When anyone anywhere of the world talk about the trial of Criminals against Humanity conducted in Bangladesh during the liberation war of 1971 that is progressing in Bangladesh in International Criminal Tribunal one must know the context.
Strong Governments of USA, China, and Many Muslim Countries of the Middle East were actively supporting the genocide that occupation Pakistan Army was carrying out. USA even ordered its naval fleet to move to Bay of Bengal from Indian Ocean in December when Pakistan was almost losing the war. USA also spearheaded a resolution in UN Security council seeking a cease fire to save Pakistan. Only India and Russia stood firm behind our heroic efforts. Off course world media and people of civilized world provided historic support and encouragement.
The birth of Bangladesh on December 16, 1971 was a big slap to the government of the big nations. They could not forget the insult. They continued conspiring against Bangladesh and were in a mission to destabilize the country. They could finally deliver their revenge through implementing the midnight massacre of August 1975 and Jail Killing of November 1975 through their planted agents. The mission was to wipe out pro-liberation forces leadership and set up their puppet regime.
The killing of Father of the Nation served a critical set back which put paid to her sincere efforts of developing Bangladesh as a Roaring Tiger of the East. For the self-styled champions of democracy military dictators were more acceptable than popular people government. Bangladesh back propelled under Zia and Ershad from 1975 to 1990. Coup, counter coup, state-sponsored killings made Bangladesh almost a dysfunctional country.
Sheikh Hasina who was nothing more than an ordinary housewife of a nuclear scientist survived the avalanche of August 1975 along with her sister Rehana. She lost all her near and dear ones including her parents and brothers. I hope any Bangladeshi lady placing herself in Hasina’s shoe can understand her challenges. She had to take up the challenges of holding the mantle of her iconic father and work relentlessly to salvage Bangladesh Awami League from virtual ruins. The killers and conspirators kept on hunting for her head and made several deadly attacks on her life. Only Allah with her mercy saved her. Many party stalwarts abandoned her, leaving her sloughing in the sand. She survived and she could bring her party back in state power in 1996 and 2009.
Looking Back to 1996-2001
A strategic mistake of Hasina caused her party Awami League lose the General election of 1991 after autocrat Ershad regime was thrown out through mass upsurge. BNP-led government continued almost in the same vein like military dictators of post 1975 regimes. Indemnity act was not rescinded. Neither Bangabandhu killers nor war criminals were even touched. The evil syndicates forming nexus in a planned manner started destroying milestones of liberation war. Bangabandhu and talks about liberation were forbidden in national media. History of liberation was distorted and doctored. Evil syndicates set their root firmly in all spheres of national life.
Pro-liberation leadership possibly made first major mistake of taking Jamaat under their wings in agitation against BNP demanding a constitutional amendment for a neutral caretaker government. According to many it was proposed by Jamaat at that time. Anyway a BNP government formed through a controversial election of 1996 had to carry out the amendment of constitution creating provision of a Neutral Caretaker Government over viewing national election.
Hasina-led Government of Consensus won the election but with marginal majority in 1996. Yet that government carried out huge reforms. Bangladesh from a deficit country became self-sufficient in food. Energy crisis was successfully confronted several milestone projects. Indemnity act could be rescinded, trial of Bangabandhu killers started and verdict from lower court announced. The alleged killers appealed to higher court and the proceedings were continuing. During this time BNP did not cooperate with the government and silently formed alliance with anti-Liberation forces. Few more attempts were made on life of Hasina and some acts of terrorism like Ramna Batomool Incident took place.
In 2001, Hasina made another strategic error. Hasina in point blank to visiting US President Bill Clinton refused to accept US Government proposal of letting UNICOL export gas to India. Overnight the conspirators conspired. People like Abdul Awal Mintoo and others changed hue and few advisors of caretaker government worked to manipulate the election bringing BNP Jamat-led 4 party alliances back to state power.
Period from 2001-2006
It was period when continuation of huge development activities initiated by government in 1996-2001 could take Bangladesh to a path of sustained progress. But a corrupt and terrorist syndicate backed-Government made Bangladesh a safe haven of state sponsored terrorism, anarchy and corruption. Two leading notorious War Criminals Matiur Rahman Nijamee and Ali Ahsan Mujaheed became Minister of a Country which we liberated risking our life as teenagers and through blood and sweat of many. Elected MPs like SAMS Kibria and Ahshanullah Master were murdered by state sponsored criminals. Deadly grenade attack was carried out by state sponsored terrorist group on an opposition rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in a bid to kill Sheikh Hasina. Terrorists like Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai let loose reign of terror till under international pressure stage sponsored arrest and hanging were made. The Bangabandhu Murder case proceedings were kept in abeyance.
Serious law and order situation and unbridled corruption catalyzed by alternate power House ”Hawa Bhavan” earned Bangladesh the ignominy of the most corrupt country of the world for four successive time. Finally greater opposition united force had to stage relentless street agitation against misrule of the government when a doctored interim caretaker government was set up for manipulating the election. Army-backed caretaker government took over in January 2007.
Period from 2007 -2009
It was mixed with some successes and several failures. The then army chief tried to set his feet in the shoes of his predecessor military dictators Zia Ur Rahman or Ershad. He acting from behind using the general sentiment of the people against corruption arrested many top political leaders including two leading ladies. An attempt to create an alternate political party with all season politicians and split major political parties failed. Government was forced to give election but by that time the fragile democratic institutions were almost at the verge of collapse. Sheikh Hasina Led Government of grand alliance won landslide victory and formed government in 2009.
To Be Continued
** Trial and Punishment of War Criminals
BDST: 0903 HRS, SEP 19, 2014
