Pushing the nation towards uncertainty

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a number of leaders of the ruling party are continuing to say that the next general election will be held under Bangladesh Awami League. They also clearly are continuing to say that, any future election under caretaker government is "mission impossible". And with this brilliant scope of holding the next election under the current ruling party in Bangladesh, supporters and a large segment of leaders of Bangladesh Awami League are openly claiming that this party will remain in power at least for next two terms, if not more!

Before going into details on this topic, let me remind my readers that, current Prime Minister in Bangladesh and president of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, not only rejected the holding of election under caretaker government headed by Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed but also called upon her party activists and leaders to come on the street with bamboo and rowing sticks to deny any election under a person, who had been the President of the successive government. Large number of people, mostly from the political opponent quarters of Bangladesh Awami League was mercilessly killed on the streets, in broad-day-light, by the supporters of Bangladesh Awami League visibly at the instruction of the party chief. Now the same party and its leaders, after coming in power, are trying to ensure holding of all future election under elected governments! Isn't it strange enough or even a kind of political hypocrisy?

Bangladesh Awami League also knows well that, they will never be able to allow holding of free and fare election. What they want is, ensuring their return to power and defeat of the opposition parties. And Election Commission will have no other alternatives but to implement this agenda of the ruling party.

I want to simply put here few reasons as to why, opposition political parties or even the people of Bangladesh cannot afford to have fullest trust and confidence on Bangladesh Awami League.

It is said that, color of coal never changes, even if it washed thousands of times. Similarly natures of some bad politicians never change! I am sure, leaders and supporters of Awami League are also fully aware of the reasons as to why they were totally rejected by the voters in 2001. I am confident; Sheikh Hasina also precisely remembers that. But, why they are committing the same blunder if not more this time again?

Let me give some examples. Very recently, during a general strike, Chief Whip of the opposition bench was merciless beaten by two police officers. It was endorsed by the ruling party lawmakers that, both the officers were members of the student front of Bangladesh Awami League during their student life. After mercilessly assaulting a sitting MP as well as eminent leader of the opposition party, the mentioned police officers, under the active leader of Additional Deputy Commission Biplob, pasted thousands of colored posters in the city titled "Chief Whip or Chief Picketer". Whoever saw this poster could easily understand that, ADC Biplob and his colleague officer was trying to save them from possible actions by the court, as a case has already been lodged against them by Opposition Chief Whip Joynal Abedin Faruk.

President Zillur Rahman, who also is a former leader of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League acquitted the killer of Advocate Nurul Islam. Biplob, son of Feni's notorious criminal Abu Taher [who also is a leader of the ruling party] was waiting death sentence in the prison. But, President Zillur Rahman, at the special recommendation of the Prime Minister, simply pardoned the killer, without even thinking about the possible reaction of the family members of Advocate Nurul Islam. It is learnt that, since Awami League came in power, President Zillur Rahman has acquitted 22 killers, absolutely on political consideration. Hundreds of people, facing various types of criminal cases, including murder, extortion, arms, rape etc have also been acquitted by the ministry concerned just because, they are activists of Bangladesh Awami League. On the other hand, being patronized by the ruling party, father of recently acquitted killer Biplob, notorious god-father Abu Taher is back with his old-styled terrorism in the locality. People of the locality are already turned victim in the grips of "Taher Commandoes".

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will remain liable to their own conscious for granting mercy to 22 killers [the list will grow surely in next two and half years]. Both of them precisely know the degree of pain of losing nearest one. I fail to understand as to how; Hasina or Zillur could ever show any mercy to the killers. How Sheikh Hasina would react, if the killers of her father would be acquitted by any government in this country? Or, is it the plain fact that, Sheikh Hasina or Zillur Rahman, being people of privileged class in the country can only expect justice and others not?

It is also very strange to note that Anti Corruption Commission has suddenly become very active in filing corruption case against the leader of the opposition in Bangladesh. Well, let me just remind the Anti Corruption Commission and people who are definitely playing from behind the screen. Do you remember what consequences the military controlled interim government faced after they put both the leaders into prison? An imprisoned Khaleda Zia will become the worst headache for this ruling party. Just remember this. And do not even dream that you will be able to hold the power by staging any future election with the collaboration of political monkeys like Husain Muhammed Ershad. Whoever gave you this formula of holding the next election under the elected government has basically screwed your political future, which you will realize soon as well.

The present government will face worst ever challenges even during the month of Ramadan. The government has miserably failed in improving the power supply issue in the country in past two and half years. Rather the situation is even worst. Only on the first day of Ramadan, power failure was seen suddenly increased. In a number of parts of Bangladesh, people violently protested the power supply. I am sure; such protests will continue and intensify. And of course, it puts power houses and employees of the power generation and distribution companies into extreme volatility. Even a small mistake by the rulers or their agents may cause eruption of people's upsurge in Bangladesh, several folds higher than what happened at Kansat.

Bangladesh is at the cross road of political uncertainty. No one can see the light, once again. The large parties are busy in establishing the culture of political dynasty in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already brought her son and daughter in the show by making one an "IT Specialist" and the other a "Psychologist". The latest inclusion in the "factory" of producing next genre of political dynasts is Saima Wazed Hossain [Putul]. She is claimed to be the Bangladesh Chapter head of an American organization named Autism Speaks. The website of this organization was established in 2005. But, searching the website of Autism Speaks, there is no mention about Ms. Saima to be the Chapter Head. Rather her identity is given as "daughter of Bangladeshi Prime Minister". I certainly have fullest admiration towards Saima Wazed Hossain [Putul] for what she has initiated about awareness on Autism in Bangladesh. She not only deserves my personal appreciation but also support from the people and the government of Bangladesh. But, I also want to see that, this "Autism" issue is not used as political ladder of this young lady as her brother already tried to use IT issue as his own political ladder.

The current government came in power with the hope of establishing "Digital Bangladesh". Well, that sounds real good, as it did when American President Barack Obama made his campaign titled "Change". Everyone possibly is well aware of the fate of President Obama by now. It is easily anticipated that, White House will once again go to Republicans during the next general election, if the Democrats will fails to select some charismatic figures like Hillary Clinton. In Bangladesh, well, up to 2013, when the current government will hold the next general election [and it is highly doubted that any such election will ever take place under this government], voters will be delighted to see a Bangladesh with daily load-shedding of 10-12 hours and rural areas mostly remaining in dark. Well this is "Digital Bangladesh" of the Bangladesh Awami League. The concept of digitalizing has two different sides. One is bright and the other is dark. And no doubt, the current government is pushing the socio-political and economic future of Bangladesh into total darkness – a complete uncertainty.

Related Topics: International News receive the latest by email: subscribe to weekly blitz's free mailing list

Pushing the nation towards uncertainty

Comment on this item