Military backed interim government in Bangladesh has definitely shown the brilliant example of humanity by releasing former Prime Minister and chief of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina on bail for 8 weeks for getting treatment abroad. It is well understood that the former Prime Minister, who pronounces to be ‘Jananetri’ [People’s Leader] does not either have confidence in Bangladeshi doctors or treatment facilities, for which her treatment was only possible abroad. On the other hand, she continues to consider Bangladesh as an ‘unsafe’ land, for which, she already pushed her son and daughter as well as only sister abroad, thus deciding to stay in the country alone to harbor opportunity of getting into power by using the political ladder.
Sheikh Hasina's political career started as a student activist in Eden College in 1960's. However, she was mostly under the shadow of her father until her family was killed in a coup d'état on August 15, 1975. She and her sister Sheikh Rehana, who were in West Germany at the time, were the only surviving members of the family. She later moved to the United Kingdom, and then was in self-exile in New Delhi, India before returning to Bangladesh, and Bangladeshi politics, on 17 May 1981.
Daughter of a politician in Pakistan, Hasina got involved in politics as a student. While at Government Intermediate College, she was elected vice president of the College Students Union for the term 1966-67. Her opponent was the leftist student leader Motiya Chowdhury, who much later joined Awami League and became a member of Hasina's cabinet.
In Dhaka University, Sheikh Hasina was a member of the Chhatra League [the student wing of Awami League] and secretary of the Rokeya Hall unit. During the liberation war in 1971, Hasina, then a young mother, was in house arrest with her mother, brothers, sister and her son. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was imprisoned in West Pakistan during this period. After liberation, Hasina's involvement in politics was minimal as Sheikh Kamal, her brother, was touted as Mujib's successor.
While living in self-exile in India, Sheikh Hasina was elected the president of Bangladesh Awami League in 1981. After she returned to the country, the erstwhile president Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in yet another coup in May, 1981. The following year, General Hossain Mohammad Ershad captured power through a bloodless coup and declared Martial law. Although opposing the military dictator Ershad openly, it is widely rumored in Bangladesh society that, Hasina is reality had always undertable relations with Ershad. As a result of such ‘hidden relations’, Sheikh Hasina participated in the general election in 1986 under Ershad’s rule, although on the very early evening of declaring her party’s joining the election, Sheikh Hasina told at a public meeting that those who will join the election will be treated as ‘National Traitor’. After she herself joined the election, Hasina cunningly tried to avoided to comment on her traitor theory. It is learnt from several insiders within Ershad’s party that a heavy amount of compensation was transacted in bringing Hasina to the election. Following joining the election in 1986, Hasina became the leader of the opposition in the parliament, virtually under the blessings of the military junta.
Following the ouster of Ershad in 1990, Bangladesh had the first ever free and fair election with Justice Shahbuddin Ahmed. In this election, Awami League lost with Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP], as people of the country were still to forget Hasina’s mockery and fradulant political behavior during Ershad’s rule. But, BNP failed to contribute anything good to the nation, except pushing further the culture of state level corruption and nepotism. As a result, Hasina formed movement alliance with leftists and Jamaat-e-Islami and won 100 seats during the general election in 1996. As per the provisions in Bangladesh, any party can only form the government with little more than 150 seats. For this, Hasina knocked the doors of Hussein Muhammed Ershad and Professor Gulam Azam, leaders of Jatiyo Party and Jamaat-e-Islami respectively for their support in forming the government. Although Ershad agreed to accord support and become a partner in the government of national consensus, Jamaat-e-Islami only extending support to Awami League but refrained from joining the government. Corruption grew to a tremendous level during this tenure of Awami League, as most of the ministers were seen taking bribes almost openly while Hasina and her sister Rehana were at the top of the names of recipients of kick-backs and bribes. Hasina’s son, Sajib Wajed Joy became the most powerful individual overseas using the post of the advisor to Bangladesh embassy in Washington, defying rules.
Awami League was criticized for harbouring gangsters turned politicians, most notably Jainal Hazari of Feni. Sons of Abul Hasnat Abdullah turned into living terror in Bangladesh while Dipu Chowdhury was a virtual fear to many Bangladeshis. Under Hasina’s patronization, notorious ganster like Shahmim Osman became visibly unchallenged god father in country’s Narayanganj area.
Hasina’s government was also criticized for overusing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the media and naming many major institutions and constructions by his name. Awami League maintained that previous governments have tried to systematically eradicate Sheikh Mujib's legacy from the country and that the honor he was getting was long overdue. BNP also accused Awami League of politicizing the administration and state-owned media. Her party was also accused of being lenient towards India, especially after a shoot-out between border forces of India and Bangladesh left 16 Indian and 3 Bangladeshi border guards dead.
During the last year of Sheikh Hasina’s rule, for the first time in Bangladesh’s history, Transparency International [TI] declared Bangladesh to be the most corrupt country in the world. Though Bangladesh had almost always been in the bottom five, the last position created an uproar and was seen by many as a major failure by Hasina. Though Hasina has been voted out of office since, Bangladesh has remained at the last position. The opposition demanded that Hasina resign and declare early elections, but Hasina refused to do so.
During her tenure as the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina made a law to get the permanent ownership of Gonobhaban [palace of the Prime Minister], which was greatly criticized at home and abroad. She also handed over ownership of vernacular weekly newsmagazine Bichitra to her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana. Awami League touts were seen in many of the important government offices, including ministries, wearing black jacket [popularly known as Mujib coat], to persuade various business or transfer-promotion deals.
During the tenure of Sheikh Hasina, old Mig-29 fighter jets were procured from Russian Federation, thus suppressing fact, with the ulterior goal of misappropriating huge amount of public money. Hasina uncle, irregularly appointed and promoted General Mustafizur Rahman, who was the chief of army, helped his niece in this particular deal. It is learnt that, all those Mig-29 aircrafts were earlier supplied to a South Asian nation, which were returned after almost eight months, for having mechanical trouble. Later these aircrafts were re-sold to Bangladesh with patronization of Sheikh Hasina and some of her influential cabinet members, against a reasonable amount of kick-back.
While Sheikh Hasina was the Prime Minister in Bangladesh, her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana turned into a collection agent for the PM in London to receive amounts of bribe or kick-back.
The Awami League succumbed to a landslide defeat in the 2001 Parliament elections. It won only 62 seats in the Parliament, while the Four Party Alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party won more than 200 seats, giving them a two-third majority in the Parliament. Hasina herself was defeated from a constituency in Rangpur, which happened to contain her husband's hometown, but won from two other seats. Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League rejected the results, claiming that the election was rigged with the help of the President and the Caretaker government. However, the international community was largely satisfied with the elections and the Four Party Alliance went on to form the government. Critics opine that such huge slap on the face of Awami League was because of its limitless corruption, nepotism and series of misdeeds.
But, BNP and its Islamist alliance government was no exception. It further nourished the culture of state-level corruption, nepotism and all forms of lawlessness. Political office of BNP named Hawa Bhaban turned into virtually a parallan government, thus interfearing into most of the state affairs. Tariq Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko [sons of Khaleda Zia] got surrounded by sycophants and culprits. Khaleda Zia’s brother Major [Retired] Sayeed Iskander became one of the mightiest figures in Bangladesh thus controlling various business and postings with the help of his nephew Tareq Rahman. Relatives of Khaleda Zia were seen grabbing many big businesses in the country, while party cadres such as Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, Salauddin Ahmed etc., continuing their reign of terror under patronization of Hawa Bhaban.
Rise of Islamist militancy reached to an alarming level in Bangladesh during this government. It is even alleged that, many of the influential BNP ministers had direct hands behind Islamist militancy groups, such as Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh [JMB], Harkatul Mujahedin Bangladesh [HMB] etc. BNP ministers turned into open patron of local and international terror groups. A state minister inaugurated a bridge in one of the districts, while the bridge was named as ‘Hamas Bridge’ to show support of BNP towards this mega-terrorist organization. British High Commissioner in Bangladesh also fell victim of bomb attack by Islamist militancy group at the Holy Shrine of Shahjalal at Sylhet. None of the issues related to rise of Islamist militancy had ever been properly investigated. It was also rumored that, notorious terrorist named Kala Jahangir was continuing to get blessings from Hawa Bhaban in continuing his notoriety.
During the last tale of BNP-Islamist rule, when some of the influential ministers and members of BNP resigned and joined a new political party formed under the leadership of Dr. Badruddoza Chowdhury, BNP hooligans went into setting fire on business establishments of those leaders as well physically assaulting many.
To ensure continuation of such terrible misrule, BNP and its Islamist partners designed an election with pre-set people in different positions in order to almost make the party once again elected. Sensing this, opposition parties, including Bangladesh Awami League went into massive movement against BNP’s ulterior design. Under the instigation of Sheikh Hasina, her party men went on streets in the capital with wooden sticks and leathal weapons, thus killing several people on the streets. Anarchism spread like bonfire in each part of the country. Awami League even signed a treaty with ultra-Islamist group named Khelafat Majlish for establishing Shariah rule in Bangladesh, if it could win the election. Many of the Awami League supporters even condemned such notoriety of the party, thus terming its leader Sheikh Hasina as the worst opportunist. Should Awami League be in power, Bangladesh would already have turned into a Taliban state by now.
But, despite such tremendous movement, BNP and its alliance were determined in holding the election, thus pushing Bangladesh towards as virtual civil war. Peace-loving people in the country kept their fingers crossed for military intervention, in the hope of getting relieved from such suffocating situation. As a result of people’s aspiration, army backed interim government with former official of the Central Bank, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed came in power on January 12, 2007, while President Professor Iajuddin Ahmed declared State of Emergency in the country on January 11.
After assuming in office, the interim government took drastic drive in combating corruption, nepotism, terrorism and evil forces. Large number of politicians along with some questioned or controversial businessmen were arrested during such drive. Honest and tested individual like Lieutenant General [Retired] Hassan Mashhud Chowdhury was appointed as the Chairman of Anti Corruption Commission, thus giving absolute right to the organization in combating corruption. Meanhwile, ACC has shown highest zeal in charge-sheeting several politicians and questioned inviduals. Trials and even conviction orders are becoming regular in Bangladesh for past several months.
But, the government was under pressure from local and international community in maintaining transparency of trial. On the other hand, there has been demand from Sheikh Hasina, her doctors and party men for sending her abroad for ‘treatment’. Although blind supporters of Awami League took this as a genuine case, many of the neutral observers are confident that such plea by Sheikh Hasina and her party men were put forward in order to avert possible conviction and imprisonment in corruption charges. Anyway, whatever the fact is, Sheikh Hasina has already left Bangladesh, while trials will continue as per rules. It is anticipated that, she might get convicted at least in a number of cases within next couple of months.
Now, after the release of Sheikh Hasina, there is growing demand for sending former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her sons abroad for treatment. Definitely the government needs to consider this issue with due urgency as the health condition of Arafat Rahman Koko is really critical. On the other hand, such humanitarian attitude should also be shown towards other detained politicians, who need immediate treatment abroad. One point this interim government needs to remember, it is above any partisan influence. So, its attitude towards everyone should be neutral. There is no room for any deviation in this regard. On the other hand, it is reported with great concern that, people in various prisons in Bangladesh are living inhuman life as most of the jails are over-loaded several folds. In this case, either the government needs to release many on bail, in order to not let the people suffer being in custody during trial, while, the interim government needs to leave a strong signal to everyone that, humanatarian side is extremely important for them.
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