Sunday, March 3, 2013

BANGLADESH IN TURMOIL – PRO AND ANT- REFORMISTS ON A COLLISSION COURSE


For quite sometime now, Bangladesh is witnessing a clash between pro and anti-government organizations like   the main opposition Party BNP (Bangladesh National Party) led by Begum Khalida Ziya  and its ally Jamaat-E-Islami  and pro-govt supporters – the new  generation of youth who are pro-democratic and pro-secular. The new generation of youth who constitute lakhs and lakhs were not even born during Bangladesh revolution under the leadership of Banga Bandhu Mujibur Rehman against the biased approach of the Pakistani authorities towards East Pakistan. East Bengal which was part of Pakistan since Pakistan was formed after India got bifurcated into two due to the consistent demands of Muslim League led by Muhammed Ali Jinnah to have a separate country for Muslims. With the division of India, Pakistan came into existence and consequently West Pakistan and East Pakistan were created. The continuous neglect of East Pakistanis by the ruling authorities of West Pakistan irked the East Pakistanis, their basic minimum requirements even were not attended to by the ruling authorities who were controlling the levers of power from West Pakistan forced the East Pakistani citizens to gather under one umbrella and their periodic revolts and rebellion ruthlessly suppressed by the army loyal to the Pakistani govt. But with life getting more difficult due to rampant poverty, massive unemployment, and exploitation of resources by Pakistani authorities, East Pakistanis were left with no other alternative but to revolt against the misrule of Pakistani authorities under the leadership of Mujibur Rehman who was extended generous support by the then Indira Gandhi govt by providing funds and logistical support first and as a revenge Pakistan declared war against India. India was forced to provide army support too to the East Pakistanis under Mujibur Rehman which resulted in the formation of a new nation called Bangladesh. Indian forces retaliated strongly on the Western front against the Pakistani forces, till Indian forces emerged victorious with Pakitsani forces conceding defeat in the end. It was in the year 1971.
Mujibur Rehman, architect of Bangladesh showered his gratitude profusely on Indira Gandhi govt for standing by his country thru thick and thin and he sincerely wished to maintain friendly relations with India. Mujibur Rehman occupied the saddle under the banner of Awami League, his new born party, as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.  Immediately after ascending the chair he initiated large-scale reforms on various fronts for the uplift of the masses who were suffering since a long time due to poverty, unemployment and brutal repression by the Pakistani authorities. While he was busy paving the way for a self-reliant Bangladesh on one side, a coterie of army men under the influence of certain military leaders loyal to Pakistan were making preparations for a coup-de-tat against the secular govt of Mujibur Rehman. Unaware of the behind the scene activities of the cunning and wily army personnel Mujibur Rehman proceeded  along with his business of building up a reformed Bangladesh but his dreams of giving a facelift to his nation remained short-lived as a result of a bloody coup organised by the pro-Pakistani military leaders in which along with Mujibur Rehman, most of his family members were assassinated which shook not only his countryment but the whole world. The brutal assassination of Mujibur Rehman and his family members invited the wrath and contempt of the entire world.
The military junta under the leadership of General Zia-Ur-Rehman unleashed violence across the country and as a consequence thousands of Bangladeshis perished. National Emergency was declared, freedom of expression curtailed by gagging the media and  imprisoned a number of Awami  leaders and supporters and all signs of revolt nipped in the bud.
Sheikh Hazina Wajid, the incumbent Prime Minister of Bangladesh was abroad during the revolution and hence she could escape from the clutches of the evil forces which took control of the nation.
Govts came and went but those who took the initiative to hatch a conspiracy to assassinate Mujibur Rehman, his family members and thousands of citizens loyal to Bangabandhu who got perished in the revolution roamed free through the streets of Bangladesh had to be brought to justice by the incumbent govt of Hazina Wajid who was sworn in as Prime Minister in 2009 the second time.
Apprehending punishment a few military leaders who had hatched a conspiracy to oust the Mujibur Rehman from power sought asylum abroad. However, a determined Hazina wanted all the culprits be brought to justice took the initiative to form three local courts under International Crimes Tribunal. which later awarded death penalty to the culprits and others were tried in absentia and awarded capital punishment.
Those who were already under the custody of govt sent to gallows and many are to follow. 
The new generation of youth who drew inspiration from the history of Bangladesh War of Independence are naturally enraged and they have risen in revolt demanding exemplary punishment be awarded to the leaders of Jamaat-E-Islami who were charged with conspiracy, murder,loot, arson, rape and violence. As a result of their demands, Delver Hossain Sayeedee, the 73 year old leader of Jamaat-E-Islami was sentenced to death two days before charging him with conspiracy, murder, arson, loot, rape and violence.
This sentence provoked, Jamaate-E-Islami party leaders and their supporters came out into the streets in large numbers and battled against the police and paramilitary forces resulting in the death of 56 persons including policemen. Jamaat leaders have called for three day shut down of the nation. To counter the rampaging Jamaat-E-Islami supporters the pro-govt youth too in thousands have come out into the streets. As of now, Bangladesh has evolved into a towering inferno with no solution in night.

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