--- On Tue, 11/24/09, abid bahar <abidbahar@yahoo.com> wrote:
Intellectually, I think it was Munshi Bhaiès India Doctrine that put us together to see the big picture within the subcontinent. And the US, Israel and India connection has been going on far a long time and the idea is not new to me but Zaglul Bhaiès bold expreessions about this made me think twice about Global politics in our contemporary time and its remifications for Bangladesh. I think we are doing ok and should continue to move forward as a think tank group. By the way, the three people listed above are also from a closely related group I am working with, having similar views are from Montreal.
In the below I am pasting a letter from one Badrul Islam requesting me to send my articles to some place. In addition, he talks about two more trials and certain other things you should all know. Regards AB -------------------- Dear Dr.Abid Bahar,
Your three articles on Mujib(Murder or Mutiny,Tajuddin and Understanding BAKSAL) recently published in the various forums(of which I am also a Member and have also a yahoo account) are indeed very interesting and you desreve credit for such bold writings. I have been corresponding with Mr.Shah Mohammad Saifuddin who is the founder of the Bangladesh Strategic Development Forum and he has confirmed to me that you are also their forum member. He can only publish the three articles, provided you send them directly to him, because protocol wise he cannot publish your articles sent by third person. He has to be sure you want it published.
You may ba aware that two more trials are on current list:BDR and WAR CRIME while there is also the agenda of visit to New Delhi to finalize some deals and I have forwarded you my article on this national issues. There is many seminars too voicing for public consensus and unity between Political parties for national decision but I believe that our efforts here wouldnt materialize.
I am asking you as I have asked BSDF owner; through international contacts(journalists,parliament members etc) can anything be done to make this present administration think twice and really go for National consensus? Is there anyway we can exert influence on the 0pposition leader to discussion openly, through debate( as they dont want to go to parliament) and arrange for a referendum on these issues?
Your kind response would be highly appreciated.
Best wishes and Eid Mubarak, in advance.
Badrul Islam
From: MBI Munshi <MBIMunshi@gmail.com>
On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 6:44 AM, Zoglul Husain <zoglul@hotmail. co.uk> wrote: Thank you, Abid Bahar Bhai, for appreciating again my political views. I have been reading your pieces on Mujib with much interest. It would be nice to read the whole thing in the book, which you intend to publish.
Mujib regime killed, according to many, more than 30 thousand patriots, who opposed plunder by India and by the BAL, and through the regime's misrule and plunder, along with Indian plunder and conspiracy, they caused the man-made famine of 1974, in which 3 to 5 hundred thousand people perished, according to reports. Mujib suppressed all democratic rights and unleashed a reign of terror. In the above circumstances, according to some, Bangladesh faced extinction as an independent nation and was about to become a vassal state of the Indian hegemonists. The coup of 15 August 1975 saved the situation to a large extent and it was widely supported by the people.
However, at the present time, we are again facing threat against our independence and sovereignty, our national interest and our national resources, from the same hegemonist and expansionist India, which, in stead of the then Soviet (which became imperialist by then) backing during the Mujib regime, is now backed by the US imperialism, a more pernicious and a more sinister force. We, therefore, have to organise peaceful political resistance for our survival.
Many coups, uprisings and armed-struggles have been hailed most gloriously in the world. The 15 August 1975 coup, at least, according to many, saved Bangladesh from extinction and stopped the ruthless massacres and man-made famines and created conditions for bringing back democracy.
About our judiciary, do we have anything except for Kangaroo courts and travesty of justice? Can a coup, participated by tanks and sections of army, be treated as an ordinary murder case, especially when the coup saved Bangladesh from extinction and rescued the people from massacres, terror, plunders, famines and fascist repressions of a dreadful and terrible autocratic regime? Shortly before one-eleven 2007, the Awami thugs ransacked part of the high court and launched arson attacks in its premises. This high court has not yet been able to seek justice for itself about that attack! They carried out Moeen U's orders in the recent past and are now carrying out Hasina's.
We must pledge anew to save our country. There can and should be unity between the patriots, irrespective of the political spectrum, Left, Right or Centre. It is our national task today to organise peaceful political resistance at the grassroots.
Our history written by Indian hegemonists and their lackeys are full of lies, deceit and falsehood. I hope your great efforts will help people recover the true history.
With very best wishes
Subject: Re: [bd_journalists] Understanding Bangabandu and his BKSAL Strategies
Thank you Munshi Bhai and Saidul bhai for your generous support.As I have mentioned earlier, inspired by Zaglul Bhaiès revolutionay spirit, lately I have been working very hard to understand Bangabandu Mujib. Abid Bahar
From: Saidul Islam <msaidul@gmail. com> Dear Abid Bhai:
I totally agree with what Munshi bhai said. I read your piece with utmost interest, and I'm really impressed with the depth of knowledge you have and the analysis you made. BALists (who are either ignorant or agent, and bereft of any rational thinking but ironically claim to be the most rational ones) will attack you from different fronts, but at the end of the game your analysis will triumph and prevail. The analogy between Mujib and Mussolini is not only impressive but also appropriate and timely. I wish you all the best on your book project, and I'm sure it will be a ground-breaking contribution. Said Singapore On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 9:01 AM, MBI Munshi <MBIMunshi@gmail. com> wrote: Another brilliant series of articles Abid bhai. I am truly impressed with your knowledge and analysis. I am sure your ompleted book will stir a renassiance in thinking in Bangladesh and bring the nation to a true understanding of its history. Keep up the good work. Munshi
From: abid bahar <abidbahar@Yahoo. com>
Understanding Bangabandu and his BKSAL Strategies
Abid Bahar
(Adapted from A book in progress: The BKSAL Legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Part 1:Is President Sheikh Mujib's Death a Murder or a Mutiny? A Tragedy for the Daughter Indeed! Part 11: President Sheikh Mujib's Death: Tajuddin's Prophecy already published, Now part 111:Understanding the BKSAL rule of "My Way or no Way"and Hasina's Logi boitha)
I have been a believer of the "rule of law" in politics as a sure way to development but surely not the "my way or no way" to get to power. President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was honored with the title " Father of the nation." In understanding Bangladesh politics, I have been researching on the life and time of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In addition to receving vulgar criticism to my work, I was being threatened numerous in different fashions. I believe readers must be curious to know despite the disadvantages, why I have been pursuing my search on Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in minute details. The answer is not because I am a member of any particular political party. In fact I was a Mujib devotee and meet him several times; once in a one to one encounter but many more times in the pages of history books. At the time I was a Mujib supporter, like many Mujib hero worshippers, in my slumber I also found it difficult to accept the criticisms by people
against Mujibur Rahman. It was as if like a fan fever. That was in the past. I consciously tried to understand this irrational phenomenon. The present query is for a personal and a professional reason, it is primarily because I myself as a Bangladeshi by birth and in the role of a researcher, in this journey, I am curious to know Bangabandu Mujib to understand some of the core Bangladeshi national issues that persist till today related to the Bangabandu phenomenon. I am certain, there are many like me who would like to know who the real Mujib was. Here we will be dealing mostly with his political techniques.
1.Who was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman?
Mujib was a prominant student leader worked with Shohrodurdy became the leader of the AL and founded BKSAL. Many consider Mujib as the violent figure in politics. Records shows that he preched violence. The question to ponder, is it a good idea to select a violent person as a model father of the nation? President Mujib could be chosen as the father of the AL or the BKSAL not the father of the entire nation. On record for his despotic rule even some of his democracy loving AL followers and some Bangladeshi freedom fighters killed him. Indirectly his despotic actions against the nation also caused the death of some of his family members as well. Tajuddin, a Socialist even predicted a massacre. It bothers me and many other nonviolent people I talked to that it is difficult to accept Mujib as the father of the entire nation.
Personally, many people are against the use of violence all through their lives. If I consider myself as one of them I don't want a violent person to be chosen as a fatherly symbol of my country that for its liberation I was about to be killed by the razakars. Tofozal Hossain Manik Mia who knew Mujib personally and very well, in his book documets things in specific details about Mujib. It says about him during the Jukto Front years that young and ambitious Mujib was using fistfights with his rival constituents to win in the election. Mujib was also using lies to blackmail the opposition, which means he was not honest or shall I say a bit too dishonest in politics? If Bangladesh cherishes the ideal of nonviolence in politics, why should we accept Mujib as the father of the nation considering that Mujib was not the Gandhi and Mujib had been using violence in politics all along? If considering him as the symbolic father of the nation to promote the ideal
of peace and progress, does he fit into the ideal category?
2. Mujib didn't also have any strong ideological foundation.
Mujib was not an intellectual. He didn't have an ideology. Tajuddin was a Socialist and was the key person behind the formulation of the 6 points demand. Under the circumstances what was it that inspired Mujib? It appears that it was his personal ambition. He was not even in favor of breaking Pakistan. What was it that he had which could inspire others? He was a very powerful demagogue. He was a "charismatic and forceful orator." He also realized the importance of propaganda to win his agenda. It is repeatedly observed that in times of trouble however, he preferred to surrender and to stay in jail.
3. Against the Opposition
I also wondered why he had problem to tolerate opposition. In opposing the BKSAL one party system, Tajuddin said to him, it would be the breaking of the promise Mujib and him gave to his countryman all through the Pakistan period. Tajuddin prophesized that it will kill many of "us." But still why Mujib did it? He was an autocrat by nature.
4. Mujib was an ambitious and clever politician
My research findings show that although Mujib was not an intellectual, but he was a clever politician. He was not at all foolish to do the things he did. From early on his career shows he had developed a patron -client relationship with his followers. In exchange for loyality to him he rewarded them with favor in matters of tender distribution, the promise of nomination in the election, sending an unfair request for a job that a person doesn't deserve, asking to release a criminal from jail even in some cases a murder suspect. Joinal Hazari, as an example was not a Hasina recruit, he was a Mujib recruit. This type of technique made Mujib powerful and made his party powerful but concomitantly it weakened the state. In this rising trend, bureaucracy as state machinery and a rational system was always an obstacle in Mujib's path. Thus on record Mujib always hated bureaucracy. As we know in the long process Mujib was slowly building his latent fascist
(autocratic) power base which only became manifest in the post liberation BKSAL period..
5. Mujib was a Powerful South Asian Fascist.
"The features of Fascism found in Mussolini and in other similar leaders were their brand of ultra nationalism, use of Socialism to justify authoritarianism, the deployment of many paramilitary forces to put down opposition, the leader's charismatic leadership, favoritism as a tool of demanding party loyalty, the demagogy, introduction of party uniform imitating the leader, the Fascist followers intolerance to the criticism of the leader, and the leader's extreme personal devotion to his party interest over his country."(1)
In his fascist devotion to his party, he was really kind to his cadres but always remained oppressive to the opposition. In his formal speech however he showed his immense kindness to the masses as well. His short rule showed he was a tyrant and very much represented his party but not the state even when he knew he was elected by his countrymen. As an intelligent person when he confidently figured out his source of power he carefully nurtured it through his "bhai culture" of favoritism, which in the end was against the state machinery, development, and the rule of law.
6. Ibsan's Drama the "Enemy of the people"
It appears that from the time Mujib became the leader of the AL party, politics was no more to serve people but personally for Mujib to grab power and for his followers to make profit. It seems Hasina's politics of favoritism, tender distribution, the favoritism in politics and the Logi Boitha revolution is a dangerous continuation of Mujib's politics of violence. Imagine! Hasina being the ex Prime Minister calling for a logi boitha revolution during a democratically elected government in power and in the presence of police, the AL workers in open day light killing people further confirmed the continuation of violence in politics. If it were in Europe or even in India (herself as if Ibsan's drama the "Enemy of the people" basing the protagonist's success through propaganda) in this worst scenerio she would be in jail on murder charges.
7. AMI RAJNITI KHRINA, KORI KINTU PITRI HOTYAR PROTISHODDH NABR JONYOI (I hate politics; but just only for taking revenge of my father's killing,)
The recent SC judgement is a welcome thing from most Bangladeshis, for, the court helped to uphold the rule of law. But details show it was all staged to get rid of the negative stigma on Sheikh Mujib's BKSAL rule and establish Mujib as the father of the nation. Not long ago Hasina said 'AMI RAJNITI KHRINA, KORI KINTU PITRI HOTYAR PROTISHODDH NAER JONYOI RAJNITITE ESHECHI' (I hate politics; but just only for taking revenge of my father's killing, I have taken up to do politics).It seems that was primarily Hasina's wishes fulfilled through her appointed judges. But the point is, if the same court that was set on fire by the AL workers in the pre 1/11 days will serve justice to those who in the similar way as Hasina's, lost their dear ones to Hasina's logi boitha violence in an open day light on 28th October in 2006 . It was not even a wartime event.
8. The 28th October in 2006 Logi boitha Massacre
If those victims of logi boitha of the 28th October in 2006 were Bangladeshis, which they were they should have similar access to law to send Hasina to the court of justice. I am sure they will not have the power to appoint judges but one cannot deny that they were Bangladeshis.
9. Hasina's Bangladesh
Now if justice for the victims of 28th October were not served, what Bangladesh will have to say to the world? Is it that justice has double meaning? It brings to mind what Martin Luther King once said: "You suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter why she cannot go the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Fun town is closed to colored people." So it is as if Hasina is happy it was advertised on TV about hanging of her father's killers. But what about justice for the other little children's fathers killers?
10. Case against Hasina
If justice is not served for the open day light killing, people will question, are there two types of Bangladeshi people, one who are ALs, rich and powerful and the others who are poor and the SC wouldn't care? Surprisingly, "Logi-boitha (pole-oar) is closely associated with AL and boat, its election symbol" See the youtube: AL's logi boitha attacks and the blackmailing and deceptions that followed: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=hjWhLD1- JLk&feature= player_embedded
These are Hasina's slippery slope to authoritarian rule. But the cracks are on the wall now. When justice is served to hang the 1971 freedom fighters like Faroque and the others who killed President Mujib is a matter of murder not a mutiny, why not justice be served for the others, the dead and the parents/ wives and children of the 28th October massacre? What harm did these people do to the AL's for them to get a lesson through a show of terror? Joy Wazed says, These charges are too flimsy to hold up in court … They have underestimated my mother.(2)
THE LINGERING TRADITION OF FASCISM
The question is how long will we continue our Bangabandu BKSAL tradition - it is "either my way or no way?"In my search I found this use of force as a strategy very much present in fascist traditions, we know fascism a human problem in leaderships across the globe. My endeavor is to not celebrate but to educate people against this national malice. In the past such forces captured state power in Europe, and it is now in Africa and in the Middle East. In Europe they identified and condemned in textbooks. To me Bangabandu was a very powerful fascist leader of South Asia killed by not by the anti liberation forces. Unfortunately he was removed violently as fascism was removed in Italy, Germany and Spain.
The use of violence in politics is a dangerous game. Can we afford such a trend to continue to kill our leaders, our ordinary people without trial? Can we allow it to continue by Hasina, the supreme leader of a great political party as the AL that was first founded by Maulana Bhasani and continues to lead the nation till today? For the sake of saving our beloved nation, is it time to come to our senses and make changes? For such changes can only make things shine for the AL, Bangabandu, Hasina and our Bangladesh nation! Because it says, "rule of law" is a sure way to development but surely not the "my way or no way" to get to power to make profit. Using the same logic of the SC can we now demand "Justice For the Victims of Logi Boitha?" Will the SC repeat a similar precedence of the boitha killing and set an example to bring Hasina to face the court? We will wait to see justice served for all.
References:
(1) Abid Bahar, Bangabandu Mujib and Benito Mussolini: Striking Similarities, http://bangladesh- web.com/view. php?hidRecord= 218125
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(2) Sheikh Hasina
http://sajeeb. blogspot. com/2007/ 04/charges- against-sheikh- hasina.html
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(Abid Bahar Ph.D. teaches in Canada on Ethics of Leadership)
Md. Saidul Islam Singapore
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