BNP-Jamaat’s Terror Face
I wish to have good moments and a burst of bright sunshine every day in our lives that are deeply governed by politics, but, unfortunately, we are experiencing the massive scale of undemocratic and horrifying activities of the BNP. Realizing its savagery acts on the ground, the vernacular online Press Xpress published an article, that mentioned, “Bangladesh saw a return of a sheer volume of violence instigated by the opposition parties, particularly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Peaceful protests, rallies, and strikes are cornerstone rights of a strong democracy. It is the duty of the ruling party, opposition parties, law enforcement forces, civil society, journalists, and media personnel to ensure that these sacred rights remain peaceful and honest. Unfortunately, the BNP and its Jamaat alliance partner broke that by attacking the other stakeholders. After the rally, BNP brought back the old days of Hartal (strike) and Blockade all over the country which resulted in further violence with human lives lost and properties of civilians torched and damaged. It is paramount that we document these tragic events to identify the correct political narrative”.
Read Part Two: BNP’s Brutal Politics vs Role of EC
Read Final Part: BNP’s Brutal Politics vs Role of EC
With BNP’s mode of the political game to gain by damaging the development process for the people, its leadership has tagged up the anti-liberation force Jamaat-e-Islami and some other hardcore Islamic forces who demanded Bangladesh to run on Shariah and enchanted the slogan, “We all will become Taliban, Bangla will be the Afgan”. These elements are not with the spirit of Bangladesh’s independence, not for a liberal Bangladesh to live together beyond race, religion, and color.
As we watched, on Oct 28, violent clashes between law enforcers and BNP loyalists erupted in Naya Paltan, a policeman was beaten to death, while several others, including journalists, were injured. The violence also affected a police hospital and the residence of the chief justice. On the run, the party activists burned dozens of vehicles in and outside the capital. It was a total savagery anarchy that this political party acted in the name of democracy.
The BNP and its game partners Jamaat-e-Islami are continuously trying to bring down the growth of Bangladesh that has taken place under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the last fifteen years as a time session. Let me share my experience of days back. I hired a car, and the driver started commenting very harshly against the government and assumed a guaranteed crowd for BNP’s rally in the Capital on 28th October, and at the same time, he was saying poor for the ruling party. But, after some time, he said, well, the developments are remarkable under Sheikh Hasina, unfortunately, she didn’t get rewarded by the people at large. Then I asked, why did this happen? His reply was simple, Sir, it’s a conspiracy by the BNP as their leader Tarek Rahman, a bad guy, a notorious man”.
Well, this is a real perception of the people in general against the BNP and its key leader. In fact, the driver’s statement reminds me of BNP’s founder General Ziaur Rahman’s mind and activities in relation to his son Tarek Rahman’s behavior.
Brutal Path of BNP
After August 15, 1975, a dark chapter in the history of independent Bangladesh came down. Power-hungry dictator General Zia seized power at gunpoint. He made himself army chief and later, made his president’s chair solid under the Yes-No vote through a massive tempering means. Military-controlled domestic politics, rehabilitation of war criminals, politics against the spirit of the Liberation War, planting poison trees of radical communal politics, and creating social chaos by issuing liquor and gambling licenses. Decrees, orders, and ordinances are issued to hold the liberal voice tight. He hanged hundreds of freedom fighters over the so-called coup charges and blocked the ways for the trial of the August 15 brutal murder through the Indemnity Ordinance. He protected the killers of Bangabandhu and rewarded them with diplomatic services and jobs abroad.
The autocratic ruler General Ziaur Rahman repealed the Collaborator’s Act and gave birth to the rehabilitation of war criminals. On January 24, 1972, Bangabandhu’s government issued an ordinance to try the crimes against humanity committed by the Razakars, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams forces opposing the Liberation War under the Collaborator Act. According to the ordinance, 73 tribunals were formed across the country to try 1971 Collaborators (War Criminals). In 1973, Bangabandhu’s government set up the International Crimes Tribunal to try war crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. But General Ziaur Rahman repealed the Collaborators Act and released 11,000 convicted war criminals from jail. At the same time, on January 18, 1976, Pakistani nationals who left the country were allowed to get their citizenship back. It was not enough, on March 3, 1976, Ziaur Rahman declared Bangladeshi nationalism instead of Bengali nationalism, undermining the spirit of the Liberation War as a military decree. On May 3, 1976, Ziaur Rahman abrogated Article 38 of the Constitution by issuing an ordinance and exposing the evil path of communal politics. In 1977, parts of the constitution were passed to be elected to Parliament by promulgating an ordinance. As a result, the anti-independence Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, PDP, Nezam-e-Islam, and other religious extremist groups started activities. Members of Razakars, Al-badr, and Al-shams forces involved in crimes against humanity were rehabilitated.
General Zia’s leadership destroyed the basic foundation of Bangladesh’s independence and paved the way for the country to be transformed into an Islamic fundamentalist state by the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family. This is the highest defeat for Bangladesh as opposed to the political liberal philosophy of Bangabandhu. the BNP founder General Ziaur Rahman had planted a poison tree of communal politics and undemocratic practices is full of flowers today. Such poisonous acts of BNP are not only evidenced only in our country but scanned by other countries, too, and, a country like the USA has also taken stern legal actions against them to identify.
Part-Two of “BNP’s Brutal Politics vs Role of EC“, will be published tomorrow.