DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR

by  F R Chowdhury

For quite some time, the opposition has been demanding for next general election to be held under an impartial non-party care-taker government. The reason for such demand is obvious when we analyse the activities of the present Awami League (BAL) Government.

In a democratic society it is ridiculous to trust an unelected government rather than the elected government. But situation in Bangladesh is different. Here once in power they do not want to leave the power. It is not because of their desire to serve the nation and its people for a longer period but because they get so used to power that they cannot live without it. But the main reason is something more than that. They become so corrupt that they are afraid of facing the general public as well as the process of law and justice when not in power. When in power, they run the country with judiciary as well as civil administration under their total control. The country is not governed by rule of law but by rule of power and whims. The truth and all evidence relating to such truth come out as soon as they are out of power.

Back in 2006 the BAL (in opposition) sensed some sort of manipulation of the civil administration by the BNP government to get the election results in their favour. The BAL immediately resorted to violent all-out movement on the streets and forced the BNP government to agree to a non-party impartial care-taker government to conduct the general election under its control and supervision. After a brief period of emergency rule, BAL won the election by more than 2/3 majority under the care-taker government. This was the original concept of the non-political care-taker government. The system suited the Bangladesh culture and worked well.

Having the God given blessings of 2/3 majority in the parliament the BAL government could virtually do everything good for the country without any opposition. Instead they applied all their intelligence to remove the provision of non-political care-taker government from the constitution. The idea was to win all future elections under their own rule so that they can remain in power for eternal period. This reminds me of the tricks employed by her father Sheikh Mujib who killed democracy and created BAKSHAL to have all powers to him with no opposition. The purpose was identical but methodology used was slightly different.

Having achieved the constitutional amendment, Sheikh Hasina felt relieved that nobody can dislodge her from the power. Then she concentrated on her mission of vengeance. Almost all those connected with her father’s killing were hanged. She treated an armed rebellion as a political issue and carried out negotiations with so-called leaders of the rebellion and even declared amnesty. In the process Bangladesh lost more officers than what it lost during the war of liberation. I wonder if it was another vengeance of her father’s killing by a group of officers. Then she poured huge sums of state money the bereaved families. She started with so-called war criminals trial only because the Jamat-e-Islami withdrew its support from the BAL led coalition. She started naming every institution after her father as if he alone created Bangladesh. According to her, Bangladesh belonged firstly to her family and then to her party. She was very angry as to why Professor Yunus was awarded Nobel Prize instead of her or her father.

The Prime Minister protects a number of world champion corrupt persons. In her eyes they are real patriots. The BAL government has disgraced the nation with Padma Bridge project where the World Bank had to withdraw because the government would not take any action against those involved in corruption. Another minister whose PS or APS was caught with car full of money has been made “uzir-e-khamakha”. Defence purchases are made on deferred payment only to collect commission in advance. One day Bangladesh (some future government) will have to pay for it. News items are being published almost everyday about corruption by the present government.  Mahmudur Rahman and Adil are in jail because they dared to publish some of it. Journalist Sagar and Runi had to give their lives because they knew too much about government corruption. BNP leader Ilyas Ali had to disappear because he knew about government’s plan to get rid of vocal opposition leaders.

The judiciary in Bangladesh is now the most obedient servant of the government. Many stories about their activities have been published in various papers. The civil administration has been cleared of all persons with beard and cap. Most of the efficient officers who do not belong to BAL school of politics have been made OSD. Many of them are also retired. Those with connections in the BAL and BCL are supposed to have “mukti judher chetona” and are eligible for promotion. At this moment there are 1316 deputy secretaries against 830 posts; 1013 joint secretaries against 250 posts and 239 additional secretaries against 120 posts. The prime minister is ready to recruit more and promote more to ensure that there will be no other civil servant (other than those with “chetona”) left at any level to render support to Election Commission for conduct of election. This damage is certainly beyond repair. I wonder how any non-political care-taker government will ensure free and fair election.

The situation is even worse with police administration. Every key position is held by BAL or BCL cadre. The civil administration with active support of the police will create the most undesired and unethical strong-hold at every level to manipulate the results in favour of BAL. The elections will be meaningless. Democracy will have its natural death.

The armed forces were pride of the nation. It had its image above all politics. That is no more the case. In the name of conspiracy theory many smart officers have been sacked or retired. Many others left out of frustration. The prime minister has virtually replaced the president as their commander in chief. She attends all their ceremonies and functions. Something never heard of in any parliamentary democracy – neither in India nor in the UK.

The prime minister is continuing her unjust and unfair war on other fronts as well. She is keeping Ershad in suspense by threatening him of reviving the corruption cases against him. She is threatening to take action against Professor Yunus only because he spoke in support of the care-taker government. The BAL leaders are talking about a bill to make provision for jail for leader of any party that calls for “hartal”. Nothing will work. When the time comes, nothing can save them and soon the nation will know about all their misdeeds.

Enough damage has been done to every possible sector and institution. For Heaven’s sake, stop it now. Live and let live.

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1. 

   Mohammed Ziauddin (6th Batch) says:

   October 9, 2013 at 4:52 pm

   Totally a rubbish article. How a well educated person can write this type of things supporting the killers of Sheik Mujibur Rahman and take side of the war criminals ? Also I do agree wilh Mr. Delwar,s view about the article.

   • 

     Z. Faruque says:

     October 17, 2013 at 6:33 am

     It is an extra ordinary fact based article. We may have different political views, but as an honest person, we should put fact over political /personal view, specially when it effect our national interest. It is a shame we failed a miserably as a bangladeshi, because we prefer to thrive as a BAL or BNP activist – most of the times our small financial benifits pushes our national interest to the back seat. Thank your Sir – I appreciate that a lot for this extra ordinary article.
     I know it risky to write a article like that in current political atmosphere, someone in power may kidnap (ghoom beyond trace) for this type of writting. One more thing, I don’t think that Moinuddin /Fakhruddin was a Caretaker Government, rather indian / RAW’s agents.
2. 

   Dilwar Ali 6th Batch says:

   October 19, 2013 at 6:29 am

   Dear Sir

   I am a regular follower of the articles you post on various online sites that covers topics such as the advancement, welfare and wellbeing of sea farers / mariners. Your recent article “damaged beyond repair” (posted on http://www.juldians.org) was a notable tangent from your normal discussion threads. As you are aware, during our time at Juldia, we desisted from discussing politics. We strictly refrained from discussing political matters whilst at sea or at any mariners’ congregation. You are a professional mariner, and also an expert in the sea farer Code of Conduct. Noting this, I believe that the article within the context of this narrative will provoke disputes and incite unnecessary angst. The Juldian Alumni forum should not be used as the catalyst to express your personal political views. Therefore, please do not dilute the substance of JMAA by attempting to pervasively express subjective political perspectives. We strive to remain agnostic from the political matters, and to focus on matters that pertain to the JMAA.

   Kind regards,

   Dilwar Ali(6th batch, Engr)
   Melbourne
3. 

   Fazlur Rahman Chowdhury says:

   October 19, 2013 at 6:32 am

   Dear Dilwar,

   I am glad to know that you read most of my articles published in various papers and magazines from time to time. Thank you. I have noted your concern about an article under title “Damaged beyond repair” published in JMAA on 3rd. October 2013.

   I would like to make it clear that I am not an official of JMAA. I do not maintain or operate its website. In fact I have no control over them. I cannot put my article there. I do not remember having requested anyone to put it there.

   My articles written on professional matters are normally forwarded to LL, FP, TW (general – common interest), some of the Bangladesh papers (those with special emphasis on Bangladesh) and a few to Seaways (NI journal). Informatively within the last one year Seaways have published five of my articles. Some of these articles were even published in maritime journals from Philippines.

   The articles written on social/ economic/ political aspects are normally forwarded to papers published from Bangladesh and community papers published in the UK. There are three on-line papers who publish them regularly. They are: 1. Bangladeshchronicle.net 2. parisvisionnews.com and 3. sheikhnews.com. Sometime other papers publish them by making an acknowledgement such as “courtesy of ……” etc.

   One thing that I want to make absolutely clear that I do not blindly support or oppose any particular party. I raise my voice against all injustice. I speak out against anything that is not fair. I believe in democracy and human rights and I write in support of that philosophy. I shall continue to write until we have real democracy (including duly elected local governments), human rights and freedom of expression.

   Thank you again.

   Fazlur