No doubt Sharmeen Ahmed is an eloquent speaker with many great democratic thoughts. However, Bangladesh has never been an American Jeffersonian country if we do a quick reality check in regards to our educational quality or our no-love for democracy ( I mean it). The killings and cheating have been with us since the get go. Democracy is not some magic pill that can be force fed to our people and we reach for some nirvana status of a true Jeffersonian democracy. The points raised by Ms. Ahmed are very valid but who are our true democrats? People, who did not hesitate to kill their opponents when it suited them? At this point, our choice is no better than choosing between two devils, who are equally corrupt, dictatorial and murderous.
It is totally pointless to criticize Mujib for not signing the declaration of independence paper because it would not have changed any ground reality of that time. If anybody thinks he or she was braver than Mujib in their little hiding holes in 1971, I say, we had enough of such scoundrels and we need no more. A mere declaration would not have made Pakistanis and Razakars to lay down their weapons and head for their homeland. The war was fought and own by Muktis and Indian army. And, that is our reality.
I do have profound respect for Taj. Tragically, he was born in a wrong country and that is why his murderers are still at large. Forces like Sharmeen need to be heard. We need more such good people.
-SD
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