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Ruling party and instigation by pro-AL writer

Sunita Paul - 4/8/2009

President of Bangladesh Awami League, ward number 48, Haji Torab Ali told interrogators that the conspiracy to make army officers hostage inside the BDR headquarters were designed at his residence and office in presence of his son, a leader of the student front of the ruling party and a notorious terrorist named Leather Liton.

Torab Ali is reportedly expressing his willingness to become the main witness in the sensitive case.

He also gave several important scoops to the investigators and interrogators during the interrogation. Names of a number of Awami League leaders came prominently as patrons of the massacre during the statement of this elderly Awami League leader and a former senior soldier with Bangladesh Riffles.

Anticipating a devastating fate on release of the investigation report, the ruling party has activated several local and international sources in order to turn the attention of the people towards other issues while giving at least a year’s life support to the clinically dead administration in Dhaka.

Noim Nizam, a known pro-Awami League writer and a candidate of Awami League nominations (he did not get the nomination as he failed to attain confidence of the party high-command) in a commentary published in vernacular daily Amader Shomoy (our times) suggested the present rulers in Dhaka to begin extra-judicial killings by re-entrusting members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in going into ‘action’. It may be mentioned here that, Awami League was in the forefront while they were in the opposition demanding dismantling of RAB as well as they (Awami League) were harshly criticizing extra-judicial killings. But, now the assigned writer for the ruling government has started demanding extra-judicial murders, which shows that the present government is in fact having such plan at the back of their minds.

Secondly, the same Noim Nizam is also suggesting another offensive by Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) with the goal of putting pressure on the opposition. He (Noim) tried to say that, during five year, people of Bangladesh should not expect anything from the ruling government, as, according to him, “the government does not have any magic lamp nor it is any charitable organization”.

Nizam said, “achievement of the government can only be seen on completion of its five year tenure.

It may be mentioned here that, Amader Shomoy was at the forefront during the former interim government as was acting as almost a mouth-piece of them. This newspaper was at the forefront of ‘minus-two’ formula. Writers like Pir Habibur Rahman, Shahriar, Noim, Borhan Kabir were continuing to write articles favorable to the interim government.

Now, with the change of government, it has quickly shifted its earlier position. Almost every day, either the editor or some hired writers are continuing to write various commentaries blindly supporting the ruling party.

It may be mentioned here that, Nayeemul Islam Khan, the owner and editor of Amader Shomoy was the founding editor of Ajker Kagoj. He is also one of the former husbands of feminist writer Taslima Nasrin. It is rumored that, Nayeem’s father was a collaborator during the war of independence of Bangladesh.

Since BDR Massacre, this newspaper is consistently trying to mislead the investigation as well as instigate anti army sentiment with various excuses.

Nayeemul Islam Khan is one of the veteran defenders of establishing ‘Spoiled Administration’ in the country with pro-ruling party officers placed in different important positions. He also supports ruling party’s repressive attitude towards opposition. In his version, “such attitude will give a good lesson to the opposition”.

One point should be clearly mentioned here. Although Noim Nizam advocated entrusting RAB with power to extra judicial killings, he possibly forgets the point that, key instrument behind all notorieties in the present days were mostly conducted by members of the ruling party or its students and youth wing. If Noim is suggesting killing Awami League leaders and activists as well as members of its student and youth front for their involvement in crime, I must feel sorry for questioning his intension.

Noim Nizam opposes any tolerant governance in Bangladesh, although Awami League rules had never been recorded for minimum level of tolerance.

Noim also instigated the government to go into offensives against state owned organizations like RAJUK, DESA, WASA, Educational Directorate, LGED, power sector etc. These are good suggestions. Sheikh Hasina should go into severe offensives in uprooting corruption from all these institutions. She should also put emphasis in uprooting corruption from police and other law enforcing agencies. But, should she do all such acts with a very partisan tendency thus giving impunity to her party men while punishing the political opponents? Civil administration in Bangladesh is already suffering from a kind of unknown fear, which causes in non-functioning of the government. Similar fear also exists in police and other law enforcing agencies. Statement of Prime Minister’s son against Bangladesh Armed Forces may not bring anything good for Sheikh Hasina Wajed’s government.

Before concluding, let me remind something to Sheikh Hasina. Her father was surrounded by sycophants and corrupts during his rule. She too suffered from the same set of people during 1996-2001 causing a devastating fate for her party during the general election in 2001.

Awami League is considered to be a secularist party. International community and neighbors in South Asia wants to see this party to be in power for the sake of regional peace and stability. For this sake, it is important for Sheikh Hasina to draw a thick line between well-wishers and sycophants. She should also learn to avoid people like Noim, who would give her wrong suggestion thus finally abandoning her in her bad time.

A small question to Noim Nizam! Where was your pen when Sheikh Hasina Wajed was arrested by the interim government on corruption charges? Why you did not utter even a single word? And, why you are now over-enthusiastic in giving advices to the Prime Minister? At whose assignment you are trying to mislead the government?