In spite of the delusions of AL nothing 'remarkably democratic' has taken place in Bangladesh following the demise of the CTG. And until 'remarkably democratic' practice becomes routine the threat of an autocratic takeover, military interference or plain disastrous chaos remains very, very real. I don't know about the tragedy of Dr Millon's murder. But inspite of the fine words of AL to his mother the case was suspended, according to the same article below, once Ershad joined the coalition.
To cap it all, the nonsensical manner in which, under judicial cover, all blame for the BDR tragedy has peen placed firmly and fully upon the footsoldiers of the BDR, does not bode well at all for the future.
These things have a way of coming back with a vengeance.
--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> Ershad's trial a must to deter future attempts at extra-constitutional
> takeover
>
> Selina Akhter, mother of the late Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, tells New Age
> by *Shahidul Islam Chowdhury*
>
> <http://www.newagebd.com/2010/sep/16/img2.html>
> DEPOSED military dictator HM Ershad needs to be prosecuted and punished for
> usurping state power, to deter recurrence of extra-constitutional takeover
> in the future, so says Selina Akhter, mother of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon.
> Dr Milon, the then join secretary general of the Bangladesh Medical
> Association, was shot dead on the Dhaka University campus on November 27,
> 1990; he was on his way to attending an anti-Ershad meeting. The killing is
> believed to be orchestrated by the autocratic ruler, to foil the mass
> upsurge for democracy that eventually led to Ershad's downfall.
>
> `The government needs to arrange for the trial of Ershad, to deter
> extra-constitutional takeover of state power in the future,' Selina said in
> an exclusive interview with New Age on Tuesday. `The trial is also essential
> for democratic politics to flourish in Bangladesh.'
>
> Selina, a retired college teacher, said Ershad should also be prosecuted and
> punished for the political killings during his illegal rule, including that
> of his son, and was critical the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist
> Party for defaulting on their promise to do so although both these parties
> alternated in power since the fall of his autocratic regime.
> `It is indeed unfortunate and regrettable that the two parties that were
> in the forefront of the anti-autocratic movement, which resulted in the fall
> of the Ershad regime in the first week of December 1990, should now hobnob
> with him and, in the process, expose their inherent weakness that they are
> incapable of winning elections without his support,' she said.
>
> The politically conscious and democratically oriented sections of society
> need to raise their voice against such hobnobbing by the Awami League and
> the BNP with Ershad, Selina said.
> Following are the excerpts of the interview:
>
> *Your son, Dr Shamsul Alam Khan, was in the forefront of the movement
> against the autocratic regime of Lieutenant General (retired) HM Ershad. Did
> he talk about the movement with you?*
> We would have discussions about the anti-Ershad movement at the dining
> table almost every day during those years. When doctors and other
> professionals joined the movement towards the end of 1990, Ershad set up a
> medical camp with doctors from the army at Suhrawardy Udyan, apparently to
> show that the government could still provide health care to the people
> without the cooperation of civilian physicians.
>
> I remember telling Milon, who was then the joint general secretary of the
> Bangladesh Medical Association, that they should remain alert so as to not
> lose the people's support for the movement. He told me that they were very
> much alert about the government's scheme. Milon told me that he was
> confident about the success of the movement as the people, including
> professional such as engineers, doctors and journalists, were behind it.
>
> *Dr Milon was killed in November 1990 at a time when the autocratic
> regime was trying desperately to contain the movement. Do you think Ershad
> had a hand in the killing?*
> Beyond any doubt. A bullet of a .303 rifle, which is generally used by
> law enforcers, was found in Milon's body. It was a proof that the individual
> who had shot Milon dead was on the government's payroll, and it is
> impossible for a law enforcer to open fire without clearance from the higher
> authorities.
>
> *Was the trial of Milan's killing held?*
> A member of the medical association filed a case about the killing. The
> trial was, however, suspended as some witnesses were declared `hostile'.
>
> *Where does the case stand now?*
> We have tried several times to revive the case. Eminent jurist Dr Kamal
> Hossain assured me that he would look after the case for trial. Some Awami
> League leaders, including Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin (now a Dhaka city
> lawmaker), also assured me that the trial would be held. The entire process
> was, however, suspended after Ershad had joined the Awami League-led
> alliance.
>
> *The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party demanded trial of
> Milon's killing during the anti-Ershad movement. Both these parties have
> come been in power since Ershad's fall in December 1990. What has been their
> role vis-à-vis trial of Milon's killing?*
> After Milon's death, top leaders of both the parties demanded trial of,
> and punishment for, the perpetrators and masterminds of the killing.
> However, they hardly took any initiative to hold the trial when in power.
>
> *Many people, including Milon, were killed during the movement against
> Ershad. Do you demand trial of all the political killings of that period?*
> Certainly. I am waiting to see the trial of Milon's killing. Many people,
> including (labour leader) Tajul (Islam) and some students, were killed for
> their involvement in the anti-autocracy movement. The government should hold
> trial of these killings. But it will remain a difficult task if we (family
> members of the dead persons) alone demand trial.
> The government needs to arrange for the trial of Ershad, to deter
> extra-constitutional takeover of state power in the future. The trial is
> also essential for democratic politics to flourish in Bangladesh.
>
> *The Awami League and the BNP were in the forefront of the movement
> against Ershad. In the past 20 years, however, both the parties seem to have
> been engaged in a rat race to win over Ershad's support. How do feel about
> it?*
> It is indeed unfortunate and regrettable that the two parties that were
> in the forefront of the anti-autocratic movement, which resulted in the fall
> of the Ershad regime in the first week of December 1990, should now hobnob
> with him and, in the process, expose their inherent weakness that they are
> incapable of winning elections without his support.
> I don't understand why they (Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina) would need to
> join hands with him (Ershad) forgetting their movement against him.
> Ershad's presence in Bangladesh politics will only hinder the efforts to
> ensure democratic growth of politics. The burgeoning democracy here will be
> threatened if he is allowed to participate in political activities; in fact,
> the government should impose a ban on his political activities as a military
> can never play a role in democratic growth of politics.
> Moreover, Ershad has made it clear that he was and is an opportunist. He
> will leave the Awami League-led alliance without hesitation if he sees signs
> of the BNP coming back to power.
>
> *Do you think the politically conscious and democratically oriented
> sections of society need to raise their voice against the mainstream
> political parties forming and maintaining alliance with Ershad?*
> It will be essential to keep political clean. At the same time, the trial
> of all political killings during Ershad's regime will remain elusive unless
> the people raise their voice in demand for the trial.
>
> *Ershad had military takeover legalised by parliament. The High Court in
> a recent verdict on the fifth amendment to the constitution condemned the
> military rule and recommended that the persons involved in grabbing power
> through martial law should be suitably punished. But the government as well
> as parliament has neither condemned military takeover nor taken steps to
> punish anyone for declaring martial law. What is your comment as a citizen?*
> I do not understand, as I don't have a law background, why trial on
> charges of extra-constitutional takeover of power and killing cannot be held
> under existing laws.
> The law minister said holding Ershad's trial would not be possible unless
> a new law is enacted. If the minister's statement is true, why are they not
> taking any measures to enact a new law? What is their problem if Ershad is
> punished?
>
> *You have been persistent in your demand for trial of Ershad. But Ershad
> has recently claimed that he cannot be tried on charges of declaring martial
> law and the persons who demand his trial are wrongheaded. How do you react
> to his statement?*
> I shall continue to demand Ershad's trial no matter what he says. The
> people need to unite and raise their voice to realise the demand.
>
> *Ershad made the comment after a 35-minute one-to-one meeting with the
> prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina at her office.
> People believe his comments were influenced by the conversations they had at
> the meeting. What do you think?*
> There is a question in people's mind as to why he would make the
> statement unless there was a discussion on the issue with the prime
> minister.
>
> *The Supreme Court suggested enactment of a law to contain attempts to
> declare martial law. Do you think that attempts to declare military rule can
> be prevented through taking legal measures alone?*
> Taking legal measures is one option. But democracy here will remain
> vulnerable unless the people become united and take collective measures to
> strengthen democracy.
>
> *What role the people in general, the professionals, the workers and the
> students in particular need to play to thwart attempts at military takeover
> and make democracy sustainable?*
> The people need to raise their voice against all autocratic governments
> and undemocratic systems here, no matter which party is in power.
> Unfortunately, we cannot do it due to several shortcomings including lack
> of quality in political leadership. We need to discover new and young
> political leadership. We also need to create an atmosphere that helps young
> patriotic political leadership to emerge.
> We also need to go door-to-door and motivate people so that the military
> rulers cannot mobilise support for themselves.
>
> *Do the politicians and the court in general and the
> democratically-oriented section of the groups in particular need to play any
> role?*
> In fact, they are the key persons in these efforts to thwart attempts at
> military takeover and undemocratic rule in the country.
> The politicians need to play a leading role and make sacrifices to
> strengthen the democratic process as well as to protect democracy so that
> the people's right to elect their government is not stolen in
> extra-constitutional and undemocratic ways. They also need to motivate the
> people to play their due role in protecting democracy.
> The court that declared military rule illegal could instantly punish
> Ershad, the only living military ruler. They can declare any move to
> takeover power through extra-constitutional means illegal anytime.
> But it will be impossible for them to discharge the responsibility if
> they become isolated from the people.
>
> *What do you do currently?*
> It is unbearable to live with memories of Milon's death. I still try to
> unravel the mystery surrounding his death as his killers are still alive and
> continue to hobnob with powerful politicians. Ershad tried to visit me to
> offer support. But I declined.
> Milon's friends and sisters have set up Boyoshshee Kalyan Samiti, a
> non-profit social welfare organisation, to keep me busy. With individual
> donations, we are now running an old home for the helpless and isolated
> elderly people to provide them with mental support and also medical
> treatment. We are trying to involve them in social activities irrespective
> of their caste, creed and religion so that they do not feel alone in
> society. Boyoshshee however requires the government's support to expand the
> programme including establishing a hospital for the elderly people.
>
> http://www.newagebd.com/2010/sep/16/oped.html
>
