be known. It was confirmed that, the Prime Minister´s office conveyed the message on February 22, 2009 with the top level officials of BDR that the PM was unable to attend the dinner. This is a big question as to why Sheikh Hasina turned down the invitation almost 3 days before the massacre. Any advance intelligence report? Yes, the PM has also endorsed the fact right inside the Parliament that she received intelligence report in advance about such incident. In this case, natural question may arise here as to why the PM did not initiate any actions in combating the potential notoriety inside the BDR headquarters. After the massacre, the PM said repeatedly that she ordered the army to move towards the BDR headquarters, but they [the army] were not able to mobilize before two hours. But in NYT, Ms. Somoni said, the Prime Minister allowed the army only to take position around the BDR headquarters but not storm into it. What stopped the PM from instructing the army in storming inside the BDR headquarters thus salvaging the officers and their family members? It is reported already that, after getting general amnesty from the Prime Minister, the killer ´mutineers´ were chanting slogans of joys and were killing one after another officers, who were being held hostage. Moreover, the incidents of rapes started right from the dark hours of February 25, 2009, much later the General Amnesty was declared. Who should be held responsible for this? There are also specific indications and proves that some of the survived officers were also affiliated with the massacre. These are the people, who had been praising the general amnesty of the government as well uttering comments as if; the General Amnesty has saved the country from a potential civil war.We can only wait for the investigation report, to ascertain, if the comments of NYT were correct or not. Be reminded here, NYT said "The truth of what happened may never be known." Meanwhile, one of the three probe committees has already submitted their report to the Home Minister few days back. But, the contents of the report were never made public. Another report conducted by Army Probe Committee is also submitted to the chief of army General Moeen U Ahmed. Probe report on the February 25-26 massacre inside the Bangladesh Riffles Headquarters, which was published by the team constituted by a number of senior officials of Bangladesh Army has generated significant volume of curiosities in the minds of conscious people in Bangladesh. More interestingly, probe committee has endorsed the fact that they were unable to mention names of many of the political figures, who had hands behind the massacre, due to 'limitations' of it. The most interesting part of the entire report, however is, they have endorsed the fact that should the army were allowed to storm into the headquarters of the border security forces, hours within the incident, lives of a large number of army officers could easily have been saved. But, it is well noted by all that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her several over enthusiastic leaders including Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mirza Azam were trying to buy time in the name of political settlement of the crisis, thus finally ending with a very sad and devastating result. Right after the incident, a number of officers expressed their anger in presence of the Prime Minister at the Sena Kunja meeting. They demanded neutral and prompt investigation as well punishment of the culprits. But, since the publication of the first probe report, these is visibly no 'voice' at all inside or outside the garrison of Bangladesh, except a few unmanaged comments by main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] and others. I spoke to a number of journalists in Bangladesh as well as social elites and members of diplomatic corps in Dhaka on the impact of the just published report. All of them are seeing a 'great success' of the government in managing the entire situation in its own way and it is now anticipated that, right after resolution of the BDR massacre issues, axes of the rulers will possibly fall on those angry officers who showed the 'audacity' of expressing anger in presence of the Prime Minister. Outside this massacre, the overall performance of the present government is so far, nothing good or new, except the heavy spending of public money by the foreign minister Dr. Dipu Moni who is shuttling here and there without any result, at all. On the other hand, although the Prime Minister's Saudi tour was a grand media success in the Kingdom as well as in Bangladesh, there is no good news of any specific achievement from this trip. Commerce Minister Lt. Col. Faruk Khan who was behaving like an angry Youngman when took up the responsibility of this important ministry and repeatedly promised of keeping the prices of essentials within the buying capacity of the commoners, it is by now evidently proved that, his promises and aspirations are already bogged into the deep waters of Bay of Bengal. Home Minister Sahara Khatun and State Minister Sohel Taj were showing high ambition in combating terrorism and extremism. But, in reality, according to the recent statement of the Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka turns into a city of crime right after the sun set. A foreign national was found dead at city's Gulshan area early May 2009. He was killed by unknown miscreants, while the police could not even find the identity of this person. There is also threat on a number of foreign missions in Dhaka. According to various facts, foreign nationals and foreign investors are living in Dhaka in extreme terror. They are trying to avoid any program in the dark hours fearing increase in the crime frequency in the country. Businessmen and entrepreneurs have already expressed severe dissatisfaction at the alarming rise in extortion. It is learnt that in most cases, ruling party thugs and cadres are involving in extortion. Members of law enforcing agencies are rather found helpless in the hands of these ´powerful´ people. Grabbing of property by the members of the ruling party and their activists have been continuing since the present government came in power through the general election of December 29. Most interestingly, number of political touts has greatly increased in recent days. Many people are seen wearing Black Mujib Coat to prove themselves to be members of the ruling party and are regularly seen engaged in various forms of tadbirs [lobbying] in favor of various people. Last week, a person I knew for years called me and said, he has got assurance from the Prime Minister of getting license of an insurance company and a private television channel. The only reason behind such favor from the Prime Minister for him is he is a member of one of the fractions of the ruling party. It is even learnt that, millions of Taka are being received by most of the senior leaders as well as ministers of the ruling party and government in exchange of promise of various types of favors. Power crisis in the entire country is increasing almost every day. The government is yet to take any positive step in resolving this extremely important issue. Due to severe power crisis, industrial enterprises in the country are greatly suffering. Many are even at the state of virtual collapse. Meanwhile, foreign investors have already expressed dissatisfaction at the extreme low pace of performance of the present government. There is virtual standstill in all the ministries as there is ongoing cold war between the rulers and bureaucracy. In brief, the fifth month of administration of the government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina has so far failed to give anything good to the nation. Her much publicized 'Vision 2021' and the slogan of 'Changing Time' are gradually turning into mere political stunt to the people of Bangladesh. |
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