Bangladesh democracy enters black hole

No dictator in the history of the world ever realized their offenses and the ultimate reaction in public of such actions, till they either were ousted or assassinated. This particular attitude has not changed in most of the countries in the world, irrespective of whether it is autocratic or democratic nation. Bangladeshi finance minister AMA Muhit very recently commented in a program of business community that, Bangladeshi economy had already entered a black hole. Echoing the comments of the finance minister, I would rather say, Bangladesh democracy has already entered a fearsome black hole, with the current arrogant ruling party and extremely irresponsible opposition. Starting from the death of opposition aligned lawyer MU Ahmed [Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed] to ruling party's offensive comments on protest rally at Shahid Minar under the leader of Syed Abul Maksud, Bangladeshis are once again reminded on the extreme chaotic situation which prevailed in the country during pre 1/11 offensives of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, which overtook power from the chief of the caretaker government and installed Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed as the top man to run the caretaker government, which ultimately got involved in bringing numerous charges including corruption cases against the politicians, where figures like Sheikh Hasina or Khaleda Zia were not spared. Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] claimed that MU Ahmed [who is a former deputy attorney general] was severely tortured in custody by the Detective Branch of Bangladesh Police at the instruction of ruling party supremos, causing in Ahmed's tragic death. Though police, ruling party and even BNP terms it as "death", I would rather call it murder, because, Bangladesh Police, which has become extremely polluted as the ruling parties continue to use police like mere political cadres – has no minimum credibility by now. Hundreds of people were already murdered in police custody in Bangladesh as well as the entire police force has turned extremely corrupt as well as alarmingly apolitical. And it is important to mention here that, Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed died in police custody.

Murders in police custody:

Following the tragic murder of Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, his widow, Selina Ahmed lodged a murder case against home minister Sahara Khatun, attorney general Mahbub-e-Alam, home secretary, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, detective branch deputy commissioner and Shahbagh police officer-in-charge on charge of killing her husband. A group of lawyers, led by Supreme Court Bar Association president Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, submitted the first information report, signed by Selina, to the Ramna police on July 26, 2011, and as anticipated, police declined to record the case, being instructed by "high-ups".

MU Ahmed, who was admitted to the hospital on August 16, breathed his last on August 26, 2011. Before being admitted to Square Hospital, he underwent treatment at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in custody. Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed was arrested on August 11, 2011 and severely tortured inside the interrogation room of Detective Branch of Bangladesh Police, where he became sick and lost sense, just in couple of hours. At this stage, police hurriedly rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital but physician there declined to accept his seeing the serious health condition. Finally he was admitted at National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases [NICVD] in Dhaka. Initially police made frantic bid in suppressing the entire incident and they even put pressure on Selina Ahmed in signing bonds stating her husband was not tortured in police custody. While police rushed MU Ahmed to hospital in critical condition, his hands and legs were cuffed.

Following the murder of Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, Supreme Court Bar Association president, Khandakar Mahbub Hossain said: "The killing was a part of the government's 'attempt' to 'silence' any voice of protest. "The government, home minister, state minister for law, attorney general, police inspector general and Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner has to take the responsibility for the death."

The big fat lie:

The detective branch police in a hurriedly arranged briefing claimed that MU Ahmed was not in custody and had been on bail since August 16, 2011. They said: "He was in our custody for only 30 minutes on August 11, 2011. We did not torture him rather took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after he complained of chest pain," said Monirul Islam, deputy commissioner of Detective Branch.

Well, this is a real big fat lie of Bangladesh police, as usual. Late Momtaz Uddin Ahmed was in police custody till the day of his demise. If he was "on bail" as claimed by the official of Detective Branch, then why large number of police were deployed at the hospital right after he was admitted? Why his hands and legs were cuffed, when he was being shifted from NICVD to a private hospital? Most importantly, the deputy commissioner claimed that MU Ahmed was rushed to hospital within 30 minutes of his arrest. But, in reality, he was arrested at 9 am in the morning and admitted at hospital after 4 pm. Does this show that he was "rushed to hospital in 30 minutes"?

Senior jurist Rafiqul Huq demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of the former deputy attorney general stating, "It is a death in police custody. It should be probed by a judicial inquiry led by a retired Supreme Court judge."

The UN Peace Keeping Force:

It should be mentioned here that, since Bangladesh Awami League came in power in January 2009, murder in police custody has significantly increased while law and order situation in the country has turned extremely alarming. Cases of murders in police custody in Bangladesh are merely investigated in proper manner, and in most cases, the liable police are spared from legal action, as they act on the directives of high-ups in the ruling party. For years, it has become a culture in Bangladesh of using the police forces as political cadres. When members of Bangladesh Police are serving in the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces [UNPKF], it is high time to think, if the United Nations will take any steps in sending back the members of Bangladesh Police from UNPKF, as the police have already become proven violator of human rights and even murderers. No nation will possibly love to compensate such monsters with lucrative job at UNPKF.

Arrogant ruling party and irresponsible opposition:

There is possibly no room to debate that, while the ruling party in Bangladesh are behaving most arrogantly the opposition are simply behaving irresponsibly. For more than a year, the opposition is boycotting the parliament session, while main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] is mostly busy in salvaging sons of Begum Khaleda Zia, who already are in exile facing numerous charges, including corruption of course. The opposition, instead of voicing for people's right are very much functioning as mere "private limited company" of the leader of the opposition and the former Prime Minister. On the other hand, the ruling party is increasingly becoming arrogant and aggressive, as if they are given assurance by some unseen forces of remaining in power at least up to 2025, if not more. Bangladesh Awami League, in the name of the government of so-called grand alliance, has actually turned the government as domestic pet of Sheikh Hasina. One of the important members of the ruling party even told the media that, BNP is no more their political rival, but enemy. It should be easily apprehended the degree of threat posed to Bangladesh democracy when the ruling party and the opposition are in visible tug of war.

The black hole:

Eclipse is visible in the political sky of Bangladesh, seeing its democracy once again slipping, but this time not out of track, but right within the direction of an unknown black hole. In the past, Bangladeshi democracy had been obstructed by un-constitutional forces a number of times. Almost a similar situation is being almost ripe now – once again. While rulers are active in turning Bangladesh into an outlawed state, the opposition is no less active in turning the country in to a 'rogue nation'. Corruption, violation of human rights, frequently suffocating freedom of expression, repression of religious minorities and a total lawlessness is seen everywhere. No one has courage to say what waits next, though everyone is well anticipating. People in Bangladesh were expecting dramatic changes in the political behavior of the politicians, especially after the virtual 'tsunami' on two of the largest parties. But the no ne actually learnt any lesson from the past, thus pushing the fate of democracy towards total uncertainty – once again.

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Bangladesh democracy enters black hole

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