BANGABANDU AND THE BEGINNING OF A RIVER OF BLOOD Part 1 The reputed journalist Lawrence Lift Shulz wrote in the Far Eastern Economic Review on 30th Aug 1974 during Bangabandhus reign in power, Corruption and malpractices are nothing new. But Dhaka people thinks the way the corruption and malpractices and plunder of national wealth that had taken place during Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans regime is unprecedented. (1) Then came the tragic event of 1975. It was Major Dalim’s sister’s marriage. Gazi Golam Mustafa the then Red Cross chairmen and the President of Dhaka city Awami League kidnapped Dalim and his wife Nimmi from the Ladies Club at gun point. In the words of major Dalim. (2): Around middle of 1974 an unimaginable incident took place. The army was still deployed all over the country for anti miscreant drive and for recovering illegal arms. My cousin sister Tahmina’s marriage was arranged with Col. Reza. Both sides were close to me. So Nimmi and me became a via media. Two days before the marriage ceremony we came to Dhaka. Dhaka Ladies Club was the selected venue. Many high-ranking dignitaries both civil and military were present as invited guests. Nimmi and I were playing host. My only brother in law Bappi had come over from Canada on holidays. He was also attending the marriage. Every thing was moving smoothly.” In the weeding Golam Mostafa was also invited. The weeding was in progress Golam Mostofa lived not far from Bangabandu’s house. His sons were Sheikh Kamal’s associates and were the notorious goons. They with Golam Mostaf’a direct help picked up Dalim and put him and his wife in a microbus owned by the Red Crescent. The army was notified of the abduction and it put check post all over the city and even it encircled the house of Golam Mostafa to rescue Dalim. But Dalim was not taken to Golam Mostafès house, he was about to be taken to the Rakhi Bahini headquarter in the Shere-Bangla Nager. Dalim warned Mostofa that people saw him picked them and he couldn’t digest the outcome of the event. Mostafa turned the micro bus and took them to Bangabandu to settle the case. Bangabandu called Mahbub the police chief of Dhaka city Mahboob you come hare quickly. Gazi has brought one major and his pals from a marriage ceremony. The major was drunk and was misbehaving with Gazi’s wife. He should be taught a lesson. These army officers have really gone too far. Sir, please ask Mr. Gazi where is the major. Mahboob requested. Gazi informed the Prime Minister that he has brought them along, Gazi has brought them along with him here. They are in the car out side. The Prime Minister told Mahboob. Sir Gazi Saheb has picked up Dalim and Nimmi and others from the Ladies Club. Dalim’s cousin was getting married today. Mahboob conveyed to Prime Minister. What are you saying? Exclaimed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I am telling you the truth. You please take care of them and I am just coming.(3) That led to the complication of events in which as always Mujib took his cadre Golam Mostofa’s side. But Major Dalim and the others leaving Bangabandhu’s house, was assured by Bangabandhu that he will do justice but apparently Dalim was dismissed from his job even neglecting Shafiullah’s recommendation not to do so. BKSAL and the gasping suffocation This was an event-taking place at a time when the country’s economy, culture, politics and even its sovereignty were at stake, and the country was in “a state of gasping suffocation. Kissanger characterized such a miserable state of Bangladesh with Mujib, as “the bottomless basket case” Not true; the bottom was not yet to be dropped. For the next event there was a slow gathering of storms. Col Rashid discussed with Dalim and Moshtaque Ahamed that BKSAL has to be scrapped, if necessary Sheikh Mujib has to be killed otherwise the country and the Nation would not survive. Col Farooq supported the view of Rashid Col Farooq further stated that according to the plans Major Rashid by way of his political contacts used to keep in touch with his relation, the then Commerce Minister Khandaker Moshtaque Ahmed. Overtly, it was as if everything usual but there was a gathering of huge storm only known to some people including Bangabandu through rumor. On the 15th August 1975 morning when the occupiers of the Bangabandu house unusually woke up early hearing the sound of shooting from a distance at the direction of the house, it was a heart wrenching event; the coup against Bangabandu. Finally, came the showdown; the majors now entered the house and was face to face with Bangabandu for the last time. It was shortly after dawn in the twilight between the darkness and an emerging light. At this moment a great change was going to take place. When Bangabandu came down half way through the stairs, he saw some faces facing him. He even knew some of them by name; surprisingly, they were not the Pakistani army officers in 1971 came to take him away but didn’t kill him; these are also not the notorious Al Bade brigade either. These were Mujib’s own people, the decorated freedom fighters who previously heard him on the 7th March saying “Aberer Sangram Shadinator Sangram and they took up arms to fight for the liberation of the country. But by now they found out Mujib’s speech was conditional to the Pakistani General’s that if they don’t transfer power to him then “Aberer Sangram Shadinator Sangram and afterward he even engaged himself for negotiation to save Pakistan; triggering a genocide in which no Awami Leader except some unprepared ordinary people died. To the majors, Mujib by now turned himself a dictator, killing anybody that opposed his misrule. To them he betrayal with the spirit of the liberation war.’(4) At this time, standing on the steps what was he thinking? He must be thinking that he could motivate people with promises, he could even cry easily and blackmail people, but how to deal with these people standing in front of him? If he were a democrat at heart he must have thoughts about his misdeeds: Did he think about speaker Shahed Alis death he commanded, Shamsul Hoques insanity he caused, Sheraj Sikders death he personally supervised, the 35 thousand of Rakkhi bahinis cold-blooded murders, him negotiating with Pakistan through the US embassy mediation to save himself and his family leaving his country helpless, his lies to Ariana Falacy about his personal heroism and love for his country while in Pakistan? His signing of a 25 year treaty with India. But perhaps he didnt have enough time to think about them. Next morning if the majors didnt arrive at the Banglbandhu house, Bangabandu would be giving a speech at Dhaka University where he was once a law student but was also a law breaking man instigating the fourth class employees to call a strike for which he was fined and expelled by the university. If he lived, today he would be here to declare the district governors over the jurisdiction of the civil administration making his dictatorial grip over the country stronger; it was going to be his further breaking of the rational system of governance called bureaucracy and the politicization of the administration. Bangabandhu was a clever man but the problem with him was he enjoyed absolute power. He liked his Jubo League and Chatro League cadres and was very kind to them. And they remained devoted to him. He used them to crush the opposition. Despite all the assurances, he knew that he made many enemies and lately he placed an import order for the custom made latest model bulletproof limousine car to be imported from Germany. Among other things, he also planned to send Ziaur Rahman (who was not happy at Mujibs 1974 Man- made famine) to East Germany as the Bangladesh ambassador abruptly ending the latter’s military career; causing annoyance in the once loyal Ziaur Rahman. But transferring him didnt take shape yet. Mujib also had his India supervised Rakkhi bahini stationed in Shere Bangla Nagar to protect him. BKSALI supporters already mounted slogan one country, with one leader, Mujib is our leader. He must have felt relieved thinking that he had nothing to worry about. However, Bhasani who was kept under house arrest by Mujib, was still worried for Mujib and warned him that he could be safe only if he remains with people. It says, Mujib was always lucky in everything he decided to do. But this time Bangladesh was lucky and Mujib’s reign was cut short before the sunrise in the morning. Hearing his death assassination, people didnt cry but their were some reported outburst of joy. The nation was stunned but not shocked at the death of one of its brave sons, who delivered the powerful 7th March speech. But by now turned himself the enemy of the people. Abdul Malik Ukil, Mujibs Awami speaker at the National Assembly called the event of Mujibs death as the death of a Feroun. Unfortunate though the majors not only killed him but also everybody present in the Mujib family. It was the massacre of an unimaginable magnitude. One classmate of Mujib who served as the chief judge in Barisal district court (later fired by Mujib) for the judge punishing Mujib cadres led by Sheikh Nasir looting and occupying properties used to tell his colleagues and family members “This man (Mujib) is playing with fire and will be killed with his family and colleagues.” After the installation of the BKSAL government,Tajuddin also personally met Mujib and prophesied that BKSAL would bring the beginning of a river of blood in which many people would drown. True, Mujibs extra judicial killings and his killing of Bangladeshs infant democracy by installing a one party BKSALi rule made him a dictator went against the aspirations of the people. Thus, Mujib’s death was the death of a dictator. But in any standard the killing of the Sheikh family members was not acceptable. However, what is most unfortunate for the nation is that Mujibs misrule set the beginning of a river of blood, the beginning of an ancient justice of eye for an eye that continues till today even in Hasina’s logi-boitha now in 2013-14 her joint forces killing missions on Bangladeshis which is called an Awami revolution based on Mujib Chatona.(5) REFERENCES 1.Lift Shulz wrote in the Far Eastern Economic Review on 30th Aug 1974 2.Major Dalims report: majordalim/h4p16.htm. 3.Ibid 4.Mukojuddho and Awami League http: // you tube/watch?v=P9QWw-D-Qped-feature=related 5. 26th October 2006, AL members killing political opponents Awami Tandob( Logi Boiytha) 2006 Part 2 youtube
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 07:18:05 +0000
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