I am back after several weeks of absence. I would like to thank all my readers for the support they have shown me and for sticking to my blog through this. Kristine was recovering quite well, but she has started to have pain again and is going to have to undergo further testing to determine what’s wrong.
There have been many significant developments since my last post. Unfortunately, I find most of the developments rather alarming. There may be disagreements as to the exact nature of all that has happened, but in my mind there is no doubt that what we now have is essentially martial law.
An actual proclamation of martial law will not happen. There are two reasons for this. The first is that it will bring about immediate sanctions from donors. The second is that our High Court ruled last year that the Martial Law Proclamation of 1975 was illegal and unconstitutional. However, as the saying goes, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it must be…
Let’s look at the facts. First, we have an erstwhile secret military taskforce that has been undertaking all arrests. This military task force has now been legally given the right to arrest anyone without warrants or charges. Most of the people arrested to date have not been charged at all. Therefore, until this legal authority was handed to this taskforce all the arrests it made were clearly illegal. Furthermore, arrests without warrants or charges are a clear violation of human rights and even our own constitution. Passing a law to allow them does not make them constitutional or legal. Mass arrests without warrants or charges are the first hallmark of a military regime.
Second, we now have a body comprised mainly of generals that are going to be making policy for the government. From my own sources, this body has been behind all the policies and steps that have been taken by the current government so far. Military generals running the show is the second hallmark of a military regime.
Third is the continued suspension of all democratic rights and indeed increasing limitations on civil liberties. At first a state of emergency was declared. Then all politics was banned, including indoor activity (all except for a new party being formed which shall remain unnamed by me!) Just today it has been announced that from now on arrestees will not even have any recourse to the courts for bail. So not only can the military now arrest you without warrants or charges, but you can also be held indefinitely without any proof or trial. This total loss of civil liberties and legal rights is the third and scariest hallmark of a military regime.
Now all that is left is for a general to declare himself President, hold a referendum on his Presidency which he will no doubt win (no criticism of the referendum will be allowed and it will be rigged to ensure victory) and we will have completed our transformation into a military dictatorship. Never mind the fact it requires a constitutional amendment by a two thirds majority of an elected Parliament to alter the form of government. The question is should we wait until that happens?
While I have commended this government’s drive against corruption and my mother has promised to ratify all their actions if legal, the actions of this government are becoming increasing illegal and therefore, difficult to justify. There is no need to continue the state of emergency to combat corruption or bring about reform. There is no need to ban politics to do the same either. The only possible reason to continue with these is to bring about martial law.
Yes, the government has said it might restore freedom for political activity in two or three months. But why are they being vague? Why wait that long? Why not set a clear date or even end the state of emergency right now? After all, the country isn’t facing any imminent danger. It is because this is just a stalling tactic to pacify the donors and keep people guessing while the military consolidates its hold on power. Anyone want to take bets on whether the ban on politics will actually be lifted in two or three months?
The same goes for updating the voters list. Isn’t that what all the fuss was about to begin with? This government has been in power for almost as long as Iajuddin’s caretaker government was and they have failed in a similar manner to correct the voters list. Why are they going to wait until July or August, right in the middle of the monsoon rains when it is virtually impossible to go door to door throughout the country, to begin the task of updating the list? Why can’t they start in the next few weeks? Because once the voters list is corrected they will have absolutely no excuse against holding an election. Once again, this is just another stalling tactic.
It is very tempting to watch images of big names being carted off in handcuffs every night on television and believe what is happening is terrific. This is the greatest trick used by magicians. They keep you enthralled with a diversion while they undertake their sleight of hand. In one of my earlier posts I had written that one of the dangers of a non elected government continuing for an indefinite period of time is that ambitious generals could jump into the fray. It now appears that Fakruddin Ahmed, by refusing to set a timeframe, may have just handed our country on a silver platter back to the generals.
Anyone remember how that turned out the last time?
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About Me
- Sajeeb Wazed
- I am an IT professional by background. I have a Bachelor of Science with a triple major in Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science from St. Joseph's College, an affiliate of Bangalore University. I am also a graduate of the University of Texas in Arlington, Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. I am currently back in school, working towards a Masters in Public Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Most recently I have been selected as one of 250 Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum.
38 comments:
Let's not forget they're reconstituting National Security Council - to be run by army. Nobody will be able to stand their way.
As long as people are happy, everything is fine. Did you think why people of bd are extremely happy now?
Welcome back. It’s nice to see you blogging again.
I don’t agree fully with your idea that Bangladesh is treading to a full-phase martial law. Rather, the army is bolstering a non-political govt. to combat the irregularities of BD politics which has been gradually foisted since the assassination of Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibor Rahman. However, for the worst case, even it comes (for sure, it won’t come); the stance of common people may not go against it. To be a little harsh, apart from those mischievous politicians of our country, nobody is really opposing the current CG blatantly, and for the reason our leaders are too anxious is due to the ongoing drive against the corruption.
Who could take Mr. Tareq Zia, Mr. Nasim, Mr. Sa.Ka.Chowdhury, Mr. Falu and gangue to jail? Even your mom candily accepts the truth that ongoing drive against those corrupted leaders is next to impossible for an elected government. So, somebody has to come up and stop it. This time, army intervened only when hopes of breaking the deadlock were sapping out. Whatever they have done so far, more or less, is not against the people’s interests. Had I been in their place, I would have gone an extra degree by capturing Mr. Jalil of AL and Mr. Mannan Bhuiya of BNP for their week-long ‘dating drama’. The country got nothing but a blood feud through their ‘illicit’ (This meeting can be termed as a conspiracy against people of Bangladesh, as the ‘dating’ held in a closed-door place and news agencies were not allowed at all to cover up.) dating and both of them should be penalized.
However, recent omens are not discouraging. CG, though late, has started to work out on the main problem of making a credible voter list. They are riveted, not vague at all with their aims; rather, they are intentionally sluggish so that they get a fair amount of time to sentence those corrupted leaders (The list of corrupted leaders may include 1 or 2 unexpected names so far, certainly not more than that.). Again, donors are exerting pressure on CG to restore democracy rather than running an oligarchy. So, Martial Law is not as obvious as you opined. Rather, I think it’s wiser to create a voice against a possible “Jatio Sarkar” which is potentially being thought currently by many of our drawing room based politician. We expect some inputs from you on this issue in your upcoming post.
I agree with russoue. We as ordinary citizens of BD are extremely happy and have support to this CG from all walks of life. We people don't want destructive, partisan politics what your family and Khaleda's family practiced for the last 15 years which led the whole country close to destruction. On one hand Khaleda and her family was doing extreme corruption and was making their fortune pushing millions of lives to darkness and on the other hand your mother was also putting peoples life in misery by doing negative and destructive politics which almost was destroying our hard-earned economy. What kind of politics it is? We want to get rid of these two parties specially two families.
Why are you so eager to lift the state of emergency and lift of ban on politics? Do you want you or your mother or Tarek-Khaleda start all those hartals, abarods, gherao and vangchur to safe thoes corrupts who are under trial? We are very happy and living is peace now and please please please do not destroy it, we can not expect any good from you so called politicians.
Russoue: Your claim that people of Bangladesh are now "extremely happy" will not have any validity with anyone from the grassroots:
1. People in slums, evicted;
2. Small traders around the country whose businesses got mindlessly demolished;
3. Adivasis in Chittagong Hill Tracts, tortured, intimidated;
4. Adivasis in Modupur, suffering;
5. Families of more than 50 victims tortured to death in custody;
6. More than 95,000 victims of arbitrary arrests;
7. People going to the bazars every morning to helplessly watch prices sky-rocketing;
8. All the small and medium businessman who must close down their shops by 7 in the evening [and their clientele] to save mere 700 mws of electricity while rampant system-loss [amounting 100 times of the managed lot of mws] goes on unchecked.
For once stop hyping up this "extremly popular" junta and talk to people outside Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara. May I note here that during the BNP-Jamaat regime mainstream propaganda machines were working overtime to hype up that "extremly popular" government, too. I see a similar pattern here.
As you have said, "as long as people are happy, everything is fine", may I pose a curious question for you:
Who are these "extremely happy" people exactly who will endorse/support [will be "fine" with] the 8 phenomenons I have listed above?
For Sajeeb Wazed Joy: SH recently commented that she endorses the actions by the CG. Does that mean she [despite being the leader of a people-based party like AL] endorses the actions I mentioned above? We would like to have an answer.
sajeeb bhai,
I really think having army run bd is good for right now. Maybe after two or three months there should be an election.I hope u gets better...
Dear joy bhai,
I hope your wife gets better. People in Bangladesh are happy with the army gov't system.I think leaving itlike that for few months would be great for AL.Lets just relax and wait to see whats going to happen in bangladesh politics next.
I don't think you would be very "happy" if you were one of those evicted from the slums and ended up with a hungry child in the open air with no where to go.
It feels great when you have a full stomach and are sitting on the 22nd floor of an air conditioned building in Gulshan.
Some of us knew from the beginning that some Generals are attempting a soft coup. We knew they werent going to let BNP swallow the country like they were planning. We knew these people were also fed-up with their "BNP allies". What we didn't know they could be FANS of a "certain cunning opportunist".
Either way, these Generals won't survive IF they attempt to take over the power. Either way, the current caretaker government won't survive IF they attempt to push people to edge, force a farce election, play a role to make a "certain cunning opportunist" to take over.
Life isn't so easy, none came here to stay forever. History says so. What I'll do next is to make my father speak to one of the Generals leading the show. Even though they've always polite and denied of bringing any harm to the country, I for one do believe it's about time, they explain their actions.
All the best to your family.
Nazzina
Hello Tasneem Khalil,
Before going to those points I want to say that, even if all of them are faults of this govt., many more can be listed for the previous govts. And the number may easily surpass 800 not just 8. Now, about those things, the first two problems are mistakes by this govt and I do not support them. However, evicting slums have stopped now. 3, 4 and 7 are legacy problems, this govt. did not initiate them. I did not understand 5. About 6, where did you get that figure? The number of arrestees can never be that high. May be a couple of thousands. Don't you like the arrests of the top corrupts? Many many people are corrupt in Bangladesh and the number of corrupts are in thousands. Millions of people are suffering for those thousands. About 8, I fully support that move apart from the fact that it is increasing crimes in the city. Small and medium businessmen are getting less time to do their business but they can keep their shops open from morning to 7 pm. These people sell necessary items and people never stop buying necessary items. If you say that someone is incurring loses then it is the shop owners of large fancy shopping malls. At evening, rich people go there to shop and pass time which they cannot do now. I don't see any problem with it.
We must not expect this government to fix all problems. They are too few in manpower. Lets not forget that the previous governments with lots of ministers (about 50 or more) did nothing to solve these. The task of this government is to hold a free and fair election. They should do it within one year. And they deserve huge praise for their drive against corruption. They must finish it by this time. Even the next going to be prime minister Sheikh Hasina appreciated that.
Joy Bhai,
All the three points that you have raised are valid. But in case of updating voter list, there is a highcourt ruling against it until the end of April.
I don;t think the ppl, especially in cities, are very much disturbed at what the government is doing. But there are some resentment at the small cities and villages because of indiscriminate demolition of bazaars and shops. However due to the suppression of political activities, the voices of the ppl are not reaching the ears of the government or our middle class.
Russoue, there's a directive against demolition of slums, but there are often stray incidents of slum eviction taking place. I distinctly remember the eviction of one slum in Narayanganj whoch took place after the advisory council's directive. I'm also concerned about the crossfire. The crossfire is still continuing but hijacking and dacoity in Dhaka city is increasing.
But in general, most of the ppl are so far very happy, becoz the government is getting all the goons into jail and also trying to cleanse the admin and police. I'll be really happy if AL learns a lesson from it, and change themselves in the positive direction. Yes, some of the AL leaders who were caught may be more or less innocent, but some of them are not. These corrupt ppl should never get a place in the '21st century AL'. I don want to see Salman Rahman acting as Hasina's adviser or Md. Nasim (if found guilty, which I believe he is), doing golabaazi in the parliament. And Sheikh Hasina should return home within one month, as she has pledged in the airport. Otherwise the anti AL ppl will get another weapon to use against AL.
Lastly let's give the govt some time to get the country right on track, but please don't stop criticising the govt. Criticism is necessary, otherwise we may end up with a greter evil of a prolonged martial law or military backed national govt instead of an elected govt.
I think your analysis was brilliant and to the point.
Attn to Russoue and Tasneem Khalil
To Russoue
I dont know where are you now, whether in BD or outside BD. Extremely happiness is not to easy to enjoy. Just read the causes of extremely unhappiness mentioned by Tasneem Khalil.
Just wait some months,Russoue could understand what the extremly happiness is.
Then please drop some lines in the blog of SAJEEB.
Sushanta
Martial Law in Stealth or not - I am glad that after 35 years things are finally improving.
Some people are talking about "ratifying" the CG's activities - to me - that is just a ploy to gain cheap popularity.
Question is do we really need political parties that have their share of "Zainal Hazaris" and "Nasiruddin Pintus" and parties that make deals with the fundamentalists?
Please no more!!!
Welcome back. I hope all is okay with your wife and your mother is enjoying her stay.
I notice, you did not answer my question relating to your mother's departure to the USA. Soon after she left there were articles on possible resurrection of investigation in to past AL corruption. Something about alleged ownership of properties abroad and particularly the Indonesian fighter plane deal. It was also alleged that she may have been asked politely to leave the country by the CG.
---Is it a Duck?---
Agreed. This is a military led government and although not framed as martial law, it certainly has the shape and sound of such draconian laws. The proposed anti-terrorism law is one of the most draconian of any terrorism laws in the world. But my question to you is: who is responsible for giving the generals the opportunity to take over? The failure of politics and “commercial” politicians created a dangerous void that ushered in the generals. We were looking into the abyss of political/civil war post 22 January elections. The army, saved the country from running headlong in to a civil war and it was only a matter of time before they stepped in anyway.
This begs the question, why the two principle political parties and self appointed custodians of democracy and god governance were not able to resolve their personal differences? To this day non of the parties are even willing to own up to their excesses and mistakes. According the the party stalwarts, none of their boys are corrupt and are being harassed by the CG. Its always the other party's fault. Even when caught hiding under relief corrugated iron sheets (tin), wearing relief sarees, munching relief biscuits party leaders and supporters suffer from sudden attack of mass myopia and amnesia. They cannot see or hear their own party folks guilt.
--- Democracy and Politics---
In your previous posts, you cited the ability of a democracy to correct itself as it's USP. However, democracy is an inanimate object with no life or power to regulate itself. The power is supposed to be held by the people. However, when the same elected politicians themselves do not believe in or practise democracy, within parliament, outside in their lives, or in their party, there is no point preaching it to the people. The pocket politicians and democracy has miserably failed the people of Bangladesh. Both, dictators and elected politicians have looted the country. In fact, the recent BNP led governments kleptocracy makes the Ershad's looting amateurish. AL too have looted the country albeit perhaps at a smaller scale, perhaps they needed a second term, as BNP too were restrained in their looting in the first time around. Given the states of both parties and the nature of the CG, we will never know, any time soon. One thing for sure, all governments, elected or otherwise have been consistent and persistent in looting the country.
You also used the ability to vote out a party at the end of it's term as a merit of democracy. It is true, however not a reality in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, we have to resort to hartals. We as people support democracy, it is the politicians that do not. You guys need to practise what you preach. The fact that we have what you call martial law is due to failure of democracy. How can you practise democracy when you don't even talk to each other?
---Corrupt to the End---
The granting of special status in prison to politicians is further proof, if there was any needed of the insidious nature of corruption in Bangladesh. This special status, no doubt is supported by all parties as it gives them the protection of VIP status in prison. When the behave like common criminals, steal and live like common thieves they are thieves. This division status must be unprecedented and unique in its use in Bangladesh. As one cannot recall such privileges granted to such mass looters in any other nation. This bizzaro world man!
BTW what is your opinion on the awarding of “division” status to the arrested politicians? Should people who have behaved like common thieves, be treated like VIPs in prison? What sort of message does that give to the people of the country?
---Shapla Revolution?---
I disagree with your observation that the military government fears external pressure and hence it will not declare itself as such. I do not see any such external pressure, the front with CEC/ACC is one for domestic consumption and it seems to be working very well. You may not have noticed this all part of a wider game being played out globally, and may come to be soon known as the “Shapla Revolution” in the line of “cedar”, “orange”...etc. You may have noticed, that USA is openly propagating replacing the errant and soon to be expendable General Mush of Pakistan with a new strongman General and a front man banker? Sounds familiar? De ja vu?
---Elections, Military Government---
Do people really care whether it is an elected government or a military one as long as it does the business. There is a question of accountability and representation. A military government may not be accountable but if they fulfill the aspiration of the people (provide law & order, security, stability and do not loot the coffers) then do they need to be accountable? The problem is, both AL and BNP have neither been accountable or representative of anyone apart from their party people and friends and on top of that they have had their troughs in the coffers. So much so that BNP, itself tried to derail the holy grail called democracy, thus fore fitting it's right to participate and benefit from a democratic system.
You decry the mass arrests, however, is it arrests of innocent people or just mass arrests. There seems to be overwhelming support for the CG and its declared agenda. Apart from the parties and those arrested very few people think they are exactly angels. As for the time scales of elections, people are happy to let the CG have 2-3 years it seems, to clear the bad apples. As I said before, there have been so many rotten apples in the barrel for so long that the barrel itself has rotted. Nothing short of rebuilding the barrel will do and that will take time and the people are willing to see it through.
Whatever happens, we are in uncharted waters and the only people to blame for getting us here is the politicians, who not only failed politics, democratic process, their supporters, constituents but above all their poor country. Should they be so easily given another chance? What will they do better than the incumbents? Will they be any more accountable? Can they fight corruption and crime whilst they are fighting each other? Can the people of Bangladesh survive another 36 years of politics of the dead personalities? Have the parties shown remorse, been rehabilitated, cleansed? Are they contrite? Of course the answer to the above is no. Does the leopard change its spot?
The best AL can do now is wait and let the CG do what AL have said they could not do. Instead of pressuring the CG, they should support the initiatives being taken so AL will not have to resort to lati boita over the ballot box next time around.
Mr Sajeeb,
Thanks for posting my comments. Though one of my previous comment got lost. Well I am again surprised by your stance and that of your Mother. You have tried to tell us that this CG is nothing but a Martial Law (ML) in civilian garb. Let me accept your contention for a while. If that is correct then why has your Mom promised to ratify ALL actions of this pseudo civilian CG? I hope you will not fail to notice the general sense of relief the common people are feeling now. The awful prospect of having a parliament full of your Haji Selims and their Alhaj Falus is gone. What a marraige of convenience your Mother had cooked up to win the 22 January elections !!! In what way was it better than that of the Jote Sharkar? So Mr Sajeeb, now the people of BD are willing to endure even ML. If the choice left for them was between the devil and the deep sea, they have chosen the devil. Why blame them? Regards. Mustafiz
hey bd prides think about the future of your country and just chill you know ur hopes will come true about the AL party running bd.. --Daliya..A.KA.--Bangli PRIDE
oh today i went to a math compition and people ask me if i was from bd, i was like yeah . oh thay said ur country's is in the ruin, i was like when the AL runs it will be okay..--Daliya--A.K.A.--Bangli pride..
joy bhai,
Do you agree with the military system? When wilL u run for an election in BD???
Daliya--A.K.A.--Bangli Pride
You seem to be talking like some (not all) so called politicians of BD, who exploited democracy over the last 16 years only for their betterment. What do u think that people of BD are extremely happy with this caretaker govt.? Do you think that majority of the people of BD have gone mad only because they are supporting this govt.?
Ya, I firmly agree with you that this govt. is backed by millitary and this is not good for a very long time. But the truth is that this govt. is doing some good jobs and this reformations are very much required for the future of Bangladesh's democracy. I personally don't think that there were any democracy in BD, over the last 16 years. There have been actually nothing but "Elected Dictatorship".
So I think this govt. should be given some time (may be one or one and half years) to carry out all the required reformations, which no party would ever do.
who is happy in BD????
no one . The prices of essentials have skyrocketted recently. The poor have been smashed to the grounds. AT least 8 people are killed everyday in gunned conflicts.Are those signs of happiness??
The worrying factor is that the GODFTAHERS of JMJB militants are still far from being exposed.
always remeber NONE CAN STAND AGAINST THE PEOPLE
Why is the CG trying to mask the GODFATHERS of JMJB.???
WAR CRIMINALS and GODFTAHERS like SYEDI(stole 400cr from zianagar project in POTUAKHALI), NIZAMI, MUZAHID are nowhere on the list of top 100 criminals and corrupters????
Why wouldnt JMJB militants be allowed to talk to the media???
Why did MASHUD travel to PAKISTAN all of a sudden???
a farcical election would not be acceptable. The patriots would never accept the RAJAKARS running the state.
the avaerage bangalis have been put in immense pressure due to price hike .
Except some RAJAKARS everone is criticizing the CG.
the former terorist mps of JAMAAT on the other hand still carry out their destructive activities in RANGUR,CHITTAGONG, GAINBANDHA.
where do they get the guts?????????
Why are they not being arrested????
We dont want BD to become a failed state like PAKISTAN who are best at sponsoring hate crimes among the HINDU_MUSLIM communities of SE ASIA and terrorism all around the world.
The country is in total turmoil but things would clear up for sure.Bangladesh is not a safe heaven for PAKIS and RAJAKARS.
We dont want JATIYO SARKAR with RAJAKARS like MUZAHIDS/SYEDIS/SAKAS and NIZAMIS.
We dont want TINCHORS, KOMBOLCHORS, BISCUITCHORS and RELIEFCHORS to run the country.
the cursed RAJAKARS and their offsprings would be dumped into a trash can.
NONE can stand against the people. DEMOCRACY would reign supreme in BANGLADESH
"An actual proclamation of martial law will not happen. There are two reasons for this. The first is that it will bring about immediate sanctions from donors. The second is that our High Court ruled last year that the Martial Law Proclamation of 1975 was illegal and unconstitutional. However, as the saying goes, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it must be…"
Sorry i can't agree with u , which reason you marked against martial law.You told about the donors, we all know what they are doing now in bangladesh.from 1978
to 1990 they were not in invisible.Two army person Ziaur rahman and H M Ershad was suported by them.You told about high court rule. i think u know that this rule was withheld .Another reason of here,most of our politicians do not want to obey the high court
rules.Example mr.nasim x home minister.I think you know about his "lathi misil".Then he was the minister of ruling party. Mr.sajeeb better you can tell our people will not accept martial law.I strongly belive only one reason here " we live in political society".We obtain our "matribhasa & sadhinota" by political war. They hate politics and love politics.nothing else..... Why they hate politicians and politics
i think you know better then any other.
There was a question here about why ACC chief Hasan Mashud Chowdhury suddenly went on a "personal trip" to...yes, Pakistan.
Why? To see how their ACC works and to replicate that model. It was not a personal trip.
To Ashraful Khokon's point - Aristotle had said.."The human is a political animal".
I am feeling very emotional today. Today is a very special and happy day in Bangladesh's tumultuous and painful history. Today we rejoice in the success our Tigers in the cricketing arena, and with a tinge of sadness as we celebrate 36 years of “freedom”, we remember our martyrs. The country stands at the crossroad of destiny – the right choice can lead to success and the wrong to ruin and no return. People of Bangladesh, with pain and sadness are remembering the selfless sacrifices of our glorious martyrs and honour of our mother and sisters, with whose blood the creation of Bangladesh has been lubricated. Countless of our mothers and father have lost, sons, daughters in the name of this dream called Bangladesh. Was it all in vain?
As a child, I can just about remember those dark days of 1971. The Pak army's campaign of murder, the gunfights of the valiant Mukthijuddas, the treachery of the Razakars, the bloated nameless bodies of hundreds of victims floating down river Kushyiara daily. Death leaves no indication of religion – there was nothing to distinguish Hindus from Muslim dead bodies. It was harrowing sight for a young child. So it is with those sad memories in mind I write in the hope that maybe, just may be, we will now have a country we hoped and our martyrs dreamed of and died for. Should we not, as BNP, AL or any other party put our differences behind us and work for Bangladesh as Bangladeshis? Those who died to create the country and give us an identity did not believe in parties, or who declared what and who called for independence. They fought for their country and freedom.
Successive governments of various ideologies have betrayed those 3 million glorious dead and 140 million of their country men and women. We should all reflect on what has been achieved by partisan politics and what could have been achieved. We know that our people are the most resilient of any people. A people, who can rebuild their ruined lives after every flood, cyclone and earthquake, pretty much on their own. Very few, people can grin the widest of smiles on empty stomach and bare back like Bangladeshi's. Yet, the radiance of our resilient people is trumped by the perverse and insatiable greed of the politicians. For years I have been an apathetic passing observer of Bangladeshi politics, impotent and hopeless like my many Bangladeshis. However, for the first time in my life and Bangladesh's history, there is renewed hope and great expectations of the fulfilment of those dreams. I have never seen people so buoyant and and patient about a military takeover anywhere. This is true indictment of the political parties and their failures.
It is a monumental time. The caretaker government has unique opportunity to change the direction of Bangladesh. The unfulfilled dreams of our glorious dead and great expectations of our living rests on their lofty shoulders. They cannot let us down. There will be no second chance. This a huge responsibility but it only takes a few good men. If we could defeat an army, sometimes with lattis and spears, we can overcome these corrupt dogs who have looted the country. The CG people can make billions if they wish and be remembered in posterity like the dogs they replaced or be true to our martyrs and change the destiny of Bangladesh, the people are with them. Sure, they CG too can take the easy route of corruption and retire rich men or chose immortality and the heart full gratitude of a nation, it is their choice. We need more selfless martyrs. Lets hope for Bangladesh's sake they make the right choice.
------------
BBB
As-salamualikum brother,
I think CG is doing a great job.We have seen what our so called democractic goverment from 1991-2006 has given us.Corruption everywhere--in every level of our goverment.And there is no democracy within the major political parties.It feels like BNP is owned by respected late-president ZIA's family and AL is owned by our beloved late Sheikh Majibur Rahman's family.We should have term restriction--so that one person cannot be the party leader or PM or president till death or their wife/son/daughter takeover.
May Allah bless us all.
HASAN from USA.
Ami Eimon Bhatta. Ami Bangladesh ChatroLig Noakhali District President.
Deshar ei kantri logne apner moto shot and nista ban ek jon rajnitik nate ke jodi amader pasha patam ta hole amra arow manushik vabe utshahitow hota partham . Abong jatir jonok Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rajhmaner adorsha sonar bangla gore tolar jono kaj korta arow utshahitow hotam. Tai deshar ei kantri logna Bangabandhuer adorsha shoinik der pasha esha darabar onurodh janai.
Eimon Bhatta
“It now appears that Fakruddin Ahmed, by refusing to set a timeframe, may have just handed our country on a silver platter back to the generals.”
If it is a choice between handing the country in a silver platter to the unknown generals on the one hand and the politicians like Khaleda and Hasina on the other, it is a tough call for the vast majority of the citizens of the country. The monumental incompetence, the orgy of corruption and the Jurassic-park of lawlessness that were the hallmarks of those political regimes make the common man hungry for change, even for a regime of unknown generals. After all, these generals have not as yet done anything egregiously wrong!
Joy and others
Pls remember this army is determined to help the present CG to root out mal politics from our nation as well to reduce corruption to great extent if not complete eradication. So far they proved to be no nonsense in their activities and have shown no interest to join mainstream politics or to grab power. Now they have taken one more major task to bridge the gap formed between two main stream political idealogy which divided the whole nation and which started in late 70s by shrewd thugs who wanted to take revenge of their failed cause during our glorious independence war. They did it very meticulously by distorting the history of our glorious independence war and disrespecting the once honored leaders. The post war generation got real confused with the various versions of the war history contradicting each other published during different tenures of the various political parties glorifying only their mentors. It is very sad that so many among our young generation has grown up in complete lie about the war that they started disbelieving and disrespecting our most glorious achievement, that is the independence. This is the best time to straighten up all distortion once for all and bring to the nation the truth and only the truth based on the real facts of our independence war. All war time leaders, martyrs, freedom fighters should get appropriate recognition and respect. No false or imaginary achievement should be recognized. All school and college history books should be re-written with true history and should be sealed by law as infallible. This CG with the help of army already taken a major step towrads acheiving this goal when the army chief Ge.Moen regretted other day that we as a nation failed to recognize the Father of the Nation. What can be more shameful than failing to recognize Bangbandhu as Father of the Nation!!! I thank the army chief for his guts to openly point out our politicians' shameless failures which had immense bad affect on the country. The other vital step this caretaker government must take is to make our government administration neutral and to set a system so that there cannot be any ruling party influence in future in employee intake, transfer and promotion. Building up a very strong independent public service commission, untouchable by ruling party ministers and party activists, to overlook employee matters is must. This would be very tedious job as the public service administration has been plagued by politically biased intake since the late seventies. However, major screening can be done if the caretaker government is bold enough to remove the known cancers who took unfair advantages during the tenures of their likings. Unless this CG, with the help of army and joint task force, can succeed to clear up the present mess we shall again fall into the dip. So we should not take any chance and should give them enough time to complete these difficult tasks before calling for open political activities and election. And then only our democracy will flourish and hopefully we shall not see any more our name at the bottom of all development indexes.
Rgds
Capt.Hasnat
Joy bahi,
Will you be coming to Bangladesh politics ?
Swagato
EIMON i am with you bro,
i am sure our SAVIOUR is listening !!!
The massive sacrifice of all those 3 million martyrs would never go in vain!!!
Captain Hasnat - We are in agreement. I think this time the army appears to be acting in the best interest of the nation.
I pray to Allah, that they continue to do so.
BBB
I totally agree. I think bangladesh would hae benefitted more -- although the people may not have been "happy" -- if it had been a legitimately elected but honest administration that was doing all the good stuff, not the army.
Yes, I also agree with Capt. Hasnat. This time the army is acting in nation's interest and as I told in some other places, they can't take power even if they wish. So far CTG is doing excellent. What they did in three months were not done in last 15 years and will not be done in 30 yrs more if power is given to those same people. But these people and their supporters are trying to raise a false cry that army is trying to take the power permanently and will be corrupt eventually. While they say this in the light of history, they either forget or intentionally omit their own ruling history. I hope that CTG does all what it promised and holds a free and fair election by 2008.
Mr JOY
I hope that your wife is getting better day by day and you will be able to overcome this situation soon. I do also appreciate that you have properly analysis our current political situations. I think you have taken your conclusion not only the basis of CG and their activities but also you have considered the past history of our army. I can tell you that this time would be more dangerous than our previous martial law period.
Joy bhai,
Now the govt comes up with a case against Hasina. That is why we people begged her not to leave Dhaka in the first place.
Now we beg her to come back home as soon as possible and foil the conspiracies against her. Let the government arrest her if they want, but not returning to Dhaka will be suicidal for her political career and AL's political destiny.
there is something fundamentally wrong in what is going on in Bangladesh right now. whilst we rejoice this drive against corruption and arrests of hoards of politicians, this in fact will bring further instability and tendency to behave unconstitutionally whenever a ruling govt will want to. whilst the so called clean up operation goes on, judiciary is effectively imprisoned, army rules evry aspect of day to day life, from business to administration, the basic premises of criminal law's assuption that someone is innocent until proven guilty is completely nonexistent from lower judiciary, extra judicial killings goes on, and so on so forth. this short term sudden measure will harm the country more than it will help it in the longer run. and the truth remains this very who are in charge of this administration, who will bring them to justice for their continues violation of human rights (through RAB) for their corruption (arms purchase, cantonment's levish spending), for their blatant disregard of the rights of minorities in CHT, for their blatant disregard of civilian's in the way they handle civilians whenever they are out and about in cities?
army looks like aboveall laws. as u can see although lots of politicians were arrested but what about the general turned politicians? they are immune as always. i believe there are rational people within the army and people who believe they should not run the country and i hope they will do something to stop this never ending Madness!
Regards
A victim who does not belong to the Urban Elites who change their colour with time.
I am not sure the anti corruption drive of this CTG is eye wash or not?
When Mayor Mohiudding Chy and Mayor Kamran arrested for alleged corruption, how Mayor Sadeq Hossain Khoka is moving freely here and there? Is he honest person?
How the Lutfuzzaman Babar, the most powerfull man in last 5 years with the blessings of Hawa Bhaban is out of jail? Is he not a corrupt person or not a land grabber (Savar)? Is he not misuse of power against opposition leaders, intellectuals (Prof. Muntasir Mamun), journalist (Shahriar Kabir)?
Today I saw both of them are smiling at TV news?
Read my blog:
http://jagorookbangalee.blogspot.com/
Jagoruk
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