Top Priority!
The government's priority issues include
- August 21 grenade blast case
- Ten truck loads of arms case
- Alleged corruption of four-party alliance govt
- Indian Prime Minister's visit
- Trial of war criminals
- BDR massacre case
by ANWAR PARVEZ HALIM
Immediately upon taking over power in January 6, 2009, the Awami League-led mahajote (grand alliance) government of Sheikh Hasina opened a Pandora's Box of sensitive issues. Top priority among these issues were the Mujib killing case; the August 21 grenade attack case; 10 truck arms case; Kibria killing case; restoration of the 1972 Constitution; the 1971 crimes against humanity case; corruption of the four-party alliance; and not providing shelter in Bangladesh to Indian insurgents.
Most of these were election commitments.
In the very second month of Awami League coming to power, the BDR massacre occurred. This immediately got conscious circles of society wondering whether Sheikh Hasina, armed with a cabinet of relatively inexperienced newcomers, should have taken up so many sensitive issues so soon. Was it too risky to handle?
There were other headaches for the government – gas, electricity, water, law and order and living costs. To top it all, there was also the people's movement against constructing an airport at Arial Beel and the share-market scandal.
This month, June, the government will have completed half of its term at the helm. Analysts have begun burning night oil, calculating the successes and failures of Hasina's rule.
From the point of view of the public, where their common interests are concerned, the government has not really achieved success. Its success lies in certain cases related to issues of national interest.
As for its top priority issues, some of the issues have been brought to the forefront and some relegated to the back burner. Some issues have aimed in importance and some have dimmed for political reasons.
The biggest success of the government is completion of the Mujib killing case.
The court has annulled parts of the Constitution's Fifth, Seventh and Thirteenth Amendments. This has given rise to a long-term controversy. Then members of the mahajote alliance Rashed Khan Menon and Hasanul Huq Inu have questioned why "Bismillah" and "Islam as the state religion" have been retained in the Constitution.
The government's decision to cancel the caretaker government system has created a furor in the political arena.
Given the prevailing situation, despite being a top priority, the Constitution apparently is not returning to its 1972 form for the time being. The court's controversial verdict has created a scar in the country's politics, experts feel.
Secular sections of society are also unhappy with the government.
At the behest of the government, the relevant quarters gave due importance to investigating the murder of former Finance Minister Shah ASM Kibria. The second charge-sheet of the case is ready. But due to objection from Kibria's widow Asma Kibria and her family members, this has not been handed over to the court as yet. The family believes that BNP leader Haris Chowdhury is involved in the killing. Unless her is included in the case, Kibria's family is unwilling to let the charge-sheet go to the court. So this case too is being delayed.
In the meantime, the government has taken strict measures to prevent Indian insurgents from taking shelter within Bangladesh territory. Several leaders of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) have been arrested and handed over to the Indian authorities. India is pressuring the Hasina government to hand over ULFA leader Anup Chetia presently in jail in Bangladesh. The government is not acquiescing to this request so easily as this may give rise to human rights questions. Thus he remains in jail despite the term of sentence having completed. However, in keeping with the 50-point accord signed between Hasina and Manmohan, in all likelihood Anup Chetia will finally be handed over to India.
Various sources say that at the moment the government's top priority issues are the August 21 grenade case, the ten trucks of arms case, the corruption of the four-party alliance government, the Bangladesh visit of the Indian Prime Minister, trial of the war criminals and the BDR massacre case.
The charge-sheet for the August 21 grenade attack case has been submitted to the court, but now supplementary investigations are being carried out. Among the accused in this case are Mofazzel Hossain Kaikobad, the BNP MP from Muradnagar, Comilla; former State Minister for Home Affairs, Lutfuzzaman Babar; and BNP leader Haris Chowdhury. Investigations have reportedly revealed evidence of their involvement. The investigation report also mentions Hawa Bhaban's involvement in the case.
Investigations into the ten truck of arms case continues. There is possibility that former NSI DG Maj. Gen. (retd) Rezzakul Haider, Brig. Abdur Rahim, Major Liaqat, Shahabuddin and former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar will be implicated in this case. The final charge-sheets of the August 21 grenade attack case and ten trucks arms case are likely to be submitted to court within a month.
With the opposition stepping up its anti-government movement, the corruption cases against the four-party alliance government are likely to dragged up to top priority again. The previous caretaker government had filed innumerable corruption cases against leaders of the various political parties. The present government has withdrawn all the cases against the Awami League leaders, but has kept the cases against the important BNP leaders pending. These are the government's political trump cards to be used against the opposition at opportune moments.
The charge-sheet of the money laundering case against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko has been submitted to the court. It awaits hearing. The Zia Foundation case filed by the Fakhuruddin-Moeenuddin government is also likely to make it to the government's priority list.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka City unit of BNP plays a vital role in ensuring the success of hartals (general strikes) and other political programmes. Thus the government is planning to revive the cases against Dhaka's Mayor and BNP Dhaka City's Convenor Sadeq Hossain Khoka.
While imprisoned BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury is being interrogated about 1971 crimes against humanity, investigations are also on concerning his involvement in the ten trucks of arms case.
The war crimes tribunal is proceeding at a slow pace, in fits and starts. Five leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami are being questioned in a safe-home. No one has any idea how long this trial will continue. Then there are speculations, even among government circles, as to why Jamaat leader Mir Kasem Ali has not been arrested. Pro-government secular forces are even questioning the sincerity of the government in trying the accused war criminals. While Sheikh Hasina seems sincere enough in this regard, the role of certain important ministers is being eyed with suspicion.
Two cases have been lodged against those accused in the BDR massacre case. One is under BDR's own laws and the other under criminal law. The highest sentence under BDR law is seven years' imprisonment. There are 6000 accused persons in this case. Of these, 4000 are in Dhaka and 2000 outside of Dhaka. Trials of the cases under BDR law outside Dhaka are complete. In Dhaka there are eleven cases under the BDR law. Three of these are complete and eight are pending. These are likely to be complete within the next three months.
The hearing of the cases under criminal law has started at a tribunal set up near the central jail. Experts say it will take three months to draw up charges after the hearing and at least three years to complete the trial. So it is doubtful whether the trials of these cases can be completed during the rule of this government.
It is also believed that the persons behind the scenes of the BDR massacre will remain out of the reach of the law. The interest that the people had in this case at the outset has dwindled with time. So the case is also proceeding at a snail's pace. It will take a considerable amount of time for the criminal case to be completed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India in the second week of February last year. Ever since then the forthcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been featuring high in the priority list. Hasina's government has begun the process of granting the transit in keeping with the joint communiqué singed between the two countries. Manmohan was supposed to come in the year 2010, but that did not materialize. It is now more or less sure that he will visit Bangladesh towards the end of this year. However, before that there is a flurry of activity to finish all paperwork at a secretary and ministerial level.
Critics claim that the 50-point communiqué tilts in favour of India. If it is fully implemented, the people may hold Hasina to account, something which will be risky at election time. That is why, certain quarters allege, the government is all hush-hush about fulfilling the accord. Come what may, Manmohan's visit remains high on the government's top priority agenda.
http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=7225
__._,_.___
