Political fascism on display in Bangladesh?

by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
January 3, 2009

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/154/political-fascism-on-display-in-bangladesh

Newly elected members of parliament in Bangladesh will be taking oath on Saturday afternoon, while the government led by Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister will be installed on January 6 2009 at 6:30 pm. Media in Bangladesh are seeing high hope of something very extra ordinary by the next government, which not only will give stronger base to democracy but will also make an end to the decade old culture of political hatred and confrontation as well as end of the culture of political parties patronizing hooligans and musclemen. After the landslide and historic victory of Bangladesh Awami League in the just concluded election, most of the people are hoping for a better Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina with a group of extremely cherismatic people in her cabinet. Some analysts are even saying that, while her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman architected the creation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina will now play the extremely crutial role of turning the country into a land of infinite possibility, as well as dampen the rise of Islamists millitancy and radical Islam.

But, some news appeared in local dailies in Bangladesh are certainly generating concern in the minds of the people with a big question is political fascism is on display in the country. Let us have a look into only some of such news items:

1. One of the leading dailies, The Manabzamin reported Awami League supporters attacked the residence of a youth front leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party where 10 people were seriously injured. The report said, supporters of Awami League attacked the residecen and small shop owned by Rafiqul Islam and Angur Ali, both belonging to BNP's Jubo Dal [Youth Party] with hockey-sticks which left Angur Ali, Salman Miah, Mohon Miah, Ruhel Miah, Selim Miah, Mohon Miah, Jahangir Miah and Tofazzol critically injured. All of the injured BNP men were admitted with Osmani Hospital in Sylhet.

2. At Comilla district in Bangladesh, a BNP worker named Shamsul Huq died in a local clinic. According to information, right after unofficial announcement of election result, members of Grand Alliance [led by Bangladesh Awami League] brought out a prosession. After seeing Shamsul Huq [who worked as the polling agent for BNP candiate], members of Grand Alliance in the prosession, severely injured him with hockey stick and locally make knife. Shamsul Huq was immediately rushed to a local clinic named 'Ma Moni', where he died after 5 days. It is further learnt that Shamsul Huq was a teacher with Hazatkhola High School in Comilla [Bangladesh]. Officer in charge of the local police station said, they found injury spots at various portions of the body of Shamsul Huq.

3. Members of Awami League student front named 'Bangladesh Chatra League' have captured all the residential halls in Dhaka University after massive ransack and burning of valuable papers such as books, educational certificates, identity cards, passport etc. According to information, all the rooms belonging to members of student wings of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami were attacked and ransacked and later Chatra League activists put 4-5 locks in each of the doors. Such anarchy by the members of student wing of Chatra League left the entire university campus in extreme reign of fear. General students, who are not belonging to any of the political forces or parties are refraining from attending classes, fearing sudden attach by the members of Bangladesh Awami League's student activists. The vice chancellor of Dhaka University Professor SMA Fayez has decided to resign at any moment.

4. In Magura district, Awami League activists attacked a number of shops, business establishments and houses of BNP leaders. At least 15 women including children were critically injured in such incidents. Many of the workers and supporters of BNP left their village in fear of any sudden attack by the Awami League activists.

5. In Khulna's Dumuria Upazillah Awami League activists severely injured one local minority [Hindu] man named Fakir Das for casting vote in favor of BNP candidate. Fakir Das is admitted in hospital in critical condition. Another minority member named Jyotish Mondal was attacked by Awami League men while he was working in peddy field. Awami League men beat Jyotish Mondal in the peddy field with wooden stick thus serious injuring his face and head. Some of the female members of families in the locality are also reportedly raped by Awami League activists for casting vote in favor of BNP candidates. It is further learnt that Chatra League activists are also demanding extortion from the local businessmen and continuing to loot cattles from the poor farmers. Local administration is keeping mum on each of such incidents are are hasitant in taking any action.

6. Members and activists belong to Bangladesh Awami League and Jatiyo Party are continuing their reign of terror in Pirganj under Rangpur district. They attacked a local agro comples owned by BNP's former minister, looted cash and valuables thus ransacking the entire project. According to eye witnesses at least 300 Awami League and Jatiyo Party workers attacked the project and continuing devastation for hours. When members of law enforcing agencies came to control the situation, Awami League activists argued that, the BNP men had created such project with money accrued through corruption. Now, they [Awami League] men are taking share from such ventures.

7. Supporters and members of Bangladesj Awami League attacked and ransacked two schools in Jhalokathi district. A source in local Awami League told reporters that their workers went to the educational institutions to destroy the potraits of former Prime Minister.

8. In Modhupur under Tangail district, hundreds of local men were attacked and injured by Awami League activists for for voting in favor of BNP candidates.

All the above information are just part of what is going on in the country. And, of course, this is no good news for any new government. We want to believe that chief of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina will certainly ensure good governance and she will not allow any such anarchism on the people of the country, which gave her a historic victory. As the new government will take oath on Tuesday, it is well understood that the entire administration will not be able to ignore any verbal instruction by the next Prime Minister of this country. Let us just keep our fingers crossed to see a very timely and bold step by Sheikh Hasina.

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