Barrister Moinul could come clean this time!

Shabbir Ahmed

The year 2006 was truly remarkable for Bangladesh because in that year the blueprint for rigging the controversial election in January 2007 was foiled by the mass uprising of our people. The mass movement paved the way for the formation of the present caretaker government under Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed. The democracy loving people of Bangladesh left the streets with hopes and trusts on the advisors, who took over power to make a level-playing field so that a free and fair election could finally be held. Surprisingly, one of the advisors started his rhetorics and actions very much against the will of the people in the aftermath of the takeover of this government. He was a learned barrister named Mr. Moinul Hussein. His rhetorics and actions implied his intention to undermine the advancement of the political process toward a stable democracy that people of Bangladesh have been aspiring during the dark days under the rule of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami (JI).

As a well-known Barrister, Mr. Moinul Hussein used to be perceived as someone who left Awami League for the cause of democracy probably in 1974 when BKSAL was formed. The anti Awami League (AL) quarters used to portray him as an icon for democracy, who did not compromise on the question for the same. They used to mention his name with reverence just to show their regards for him and for democracy. On the other hand, the AL supporters/sympathi zers and some neutral observers used to identify him as a conspirator once they saw him by the side of Khondokar Mushtaque (who conspired to capture power by killing Bangobondhu, his associates, and his family members) in forming a short-lived party named Democratic League. Despite all these in terms of his controversial track record, many people hoped that with time he probably went through some refinement and would deliver something good for healing the wounds caused by the conspiratorial politics of many political and supposedly non-political groups in Bangladesh. But, alas, old habits die hard. Instead of trying to minimize the differences among various political factions in the country, he started creating controversies and conflicts ad infinitum. He categorically blamed all politicians for corruptions and political conflicts in Bangladesh. It is relevant here to mention that the intellectuals like him were behind one or the other political forces that governed the country and/or demonstrated on the streets at different points in time in the past. It was an opportunity for me to watch a couple of his discussions in Channel I before one-eleven. It appeared that he was in agreement with the political forces that were holding or controlling power in pre one-eleven timeframe. As I remember, he was vehemently supporting the election that was scheduled to be held under a controversial caretaker government and under a partisan election commission aligned with BNP and JI. He even mentioned that the constitution mandated holding of the election within 90 days of the start of the caretaker government. However, his departure from this stance once he became the part of the second caretaker government backed by the cantonment crowd hardly ruffles feather in him.

As many people know, all the time in the past, Mr. Hussein supported the forces that brought political killings, militarism, and religion in politics. The shining example is his political association with Khondokar Mushtaque and his presence as a guest on the stages in the functions organized by JI and Islami Chatra Shibir (ICS). All these were visualized in bright pictures that came out in Internet after his inclusion as an advisor of the supposedly neutral caretaker government. It came as a surprise to many how he being such a politically colored and charged person made his way into the current caretaker government under Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed. His inclusion did not go well in terms of the image of the current government. The television viewers both in Bangladesh and abroad were both irritated and vexed by his controversial and conflicting remarks on a daily basis. He never concealed his anger over all politicians except may be Jamaat-i-Islamists. Whenever these fundamentalist forces were in trouble, he came forward to protect them. On the issue of punishing the JI war criminals, he came forward to protect them by asking for the trial of the politicians who were in power for not trying the war criminals. Such was his antics!

After his "sad" departure from power and fall from grace, there are many allegations published in a number of newspapers on his misuse and abuse of power. His lack of care and concern after the death and injuries of a number of workers in the Rangs Building was criticized by the conscious people of Bangladesh. Most importantly, the allegation of his brother in terms of the abuse of his power to capture the daily Ittefaq is very disturbing. As an astute practitioner of law, he was not supposed to act in such a fashion by abusing and/or misusing power. In fact, his use of power was supposed to set examples for the politicians and others who would come to power in the future. His rhetorics and application of rules were supposed to be meaningful and just that would have been followed by the politicians devoid of high level of education in law. Unfortunately, Mr. Hussein irritated all sections of people due to the lack of thoughtfulness in his expressions and actions while he was in power. No matter how hard he tried, he could not prove that he was different from some of our politicians devoid of thoughtfulness and scruple.

After one-eleven, the people of Bangladesh are not willing to accept the creation of more conflicts and chaos in politics. Instead, there should be efforts to create systems and institutions that would help avoid confrontation. In doing these, he could have contributed significantly. But, he did not concentrate fully to devote his efforts in these directions. He was supposed to be remembered but his untimely departure from power was welcomed by the people living both inside and outside Bangladesh. After all, he was seen more as a problem maker than as a solver. His rapid ascendancy to power was rather short-lived. His fall from grace was equally precipitous. His success as an influential advisor of the caretaker government has now become questionable and has come under severe scrutiny. All these would not have happened if he had acted little carefully in a just fashion. It can be said that he would have been remembered by all quarters for his role at this time even though he had a controversial political past. Mr. Moinul Hussein had ample time and opportunity this time to redeem himself for the mistakes he did in yesteryears but alas he was wayward from day one to the bitter end of his tenure. He simply let go this opportunity to come out clean.

Discussions on Advisers Resignation

Please watch ATN Bangla's talk show Onno Drishti on Resignation:



You can also hear BBC news coverage on this issue:

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

সংস্কারের সংস্কৃতি এবং যুদ্ধাপরাধী প্রসঙ্গ

সংস্কারের সংস্কৃতি এবং যুদ্ধাপরাধী প্রসঙ্গ
অনিরুদ্ধ আহমেদ
সমকাল, ডিসেম্বর ৩, ২০০৭

সাইক্লোন সিডর কেবল দক্ষিণাঞ্চলের নয়, গোটা বাংলাদেশের যে একটা মস্ত বড় আরেক ধরনের ক্ষতি করে গেল সেটি হলো যুদ্ধাপরাধী প্রসঙ্গটিকে ধ্বংসাবশেষের মধ্যে যেন আপাতদৃস্টিতে চাপা দিল। যে উত্তপ্ত এবং অত্যাবশ্যক আলোচনা চলছিল এই যুদ্ধাপরাধীর বিষয় নিয়ে, সেই আলোচনায় আকস্মিক ইতি টেনে দিল দক্ষিণাঞ্চলের এই ঘূর্ণিঝড় এবং যেন মনে হচ্ছে, যুদ্ধপরাধীদের বিচার, বাংলাদেশের মাটিতে তাদের রাজনীতি করার ক্ষমতা এসব প্রসঙ্গ উপড়ে পড়া গাছের মতোই বাহ্যত মুখ থুবড়ে পড়ল। তবে আমরা আশা করি, এই নীরবতা নিতান্তই সাময়িক কারণ যে, বিষয়টির সঙ্গে বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা ও সার্বভৌমত্বের গুরত্বপূর্ণ প্রশ্ন জড়িত, তাকে এতখানি খাটো করে দেখার কোনোই অবকাশ নেই। তত্ত্বাবধায়ক সরকারের একজন উপদেস্টা অবশ্য প্রশ্ন তুলেছেন, ৩৬ বছর পর, যুদ্ধাপরাধের প্রশ্ন তুলে, তাদের কাজে বাধা দেওয়া হচ্ছে কেন, তাদের বিব্রত করা হচ্ছে কেন? এর পেছনে সেই উপদেষ্টা ষড়যন্ত্রের গন্ধ পেয়েছেন এবং বলছেন, তাদের সরকার এত বোকা নয় যে এই ফাঁদে পা দেবে। মুক্তিযুদ্ধের কোনো ইস্যুকে যদি স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশের কেউ ফাঁদে পা দেওয়া মনে করে, তাহলে এর চেয়ে দুর্ভাগ্যজনক আর কিছুই হতে পারে না।

ছত্রিশ বছর পর এই যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের বিচারের প্রশ্নটি যে কারণে উঠল, সে কারণ নির্বাচনী ও রাজনৈতিক সংস্কারের সঙ্গেও জড়িত। এই তত্ত্বাবধায়ক সরকার যদি ৩৬ বছর পর আমাদের সত্যিকার অর্থে রাজনৈতিক ও নির্বাচনী সংস্কারের জন্য সদর্থক পরিকল্পনা গ্রহণ করে থাকে, তাহলে ৩৬ বছর ধরে আমরা যে যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের বিচার করতে পারিনি সেই প্রসঙ্গটিও উত্থাপন করার অধিকার স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশের নাগরিকদের রয়েছে। বস্তুত সেনাপ্রধান মইন উ আহমেদ প্রথমে এ ব্যাপারে জাতির দৃস্টি আকর্ষণ করেছিলেন যখন তার প্রথমদিককার এক বক্তব্যে তিনি বলেন, আমরা যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের বিচার করতে পারিনি এই ৩৬ বছরেও, সেটি জাতি হিসেবে আমাদের জন্য লজ্জার বিষয়। সত্যি কথা, যে হত্যাযজ্ঞের মধ্য দিয়ে দেশটি স্বাধীন হলো, সেই হত্যাযজ্ঞের হোতারা রাজনৈতিক নেতা সেজে, রাজনীতির অধিকার ভোগ করবেন, সেটি আর যা-ই হোক সংস্কারের সংস্কৃতি নয়। কিছুদিন আগে সবচেয়ে ধৃস্টতাপূর্ণ অনৈতিহাসিক বক্তব্য রাখেন জামায়াতের দু’জন নেতা, যারা তাদের এই বক্তব্যে বস্তুত বাংলাদেশের মহান মুক্তিযুদ্ধকে আরো একবার অবমূল্যায়িত করেছেন। তারা এখনো একথাও পরিস্কারভাবে বলেননি, একাত্তর সালে তারা ভুল করেছিলেন। জামায়াত নেতারা যে সাফাই গান, সেটি হলো তখনকার পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে তারা চাননি বাংলাদেশ ভারতের অনুগত একটি রাস্ট্রে পরিণত হোক, আর সে জন্যই তারা সেই সময়ে বাংলাদেশ প্রতিষ্ঠার বিরোধিতা করেছিলেন। কিন্তু বস্তুত তাদের এ রকম ভাবনার মধ্যেই নিহিত ছিল নির্ভেজাল পাকিস্তানপ্রীতির লক্ষণ। ইতিহাসের চাকাকে তারা জোর করে পেছনে ঘোরানোর চেস্টা করেছেন, ভারতভীতির এক কল্পিত যুক্তি তুলে, বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিকামী মানুষকে বিভ্রান্ত করার অপচেস্টা চালিয়েছেন। বলাবাহুল্য, এই অপচেস্টা এবং অপপ্রচার এখনো অব্যাহত আছে।

দুই. আলী আহসান মোহাম্মদ মুজাহিদ একখন্ড রামায়ণও পড়বেন না জানি, কিন্তু আমি নিশ্চিত তিনি এটা ভালোই জানেন, সীতা কারো বাপ নয়। অথচ ভাজা মাছটি উল্টে খেতে জানেন না, এমন ভাব করে এই ব্যক্তি অকস্মাৎ এমন কিছু কথা বললেন যা বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের অবমূল্যায়নের নামান্তর মাত্র। তারই সঙ্গে একাত্মতা ঘোষণা করে ইসলামী ব্যাংকের সাবেক চেয়ারম্যান জামায়াতপন্থি শাহ আবদুল হান্নান বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধকে গৃহযুদ্ধ বলে আখ্যায়িত করেছেন। এসব বিষয় বাংলাদেশের মানুষের জন্য একটি বড় রকমের চ্যালেঞ্জ সৃস্টি করেছে। ইতিহাসের যে ভুল ব্যাখ্যা মুজাহিদ, তার দল এবং দলের সমর্থকরা দিয়ে আসছেন, তাতে নতুন প্রজন্মকে নানাভাবে বিভ্রান্ত করার একটা অসৎ উদ্দেশ্য কাজ করছে। বাংলাদেশের এই নতুন প্রজন্ম এবং বাংলাদেশের মানুষের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের গৌরবময় ইতিহাসের মাঝে একটি দেয়াল তুলে, বিস্মৃতি ও অপব্যাখ্যার মাধ্যমে সত্যকে আড়াল করার যারা চেস্টা চালাচ্ছেন, তাদের সম্পর্কে সতর্ক হওয়ার এখনই সময়। আমরা আমাদের স্বাধীনতার ৩৬ বছর মাত্র পেরিয়ে এসেছি, মুক্তিযুদ্ধের সঙ্গে পরোক্ষ বা প্রত্যক্ষভাবে সংশ্লিস্ট ছিলেন এমন ব্যক্তিরা এখনো জীবিত আছেন, এই সময়ে যদি জামায়াত নেতা এবং তার দল মুক্তিযুদ্ধ সম্পর্কে এমন অপব্যাখ্যা দেন, তাহলে মুক্তিযোদ্ধাদের প্রজন্ম যখন সবাই প্রয়াত হবেন তখন এই ইতিহাস যে পাকিস্তানের গৃহযুদ্ধের একটি ইতিহাসে পরিণত হবে না সেটাই-বা কে বলতে পারে। শাহ আবদুল হান্নান যে জ্ঞানপাপীর মতো মুক্তিযুদ্ধকে গৃহযুদ্ধ বললেন, তাতে এটা মনে না করার কোনো কারণই নেই যে, শাহ হান্নান বস্তুত পাকিস্তানের একশ্রেণীর লোকের চিন্তাধারারই প্রতিফলন ঘটাচ্ছেন। আশ্চর্যের বিষয় এই যে, যখন খোদ পাকিস্তানের গণতন্ত্রকামী ও উদার লোকজন অকপটে এটা স্বীকার করেন, বাঙালিদের প্রতি বৈষম্যমূলক আচরণ করা হয়েছে এবং বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের পেছনে একাধিক ঐতিহাসিক ও যৌক্তিক কারণ ছিল তখন হান্নানরা যখন বলেন, এটা ছিল গৃহযুদ্ধ, তখন তাদের দেশপ্রেম সম্পর্কে সংশয়ের সৃস্টি হয়। মুক্তিযুদ্ধের যৌক্তিকতা সম্পর্কে যারা এখনো সন্দিহান, তাদের বাংলাদেশের নাগরিক হওয়ার অধিকার কতটুকু, সে কথা বাংলাদেশের জনগণই ভেবে দেখবে। মনে রাখা প্রয়োজন, পাকিস্তানিরা নিজেদের ইতিহাস বইয়ে আমাদের মুক্তিযুদ্ধকে গৃহযুদ্ধ হিসেবেই চিত্রিত করেছে। এটি গৃহযুদ্ধ ছিল না কোনো ব্যাখ্যাতেই, কারণ গোটা বাংলাদেশের মানুষ একাত্ম ছিল মুক্তিযুদ্ধের প্রশ্নে। কিছু ঘরের শত্রু বিভীষণের অপকর্মই একে গৃহযুদ্ধে রূপ দিচ্ছিল। শাহ আবদুল হান্নানের বক্তব্য অনুযায়ী তর্কের খাতিরে যদি একে গৃহযুদ্ধ বলে মেনে নেওয়া হয়, তাহলে সেই মুক্তিযুদ্ধকে যারা গৃহযুদ্ধে রূপ দিতে চেয়েছিল নিজেদের দেশের লোককে হত্যা ও ধর্ষণ করে, তাদের শাস্তি হওয়ার প্রয়োজন আছে। বাঙালি জাতির জন্য এ এক পরিহাসের বিষয় যে নতুন করে আমাদের ইতিহাসের পাঠ নিতে হয় তাদের কাছ থেকে, যারা ১৯৭১ সালের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের মাধ্যমে ইতিহাসের আঁস্তকুড়ে নিক্ষিপ্ত হয়েছিল।

তিন. মুজাহিদও যুক্তি দেখিয়েছেন যে, বাংলাদেশে কোনো যুদ্ধাপরাধী নেই, সেটি যে সম্পূর্ণ অসত্য ভাষণ সে কথা বলাবাহুল্য। তবে এটা বলা মোটেই বাহুল্য নয়, মুজাহিদের মতো যারা অহর্নিশ তরুণদের ডাক দেন, ‘এসো সত্যের পথে’ তারা সত্যের এ রকম অপলাপ করবেন সেটা আপাতদৃস্টিতে অস্বাভাবিক মনে হলেও আমরা বাংলাদেশে আমাদের অভিজ্ঞতার মাধ্যমেই জেনেছি, যারা ধর্মকে রাজনৈতিক কারণে ব্যবহার করে থাকেন তারা ওই একই কারণে সত্যকে নির্ভয়ে বৃদ্ধাঙ্গুলি প্রদর্শন করেন। আসলে সাধারণ যেসব মানুষের মনে এখনো এ রকম প্রত্যাশা রয়েছে, ইসলামের নামে যারা দল করেছেন, তারা হয়তো আর যাই-ই করুন না কেন মানুষ ঠকাবেন না, তারাও সম্প্রতি হতাশ হয়েছেন আলী আহসান মোহাম্মদ মুজাহিদের এই অসত্য ভাষণে। মুজাহিদ তার বক্তব্য প্রমাণ করার জন্য যেসব যুক্তি উপস্থাপন করেছেন তাকে কূটযুক্তির বেশি আর কিছু বলা যায় না। তিনি যে ১৯৫ জন পাকিস্তানি সৈন্য যাদের যুদ্ধাপরাধী হিসেবে চিহ্নিত করা হয়েছিল, শিমলা চুক্তির মাধ্যমে তাদের প্রত্যাবর্তনের কথা বলেছেন, সেই চুক্তিটি ছিল ভারত ও পাকিস্তানের মধ্যে একটি দ্বিপক্ষীয় চুক্তি। বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান (তিনি অবশ্য জামায়াত-বিএনপি ঘরানার লোক বলে বঙ্গবন্ধু শব্দটি সযত্নে পরিহার করে ‘মরহুম’ শব্দটি তার স্থলাভিষিক্ত করেছেন) যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের ক্ষমা করে দিয়েছিলেন এ কথাটি সর্বৈব অসত্য। ১৯৭৫ সালের মধ্য আগস্টেও এই যুদ্ধাপরাধে অনেকেই কারাবন্দি ছিল। পঁচাত্তর-পরবর্তী সময়ে সবার অগোচরে তাদের মুক্তি দেওয়া হয়। আর ঝাঁকের কৈয়ের মতো তারা মিশে যায় জাতির জনক বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের ঘাতকদের সঙ্গে। এখানে ’৭৫-এর ঘাতক আর ’৭১-এর ঘাতকরা একটি অভিন্ন স্থানে এসে দাঁড়ায়। সেজন্যই যখন শোনা যায়, পঁচাত্তরের সেই হত্যাকান্ডের পেছনে পাকিস্তান সরকার এবং তার গোয়েন্দা সংস্থার হাত ছিল, তখন সেই সরল অঙ্কটা মেলাতে আর ভুল হয় না তেমন একটা।

চার. এখন যখন সংস্কারের সংস্কৃতি প্রাধান্য বিস্তার করেছে, তখন আমাদের ইতিহাসের বিভ্রান্তিগুলো দূর করার এটাই যথার্থ সময়। কিন্তু ইতিহাস নিয়ে এই বিভ্রান্তি কখনোই দূর হবে না যদি রাজনৈতিক ক্ষমতা অর্জনের সুযোগ দেওয়া হয় সেসব ব্যক্তি ও দলকে যারা একাত্তরে আমাদের মুক্তিযুদ্ধকে কলুষিত করেছে এবং এখনো এর পরোক্ষ বিরোধিতা করছে। কেউ কেউ হয়তো সরল বিশ্বাসেই বলবেন, গণতান্ত্রিক পদ্ধতিতে জামায়াত এবং অন্য মৌলবাদী দলগুলোর রাজনীতি করার, নির্বাচনের দাঁড়ানোর অধিকার আছে। কথাটির মধ্যে একটি তাত্ত্বিক সত্যতা রয়েছে বটে। কিন্তু বাস্তবে আমরা লক্ষ্য করি সেটি ঠিক নয়। এর প্রধান কারণগুলো হচ্ছে প্রথমত এ ধরনের ধর্মভিত্তিক দলগুলোর আদর্শ ও লক্ষ্য, স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশের সংবিধানের পরিপন্থী। দ্বিতীয়ত, এ দলগুলোর নিজস্ব গঠনতন্ত্রে যে ধরনের শাসনব্যবস্থা প্রতিষ্ঠিত করার কথা বলা হয়েছে, সে ধরনের শাসনব্যবস্থা গণতান্ত্রিক নয়। অর্থাৎ লক্ষ্য করার বিষয় এই যে, জামায়াতে ইসলামীর মতো দলগুলো, গণতন্ত্রের ছত্রছায়ায় ক্ষমতায় যাবে ঠিকই, কিন্তু সর্বময় ক্ষমতা লাভের পর তারা নানা ধর্মীয় কারণ দেখিয়ে অন্যদের অধিকারকে এতখানিই সঙ্কুচিত করবে যে, ইরানের সর্বোচ্চ পরিষদের অনুমতির মতো এখানেও সংসদের (তখন নাম হবে মজলিস-এ-শূরা) সদস্যদের মনোনয়নের জন্য কথিত ওলামাদের অনুমোদন নিতে হবে। এ ব্যবস্থা যে গণতান্ত্রিক নয় সে কথা বলাবাহুল্য। সুতরাং যারা গণতান্ত্রিক অধিকারের যুক্তি প্রয়োগ করে অগণতান্ত্রিক শক্তিকে ক্ষমতায় বসাতে চায়, তারা যে মৌলিক জায়গায় ভুল করছে সেটা বোঝার প্রয়োজন। ভুলে গেলে চলবে না, জার্মানিতে এডলফ হিটলারও নির্বাচনে জয়লাভ করেই এসেছিলেন আর সেই বাহ্যিক জনপ্রিয়তাকে তিনি গণতন্ত্রবিরোধী কাজে বিনিয়োগ করেছেন সবচেয়ে বেশি। জামায়াতে ইসলামী এবং তাদের মতো মৌলবাদী, ফ্যাসিবাদী দলগুলো গণতন্ত্রের ধারালো অস্ত্র দিয়েই গণতন্ত্রকে হত্যা করবে নিঃসন্দেহেই। অতএব, কেবল বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধ এবং তার ফলে সে দেশের স্বাধীন অস্তিত্বের কারণেই নয়, গণতন্ত্রকে প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক রূপ দেওয়ার এই প্রচেস্টায়, সব অগণতান্ত্রিক দল, ধর্মভিত্তিক দল এবং যারা ধর্মভিত্তিক শাসনব্যবস্থা কায়েমের তত্ত্ব জোগান দিচ্ছে সন্ত্রাসীদের, তাদের নিষিদ্ধ করা একান্তই দরকার। বিএনপি-জামায়াত জোট সরকারের আমলে আমরা দেখেছি, এসব ক্ষেত্রে ক্ষমতার অপব্যবহার, জেএমবি, বাংলাভাইয়ের বাহিনীর বিরুদ্ধে বাংলাদেশের আইন-শৃংখলা রক্ষাবাহিনীকে নিস্ক্রিয় করার প্রয়াস এমনকি পুলিশের বর্তমান মহাপরিদর্শক নুর মোহাম্মদকে ইসলামী সন্ত্রাসবাদীদের বিরুদ্ধে ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ থেকে নিবৃত্ত রাখার প্রচেস্টা - এ সবকিছুই প্রমাণ করে, ক্ষমতার ক্ষুদ্র অংশ পেয়েই জামায়াতের কী প্রভাব ছিল রাজনীতির ওপর যে মুক্তিযোদ্ধা জিয়াউর রহমানের পুত্র তারেক রহমান জামায়াত ও বিএনপিকে সহোদর হিসেবে বর্ণনা করেছেন।

এই যদি অবস্থা হয় ক্ষমতা ভাগাভাগিতে, জামায়াত যদি কখনো এককভাবে ক্ষমতা লাভ করে, তাহলে বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের কোনো আদর্শই যে বহাল থাকবে না সে কথা বলাবাহুল্য। সংস্কার সাধনের এই নানামুখী প্রয়াসের সঙ্গে এ বিষয়টিকে অন্তর্ভুক্ত যদি না করা হয়, তাহলে সংস্কার অসম্পূর্ণ থাকবে এবং গোটা জাতিকে এই ক্ষতি, এই ক্ষত বহন করতে হবে অনন্তকাল। বিজয়ের মাসে নতুন করে ভেবে দেখতে হবে, বাংলাদেশকে এগিয়ে যেতে হলে তার সব প্রতিবন্ধকতা দূর করা কতখানি আবশ্যক। নইলে আমাদের বিজয়ের বয়স বাড়বে যত, ততই যেন আমরা দূরে সরে আসব, মুক্তিযুদ্ধের সেই চেতনা থেকে।

---

লেখক : আমেরিকা প্রবাসী সাংবাদিক ও কলামিস্ট

Barister Mainul defends War Criminals

Barrister Moinul Hossain embarked once again to save the Jamati war criminals. Yesterday, he came out in defense of Jamati war criminals as he refused to admit that the Government could play any role in trying war criminals as they're mandated only to hold election. He sounded like the Jamati leader Mujahid who earlier blatantly refused the existence of war criminals that opened this whole war crime debate. Shamelessly, Barrister Moninul has kept defending his Jamati colleagues from the war crime trial. Listen this BBC Bangla news coverage from today:

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA

New Age reports,

About the demand for trial of the war criminals, Mainul said that question should be raised whether those who had been in power but did not take any initiative for the trial of war criminals during the last 36 years, should be punished on that ground.

‘Those who are now demanding trial of war criminals should wait for another one year to let the elected government take up the matter as 36 years have already elapsed,’ he said.

‘We are not that foolish to be enticed by those who are raising the issue as a ploy to hinder the election process … our main task is to ensure free and fair elections,’ he said.

BDnews reports,

Dhaka, Nov 11 (bdnews24.com)—Law and information adviser Mainul Hosein has said the main responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold "proper" elections. "The government has been carrying out a lot of additional activities, besides efforts to hold a free and fair election," Mainul told reporters at the Press Information Department Sunday.

Asked if his government will open trial of war criminals, the adviser said: "Why are you asking us? Why don't you put this question to those who avoided the issue for the last 36 years? You've waited so long, why don't you wait for another two years?"

Replying to a query on the release of some businessmen detained earlier on different charges, Mainul said: "If the politicians take to stealing and robbing, what will the thieves and thugs do? It is difficult to distinguish between politicians and businessmen."

"After the Truth Commission bill is approved, businessmen won't have any problem getting bail, if they confess," Mainul said. He said the government moved to set up the Truth Commission to revitalise the economy. "We should not assume that everything will be all right as soon as the elections are held by 2008," the adviser said.

Daily Star even didn't report Moinul's comment on war crime issue as it covered the news conference. Barrister Moinul's daily the New Nation even didn't cover this story which recently ran a commentary in defense of Jamati war criminals. Barrister Moinul's adventure in defense of Jamatis will be only short lived as he, too, will be placed in the dustbin of history.

Gen Moeen at Mysterious Harvard Seminar

General Moeen's Mysterious Harvard Seminar

When Bangladeshi news media reported that the Bangladesh's first four star general Gen. Moeen U. Ahmed would deliver a seminar at the prestigious Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government (KSG), we the Bangladeshi Diaspora were delighted. We were reported that the Harvard University invited our "strongman" to deliver a historic speech on crisis management of democracy that would be a model for nations to adopt. We echoed with General's emotions that it would bring prestige to Bangladesh military and would build up our much needed image abroad. It would be historic event as the Harvard's 1st woman President Drew Gilpin Faust in her inaugural speech on October 12, 2007 launched many special initiatives for Asia and we were pleased that our General would lead the President's Asian initiatives.

We were proud and happy at the news and therefore, we called the President's Office to thank her. Unfortunately her office appeared to have no knowledge of our General's scheduled talk. Being frustrated, we contacted other offices of The John F. Kennedy School of Government basically to get an invitation to listen to his historic speech. But to our dismay, we were told that the Bangladeshi general had no public forum or there was no scheduled talk at the university. We were further told that he might have been privately invited by a lecturer of the university for his class. The university administration had no knowledge of it.

Rumors spread quickly. Bangladeshi Diaspora of Boston reported that Professor Sumantra Bose of the Harvard University belonging to West Bengal had requested another well liked Bengali educationist, Dr. Gowher Rizvi, Director of the Harvard's Ash Center of Governance and Innovation to sponsor a public forum for the Bangladeshi General. Few months ago, he arranged a seminar for Professor Rehman Sobhan of Bangladesh. However, when we searched the Ash Center's program events, we did not find any public seminar with General Moeen Ahmed. Instead we find that there was a seminar on "Muslims in America" on October 17th. Our frustration prompted us to call the Center. They politely stated that no Bangladeshi general is their guest speaker at this time. We also inquired at The John F. Kennedy School of Government but of no avail. The mystery intensified.

We were simply stunned at it. Our hopes and expectations got a jolt. How a set program could be so illusive? Following our national leaders especially our Law Advisor Moinul Hossain we immediately thought that there must be a "conspiracy" to undermine Bangladesh and Islam. We speculated it could be The RAW of India might be behind it!! Others quipped that the Bangladesh Embassy officials belonging to BNP-AL might have foiled his scheduled talk at the KSG. To justify our hunch we concocted arguments. When General Moeen arrived in Boston he was neither been accompanied by the Bangladesh Ambassador, nor the PR, nor the Consul General. Secondly, we thought since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy is a student at the Kennedy School, he might have foiled it. However, his classmates reported that they were very busy with Mid-term exams. Third, the AL and the BNP supporters might have arranged a massive protest owing to which the Harvard University cancelled it. But fact of the matter is, there was no protest, no demonstrations. Interestingly, the local AL Vice President Abul Kalam Azad received General Moeen at the airport. More importantly, we learned that in the 300 plus years history of the Harvard University they never ever withdrew any invitation once it was issued even against all odds and protests. Does it mean that the General's much celebrated trip was a "hoax" or a total lie?

We don't know who tried to foil our General's program or malign our General. Recently, three stories became public about Gen. Moeen. First one pertaining to his receiving loans of Tk. 99 lakh from the Trust Bank that is recorded in the bank's audit statement submitted to the government, the Bangladesh Bank and the Security Exchange. Second, the re-appointment of his elder brother at the Trust Bank of which he is the ex-officio Chairperson and Director thus violating the government regulation that no two family members could be appointed as Directors of the same bank. Third, his brother-in-law grabbed properties of a few people in Maulvibazar by misusing his power. Are these true or manipulated? It is charged that Bangladesh officials that we trust often do manipulate things to meet the wishes of their boss, the rich and the
powerful.

As per reports, he was invited by a Harvard lecturer who is rumored to be appointed as a Consultant in Bangladesh. The said lecturer is an authority on election reform and US congressional issues. He also takes classes of freshmen lawmakers. It is reported that our General would attend one of his classes along with his students. Each teacher in American universities or colleges routinely invites guest speakers in his/her classes and Gen. Moeen might have got such an invitation. Who knows?

We also checked the KSG bulletin boards. The 2-days that our general would be around Harvard, the KSG will be hosting nearly 7 public seminars and none on issues relating to South Asia or Bangladesh. They had an event on Bangladesh on October 13, the Eid day--- a public lecture of Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

Apparently General Moeen did not arrange any meeting with any leader of Massachusetts or of the U. S. Other than Congressman Crowley of New York, he has no appointments either with any U. S. Senators or US Congressmen/women, or with senior State Department officials. Nor there is any especial meeting with the Pentagon or with senior US Army officers as per media reports. He is visiting the U. S. at a time when nine U.S. lawmakers have placed a bill to allow tax-free imports from developing countries including Bangladesh and his courtesy meetings with the US lawmakers could help passing of such bill. However, he refrained from such lobbying. Then question is; why he made such a long trip to US when his each minute is so precious and crucial?

He had a "secret public appearance" for nearly 50 minutes at a location in Holbrook a tiny town, away from Boston on October 21. The guests were instructed to maintain utmost secrecy of the event. The reason for such secrecy is reportedly due to their fear that if Bangladeshi Diaspora knows about the event, they would stage protest demonstrations as they did in Florida.

It was a private dinner party arranged by one Mr. Shaheen Khan, a convenience store owner and more importantly, Mr. Khan is a friend of General's younger brother that lives in Florida. Reportedly this was arranged to thank the General as Mr. Khan's uncle, Nurul Islam, a sacked Secretary to Begum Khaleda Zia has been reinstated. Other than family members, nearly 25/30 local people were invited at the dinner and everybody had to finish their eating before Gen. Moeen enters the venue at 9:15 PM. Private security was arranged by Mr. Khan. However, TV cameramen and selected journalists were invited at the event.

It is an irony that General Moeen, the man who started jihad against corruption and corrupt people was welcomed at the dinner party by none other than a businessman who made his fortunate through bankruptcy and defrauding creditors. He was a real estate developer in 1980s and he collected millions of dollars from thousands of people including many Bangladeshis with the promise to double/triple their investments. Unfortunately, once funds were collected, he
declared bankruptcy and his Ivy Inc. was closed down. For nearly 12 years, he stayed away from public eyes. However, in recent days, he emerged and is currently a leader of the Bangladesh Islamic Society of New England. General Moeen might not know that the man who welcomed him and solicited his help for investment in Bangladesh once defrauded his customers, his bank, and his one time well wishers. Local TV and print media covered it widely when even his lawyer was jailed for fraud.

It is rumored that General's mission to the U. S. is to meet Sheikh Hasina's family members. He visited Florida where his only son, his younger brother and also Hasina's daughter live. At Harvard, it is rumored that he wanted to meet Sajeeb Wazed Joy. It is rumored that instead of a private meeting Joy suggested an open meeting. The General, therefore, have reportedly invited all the four Bangladeshi students of The John F. Kennedy School of Government to have luncheon with him on October 23, the day of his departure to China. It is believed that after this meeting, he would decide as to how to deal with Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the AL party now under detention. It may be mentioned that as per media reports, Joy met Indian Foreign Minister during his trip to New York few weeks ago and that might prompted General Moeen to have a face-to-face dialogue with Joy. General Moeen while answering a question at the Holbrook private dinner jokingly stated that there could be many changes in the next 14 months - a king can die, even a hoarse can fly (something impossible). Now who knows what is next.

DGFI & Bangladesh Politics

(We've selected this excerpt from an electronic discussion group to enlighten our readers about how military intelligence in Bangladesh is subverting political process to breed a new political landscape. We're not endorsing its contents and speculations. We think the readers need to look through all the facts on the basis of the realities from the past and present)
__________________________________
Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, an invisible Government and Breeding Spot of Fabrication of False Cases against targeted Politicians And Businessmen With The Object to De-popularize the Secular Democratic political Institution The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) is an intelligence unit of Bangladesh Arm forces is headed by one Maj. General Golam Mohammad with his two closest associates (i) Brig. General Fazlul Bari (ii) Brig. General Amin having head quarter in Dhaka Cantonment. It has countrywide network based on all cantonments in Bangladesh.

This DGFI started to play various political games during the regimes of Lt. Gen. Ziaur Rahman (1975-1981) and Lt. Gen Hossain Mohammad Ershad (1981-1990). Both the generals in politics, ignoring all army service rules, from their office of chief of army staff formed political parties Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jatiyo Party (JP). Both of them adopted the same method to form their political parties. They used DGFI to call the leaders of various political parties, proposed to join king’s political parties or to suffer inhuman torture, prolong detention, false cases under special power act etc. If they join to king party there was reward of minister, important portfolio of government, profitable industries and business with the government Bank money etc. Many political leaders could not stand to their own political values but to surrender to the evil design of politics of the Generals. That is the main reason why and how the generals have made the politicians corrupt and the policies have become difficult for real politicians with real political values of serving the nation with dedications.

The new-rich politicians of king political parties created by those two generals Zia and Ershad were pioneer of rigging election and declaration of false result in favor of them by pouring their black money in to election conduct process rights from preparation of voter list, vote casting and publishing election result through huge bribing of election conducting government officials. In this way those two generals in politics acquired two third majorities in the parliament to ratify all illegal acts under Martial law regulation and ordinances. Now it has become a convention even for the real political leaders to depend upon money besides popular votes to win the election. Such prevailing situation in Bangladesh has been compelling many medium grade politicians to earn money in order to win the election. Here lies the main reason of political corruption. But it is astonishing to see that although the election conducting government officials are principal beneficiaries of electioneering corruption have been remaining untouched because of their continuation of all time power. The powerless politicians after losing their power under unconstitutional care taker government are the main victim without having opportunity of taking shelter in the Govt. tutored court.

The present DGFI has adopted more aggressive attitude under Army led care taker government than the previous martial law government. The people perception is DGFI is mainly guided by i) Brig. Gen. Bari and ii) Brig. amin. These two officers are closely linked with Jamat-E-Islami politics and it top brass Motiur Rahman Nizami. Their target is to promote Jamat to–power in next election at least through a coalition government.

(Read the Washington Post's article A New Hub for Terrorism: to see the documented linkage between Jamaat and the current DGFI). "What makes future prospects in Bangladesh especially alarming is that the Jamaat and its allies appear to be penetrating the higher ranks of the armed forces. Among many examples, informed journalists in Dhaka attribute Jamaat sympathies to Maj. Gen. Mohammed Aminul Karim, recently appointed as military secretary to President Iajuddin Ahmed, and to Brig. Gen. A.T.M. Amin, director of the Armed Forces Intelligence anti-terrorism bureau".)

With that target in view they are manipulating this government to prolong in power so that during this gap two popular parties Awami League and BNP can be broken in absence of its two party chief. In absence of those two party chiefs neither of the factions of those two parties will be able to form government independently with absolute majority in the next election. Such situation will bring favor to Jamat to form government and Bangladesh will turn in to Islamic state like Pakistan. During the last alliance government Jamat was a vital partner. Their involvement with fundamental militant activities is well known to national and international communities through mass media. But so far no Jamat leader has yet been arrested on militant charges reportedly under the direct shelter of Brig. Gen. Bari and Brig Gen. Amin. These two Brigadier’s General pose them in their private and official dialogue they are making the policies of the government in association with law adviser Mr. Moinul Hossain, Anti Corruption Commission Chairman Lt. Gen.(rtd) Hasan Mashud Chowdhury.

The DGFI in the name of so called Anti Corruption Drive slogan is arresting any of their targeted persons tightening their eyes, bringing to DGFI torture cell, throwing them naked in to ice cold black hole for hours together, next putting them in to hot chamber and electric shock center, interrogating alternately through couple of nights taking their written statements which is authorized by the tutored magistrate court to use it as confessional statement against themselves and their other political leaders to fabricate false cases with the charge of corruption. As per criminal Procedure code an arrested person must have to be produced before the nearest court within 24 hours after arrest. But DGFI is caring little to the binding of the law. They are picking a person in dead hour of nights with tights eyes taking him to unknown destination to their torture cell, detaining for couple of days without showing official arrest to avoid binding of law. This simply reign of terror has been prevailing in Bangladesh since 11 January 2007 like Sadam’s Iraq.

Law adviser Moinul Hossain is framing new laws and Anti Corruption Commission chairman Lt. Gen(rtd). Hasan Mashud Chowdhory is framing distorted or false cases to justify the notorious activities of DGFI. From past record it is known that Brig. Gen. Bari was Director of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) while Mr. Anwarul Iqbal, the present adviser of the care taker government was the Director General of RAB. They were the initiator of extra judicial mass killing. ACC chairman Lt. Gen (rtd). Hasan Mashud Chowdhury, as chief of staff of Army, also initiated extra judicial mass killing in the name of OPERATION CLEAN HEART. Mr. Mainul Hossain, the law adviser was also involved in several murders on the issues of ownership of the Daily Ittefaq with his younger brother Anwar Hossain Manju. It is a shared misfortune for the people of Bangladesh that the main those policy makers of the care taker government has little sense of humanity for their own goal and own egos.

Sheikh Hasina, the president of AL, a most popular political personality, a legendary honest prime minister of Bangladesh the people have ever seen is glaring example of victim of false cases and detention in jail after obtaining bail from the high court.

To save Bangladesh from such regime of terror, DGFI activities must have to be limited within arm forces only, immediate withdrawal of emergency rule, opening all political activities, releasing all political person to let them face trial on bail, holding election within very short time if necessary with supreme court directed updated voter list and hand over power to the people representatives. Those suggestions are the necessity of time to establish secular democracy and protection of Human Rights in Bangladesh.

Truth Commission for Businessmen

Bangladesh Government is going to form a "Truth Commission" to have confessions from businessmen accused of corruption with an aim to settle the charges against them without putting them to trial. It is an interesting turn in Bangladesh to put the anti corruption drive in an unprecedented track to salvage the corrupt businessmen. Finally, the businessmen have made the economy and the government hostage to meet their demands. This is a huge retreat for the government from its original stand against corruption. Daily Star reports,

"Businessmen have been repeatedly saying they are in panic, they cannot get involved in their businesses as per their expectation," Mainul said, adding, "Going before the Truth Commission, they will admit to acquiring wealth through dishonest means and will say: 'Fine us or take away our illegally-earned wealth'."

Acknowledging that the identity of an accused--whether they are politicians or businessmen--cannot be considered during the ongoing campaign against corruption, he said, "Since this government's prime objective is to ensure democracy and good governance through elections, we cannot deal all types of corruption the same way."

Three cheers for Barrister Moinul Hossain!!!

But why is the army backed care taker government using the concept of "Truth Commission"? So, we did our little research on the history and implication of Truth Commission around the world. We've come across with an in-depth analysis from Beyond Intractability. Here's how they defined Truth Commission:

Truth commissions are generally understood to be "bodies set up to investigate a past history of violations of human rights in a particular country -- which can include violations by the military or other government forces or armed opposition forces."[1] Hayner delineates four main characteristics of truth commissions. [2]

• First, they focus on the past. The events may have occurred in the recent past, but a truth commission is not an ongoing body akin to a human rights commission.
• Second, truth commissions investigate a pattern of abuse over a set period of time rather than a specific event. In its mandate, the truth commission is given the parameters of its investigation both in terms of the time period covered as well as the type of human rights violations to be explored.
• Third, a truth commission is a temporary body, usually operating over a period of six months to two years and completing its work by submitting a report. These parameters are established at the time of the commission's formation, but often an extension can be obtained to wrap things up.
• Fourth, truth commissions are officially sanctioned, authorized, or empowered by the state. This, in principle, allows the commission to have greater access to information, greater security, and increased assurance that its findings will be taken under serious consideration. Official sanction from the government is crucial because it represents an acknowledgment of past wrongs and a commitment to address the issues and move on. Furthermore, governments may be more likely to enact recommended reforms if they have established the commission.

The very survival of the economy of Bangladesh now largely depends on its business community. Indeed, if the rich and influential businessmen of Bangladesh don't survive during the anti corruption drive, how will the country survive? Let them be free. After all, they're not dreadful War Criminals, or Mass Killers. Even the War Criminals are walking free in Bangladesh. Have the Army backed CTG yet realized that they've terribly crossed their mandated boundary? They didn't have any other choice left but to retreat from its own promise. Let's borrow the concept of "Truth Commission" to save the face of a faceless government.

Pinprick cartoons & blasphemous cats

Pinprick cartoons & blasphemous cats
By Shamsuddin Yusuf
October 1, 2007
Source: altmuslim.com

In Bangladesh, a cartoon controversy says more about the country's political polarisation than it does about religious offense

Another cartoon controversy has hit the Muslim world. But this time, it is not part of the European dynamic made familiar by the 2006 Denmark crisis and its lesser known Scandinavian cousin this year. This time the action is unfolding in Bangladesh, home to the world's fourth largest Muslim population (after Indonesia, Pakistan and India). And this time, it’s about more than blasphemy.

Last month, Bangladesh authorities arrested twenty year old cartoonist Arifur Rahman, on charges of blasphemy and sedition for a cartoon he drew in the satirical magazine Alpin ("pin prick"). In it, he depicts an imam telling a small boy that he should always add the prefix "Mohammed" before a name, which leads to the boy referring to the cat in his lap as "Mohammed Beral (cat)." Islamist parties quickly denounced the cartoon, the government arrested the hapless cartoonist, and the editor of Alpin was immediately fired.

Things might have rested there, but the intervention of smaller Islamist groups, such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir, led to demands that the parent newspaper of Alpin, Prothom Alo, be shut down, and its editor and publisher, Motiur Rahman and Mahfuz Anam, sacked. This was no insignificant demand - Prothom Alo is the largest circulation newspaper in the country, and Rahman and Anam two of Bangladesh's most powerful media personalities.

After Friday prayers, Hizb-ut-Tahrir activists burned copies of the newspaper, and clashed with police. Peace talks were brokered between Prothom Alo and religious leaders, leading to a public apology from Rahman to the khatib of the National Mosque. The uneasy calm that followed in Dhaka was threatened by the discovery of another allegedly blasphemous reference in a literary magazine published by Prothom Alo, Shaptahik 2000, by the exiled poet Daud Haider. Worried about fresh trouble, the magazine was instantly pulled from newsstands and banned. The issue is not over yet.

Bangladesh has a long history of blasphemy related controversies, starting the year after its independence from Pakistan in 1971. Cultural icons, practices, and language were key motifs in the country’s struggles against Pakistani rule (Bengali poets Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam were re-appropriated as "Hindu" and "Muslim" respectively). After Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan, the culture wars became a key dividing line between Islamist and "secular" (or religious freedom) politics. In this trajectory, controversies targeted blasphemous writings by Haider (exiled in Germany), Taslima Nasreen (subject of global attention after a fatwa and bounty, now exiled in India), Ahmad Sharif (prosecuted in court and forced to apologise) and Humayun Azad (nearly killed in a brutal machete attack, but succumbing to related injuries in Germany later on).

In all these cases, electoral politics are often a bigger factor than genuine, widespread religious sentiment. The country's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, has used blasphemy controversies to bring itself to national prominence, forcing governments to negotiate with them amidst the uproar. Even though Islamist politics were banned in the aftermath of the country’s independence – Jamaat supported Pakistan during the 1971 war and formed death squads targeting leading Bangladeshi professors and intellectuals – Jamaat has been able to rehabilitate itself through these kinds of mass mobilizations. By 2001, Jamaat entered the government for the first time, securing two powerful ministries. Since then, Jamaat has found itself benefiting politically from recurring blasphemy controversies that serve to stoke religious fervor in their political base.

In the latest controversy, similar motives may be at play. The current Information Minister, Mainul Hossein (who issued the arrest order), owns the daily Ittefaq, one of Prothom Alo's rivals. With Prothom Alo's critical stance against Islamists, it has garnered many sworn enemies.

Currently Bangladesh is under an army-backed caretaker government, with a promised transition to democracy in 2008 looking increasingly shaky and uncertain. The military has vowed to crush corruption, arresting the leaders of both main political parties, as well as numerous party bigwigs. But some complain that Jamaat-e-Islami has been left alone in the current anti-corruption drive, because of sympathy within the Army. The manner in which the government gave in to blasphemy demands, and the light touch given to cartoon demonstrators (even though all protests and rallies are supposed to be banned under a "state of emergency") seems to give further evidence of the caretaker government’s bias.

Recently, unrelated riots on national university campuses were sparked by altercations between students and the Army, resulting in a draconian crackdown and more power to military hardliners. The Prothom Alo controversy has to be seen and analyzed within that context. As with similar cases worldwide, these issues have little to do with piety or protecting the Prophet - and more to do with political maneuvers galvanised under the name of Islam.
_______________________________________
Shamsuddin Yusuf is a writer and activist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Jamaat Attacked Minorities

Fundamentalist Islamic Party Jamaat-e- Islami activists have attacked minorities in northern district of Pabna. Military regimes in Bangladesh have always favored and patronaged Jamaat as they are skilled to exploit Islam to rally their support for autocratic and non-elected governments. Law Advisor Barrister Moinul Hosein has found to be participating in Jamaat's student wing Islami Chatra Shibir's Annual summit. Another Advisor General Matin has publicly announced Jamaat's immunity from corruption. Kuwait News agency reports:

NEW DELHI, Sept 8 (KUNA) -- At least ten cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami have been charged in the Pabna district in northern Bangladesh for attacking a Hindu temple, damaging property and threatening devotees who had gathered there on September 4, an auspicious day in Hindu calender.

More police have been deployed in the area following the incident, Bangladesh's leading English daily The Daily Star reported Saturday.

"One of the activists has been arrested and the police are looking for nine more following a complaint lodged by Pradip Kumar De, President of the Temple Committee," the daily reported.

Properties worth USD 500 were damaged in the attack on the temple, the daily said.

There are 11.3 million Hindus in Bangladesh, which is 10.5 percent of the total population, according to the 2001 census.

This is not the first such incident in Bangladesh. Following the coming of power of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami alliance in 2001, it has been reported that minorities were harassed across the country. Jamaat-e-Islami is known to maintain close links with Pakistan and many of its leaders have been alleged to have supported Islamabad during the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. (end)

Why Shouldn't They Be Punished?

Khaleda Zia is interned but what about those martial democrats who made her a dictatorial queen par excellence?
Shabbir Ahmed

The misrule of the government formed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) under the leadership of Mrs. Khaleda Zia ended in late October 2006. Mrs. Zia's rule from 1991 to 1996 was uneventful and she would get a C grade for governance and A grade for repressing her opponents. You got the picture!

Now let me briefly touch on corruption under her aegis. At that time, there were many newspaper reports on the corruption of her party leaders, ministers, and members of parliament. There were also many reports on her corruption by using government funds for her personal use. One example was using hundreds of thousands of takas for extending her house that she got from the BNP government after the death of her husband in 1981. During that time, it was reported that her son established Dandy Dying Industry and Coco shipping lines. All these were done by abusing the power of the office of the prime minister of Bangladesh. While she was in power before 1996, she wanted to ensure her return to power. So, she took all necessary steps to rig the election. All the parties (not just her rival Awami League) boycotted the election but the arrogant lady, Mrs. Khaleda Zia, used her government by violating all the norms and by using the pet election commission to conduct a voterless election in February 1996. That election fiasco did not save her. The people of all walks of life including the government employees revolted against her government and she had to quit the power in disgrace. At long last she had to step down. Her victory was not questioned in 1991 but her victory in 1996 through a voterless election was questioned and undermined the process of nascent democracy that started the journey in 1991 after the fall of the military dictator Gen. Ershad.

Mrs. Khaleda Zia had the support of the powerful quarters in Bangladesh. The vested interest elites and the martial democrats always preferred the cantonment-born parties both in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, BNP was the party of their choice. After the death of the military dictator Gen. Zia, a group of martial democrats supported the taking over of power by military dictator, Gen. Ershad, who said big words of rooting out corruption, instituting good governance, etc. in 1982. All the public knew later about his corruption and the corruption of his cohorts who helped to bring him to power. One of his military cohorts earned the bad reputation as a thief of Baghdad as it was reported in a U.K.-based newspaperat that time. After watching the down gradient in terms of the popularity of the cantonment-born Jatio Party formed by Gen. Ershad, all the martial democrats and their elite groups started rallied behind the other cantonment-born party BNP and exerted their all-out efforts to strengthen Mrs. Khaleda Zia, the widow of the first military dictator Gen. Zia. The elites belonging to the group of martial democrats were successful to portray Mrs. Khaleda Zia as the most uncompromising leader in Bangladesh. She was made popular and got mandate to get to the power in 1991.

During 1991 and 1996, the common people of Bangladesh saw the glimpse of her misrule. The inflation became high with the rise of the prices of essentials. She abolished Upazilla system that helped village people get benefits through government investments at the grass root level. Without any thoughtful approach and evaluating alternative options, she allowed the government to close government-run industries. One example is the closing of Fenchuganj Fertilizer Factory. During her rule, the scarcity of fertilizer became so acute that the farmers protested and the government forces killed twenty five protesting farmers. She did not try to solve the problems but allowed the mismanagement of fertilizer distribution for her party workers to make illegal money. All these were reported in the media at that time. Most importantly, she undermined the whole process of election for election engineering in 1996. The farcical election in February 1996 exposed her love for misrule and the misrule of her party BNP. As a result, she was voted out from power in a short notice.

The powerful quarters and the martial democrats did not like to see the victory of Awami League in 1996. Given the practical situation, they could not do anything to prevent Awami League to get to power. But, after a short duration, these forces rallied behind Khaleda Zia and tried their best to get her back to power by supporting all her misinformation campaign on any national issues of great significance undertaken by the Awami League government. For example, she termed the Chittagong Hill Tract Treaty as leasing the sub-region to India and the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty as a slavery treaty with India. Despite her false propaganda and misinformation campaign (the sound of Azan will be replaced by Hindu women's Ulu sound), she did not lose the support of the elites that support martial democracy. They rallied behind her to prevent Awami League to come back to power by any means. The election engineering was performed very skillfully to give two-third majority to her party and the fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami. After winning with such a brute majority, she became very bold and desperate to consolidate her power in a permanent fashion. To do that, she did all the misdeeds to politicize the election commission and the administration in her favor. She even allowed her son to run a parallel administration. As in her term from 1991 to 1996, inflation went high along with price hikes of the essentials. In the name of denationalization, she indiscriminately closed the government-run industries including Adamjee Jute Mill without evaluating any better alternative options. Unemployment became high and the public opinion went against her. All the parties (not just her rival Awami League) united against her alliance government. As a consequence, the powerful quarter (that supported her all along in the past) brought a new caretaker government. As it appears, they want to get a replacement of Mrs. Khaleda Zia and her party.

The martial democrats and the civil-military bureaucracy have withdrawn their support from her. The present government formed by the latter and widely supported by the former have now sent her to jail. Many of the faces including Barrister Mainul Husein are taking tough stand against Mrs. Khaleda Zia. But, not too long ago, he was saying along the same line as Mrs. Khaleda Zia concerning the election under BNP-JI's pet election commission. Even her close associates including Mannan Bhuyan were uttering the same sentences as Mrs. Zia uttered against the will of the people in general. Now as it appears, all these people are either taking tough stand against her or acting as if everything wrong was done only by her and by her sons. Those who made her a dictatorial queen are now blaming her. Why should not these people take responsibility for not telling the truth in front of her? Why should not they be punished for supporting her and taking part during her misrule?

Arrest is not for political balance

Bdnews reports Law Advisor Mainul Hossain's claim that Khaleda Zia's arrest is not for political balance. May be, he can not read between lines as he's totally programmed by the military briefing. Bangladesh army is trying to restore its public image that was severely knocked down by recent pictures of public-student protests and uprisings. Finally, it's trying to reappear as a fair and balanced force in its practice as it's quickly running out of time and options for the scheduled election next year.

Dhaka, Sept 3 (bdnews24.com)— Law and information adviser Mainul Hosein Monday said former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina had not been arrested for the sake of striking a political balance.

"...The government has no enmity with anyone," Mainul said at a crowded press briefing in his office in the afternoon.

On the BNP chief's arrest in the morning, Mainul said: "The government's anti-corruption drive is going ahead with an open mind." "

It took some time to file the cases against the two former prime ministers as the allegations brought against them were thoroughly scrutinised. Because of this, the government has had to face a lot of criticism."

"However, it is a fact that the cases were not filed merely to ensure 'balance'," Mainul stressed.

"After filing of the cases, both leaders were produced in court with all the respect due to them. We have no conflict or enmity with anyone."

Asked why no actions were being taken against BNP 'reformists' Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, Mainul replied: "The charges are not being brought against leaders on the basis of who belongs to which party."

"The government also cannot investigate corruption charges against every suspect. We cannot rightly say who will be indicted or not," said Mainul.

"However, it is important to see if those that have been accused are receiving justice or not," he added.

The adviser said said indoor politics on a limited scale was now taking place spontaneously in the country. After the recent unrest at Dhaka University, he said, the government was now more confident about dealing with the issue.

"There is no real bar at present to indoor politics. In fact, indoor politics is continuing."

"But it is being practised under a certain framework outlined by the government. Following the recent unrest at Dhaka University, the government became more confident.

"The government is indeed considering whether the ban on indoor politics can be lifted or not. It is time that the government reconsiders its decisions on this."

He also said allegations brought against Khaleda were specific. "Through Khaleda Zia's arrest, the government proved that it is completely neutral and unbiased in bringing corruption charges against accused persons."

"However," Mainul said, "The court will decide who is guilty and who is innocent."

"The main objective of the government is to ensure accountability and honesty of the politicians by enforcing laws. You all have noticed how corruption and looting took place in the past when this was not ensured."

bdnews24.com/nh/mk/br/rah/bd/1530 hours

Mainul's 'National Government'

Mainul erroneously calling the military-backed regime a ‘National Government’
A.H. Jaffor Ullah, USA

Of all the advisors appointed by the military in January 2007 to manage the government on its behalf, Mainul Husein is an interesting character. Never mind, he was the champion of BNP all these years and this is the man who said in November and December 2006 that election should be held within 90 days of Iajuddin Administration to honor the constitution. But how his opinion had changed 180 degrees in short order! He hardly sees that the second interim government was formed defying the dictums of Bangladesh constitution. He also has no problem with the emergency rule, which was enforced at the behest of the military. The 120 days limitation of the emergency rule was grossly violated and it hardly ruffles feather in him.

The man who is full of caprice is unprincipled too, to say the least. No wonder he has become the mouthpiece of this military-backed government. His inane remarks have graced the pages of all newspapers for the last 7 months and it is safe to say that he will continue to be the spokesperson for the present-day interim government.

Much has been written in the press about the legality of this military-backed government by scholars and constitutional experts. Dr. Kamal Husein had reminded us that we should not ask this delicate question on the constitutionality of this government because many a time the constitution was maimed and disfigured by the military since 1975. This goes to prove that in the eyes of Dr. Kamal Husein this government is not all that kosher. However, the information advisor, Mainul Husein, is of the opinion that the Fakhruddin Administration, which is a product of cantonment intrigue, is a constitutional government. In his eyes no segment of the constitution was breached by forming two consecutive caretaker governments. The constitution is very clear on this. I have read the constitution quite a few times and I never found the clause stating that multiple and consecutive caretaker government could be formed. Moreover, it is stipulated that a caretaker government should only last for 90 days. It has been over 210 days the Fakhruddin regime is in power and there is hardly any talk about disbanding this administration. The constitution was breached a big time but it hardly bothers Mainul Husein who claims to be a barrister. What a chutzpah!

After saying umpteenth times that the present military-backed government carries a constitutional mandate, Mainul has found out that there is no taker of his tenuous claim outside Bangladesh. Inside Bangladesh it is however a different story. No courts will hear the case if anyone brings such complaint. A housewife in Bangladesh went to court in March-April 2007 challenging the legitimacy of Fakhruddin Administration. The judge advised the claimant not to move against the wind. The judge used a figurative language to warn the claimant not to pursue the case any further. The case was not heard at all. True to the nature of a despotic regime the case was dismissed on flimsy procedural irregularity. So much for the independence of Bangladesh’s higher courts!

Mainul Husein may pretend like the proverbial ostrich thinking that if he buries his head in sand and hears not a think, no one else will either. But times have changed in this age of Internet when news travels at the speed of light, figuratively speaking of course. The comity of nations in this globe knows it all that the military is running Bangladesh giving a civilian façade. Mainul Husein took this onerous duty most willingly to give spin to news stories and sometimes to concoct stories for public consumption. While carrying out this burdensome duty he makes up make belief stories for which lacks veracity. And he did one of those concoction just yesterday (August 27, 2007).

Several newspapers published in Dhaka reported on August 28, 2007 that as per Mainul Husein this caretaker government is really a “National Government.” Hello? Did I hear correctly that the present-day government is a national one? I daresay he is dead wrong. There is not even an ounce of truth in Mainul’s exaggerated claim.

A national government is a euphemism for a unity government when an administration is formed after election — taking leaders from all or important political parties. Mainul or Fakhruddin has no electoral mandate – none whatsoever. They were appointed by the military leaders. Why then Mainul had to fabricate this big lie?

There are some reasons for such outrageous claim. Mainul’s perfidy was equaled only by his gall, to paraphrase Gilbert Millstein. The government has earned enough bad reputation as of late while dealing with mass upsurge that took place extemporaneously. The masses in Dhaka and elsewhere while showing solidarity with Dhaka University students took to the streets defying the dictums of emergency rule. Naturally, Mainul, Fakhruddin and their purveyor – the military – were nonplussed hearing the news of the defiance. Their feelings were hurt and they realized that this government’s Achilles’ heel was the extra constitutional nature of its illegitimacy. Therefore, the spin master, Mainul Husein, is now at it again. His new flout is – Fakhruddin’s is a national government. The UNB wrote as follows:

“Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday billed the present caretaker government as a national government backed by the army that saved the nation from an impending civil war. During a meeting with news editors of the electronic media in his office, he came up with the new terminology for the incumbent government that assumed office on January 12 under state of emergency declared amid a political turmoil over the issues of general election.”

Mainul Husein took great pride while telling the media that his government was able to squash the rebellion against his government in recent week when the masses came out to the street to defy the emergency rule. The distraught law and information advisor is now in cloud nine after the joint forces have quelled the protest movement. He may have conveniently forgotten that power grows out of the barrel of guns. The masses had none while the joint forces had plenty.

Bangladesh’s people are used to take to the streets to show their disdain against any government. The season of discontent is here. Soon the masses will give the clarion call for ousting this despotic regime made out mostly of oligarchy. This government is out of touch from reality and it does not carry one bit of public’s mandate. Furthermore, the days of fooling the entire mass is over. The best exit policy this government would have is to make a level playing field, host the election and just leave. The people have not offered this onerous duty to the military-backed interim government to engineer the polity. The government is pledge-bound to offer election only and sooner they do it is better. However, this tall talk about the changing nature of this interim government to ‘National Government’ worries the hell out of me. To all this I may add – Caveat Emptor (buyer be aware).

-------------------------------------
Dr. A.H. Jaffor Ullah, a researcher and columnist, writes from New Orleans, USA
E Mail : jhankar@bellsouth.net

Lectures and Reality

Lectures and Reality
By Monsur Ibrahim

Recently we have heard some valuable and inspiring words from some very important persons in our country. Their roles are so important that the future of our nation depends on what they do and how they act.

Very recently, our Chief Justice said, Supreme Court will play its crucial role at any critical juncture of the nation like it did in the past. Though Daily Star Editor Mr. Mahfuz Anam on the very next day, in a news commentary titled “My Lord, We beg to differ”, pointed out how the Supreme Court in fact was responsible for the current Emergency because of its failure to act properly in the writ petition against President Yazuddin Ahmed’s acquisition of power as Chief of Caretaker Government. When High Court was about to give a verdict, the former Chief Justice deliberately interfered and obstructed justice from being served - leading to current national crisis.

We have seen Supreme Court’s role against Sk. Hasina’s cases. Sk. Hasina is a former PM and the two extortion cases were filed against her by persons who were under joint forces’ custody. In one case her name was not even directly involved. Even her enemies will agree that she is not going to escape from the country. High court gave her bail but Supreme Court is simply lingering against implementation of High Court’s judgment. These are questionable complaints and Sk. Hasina could be given bail and trial could continue. BUT that will seriously hinder Moinul-Moinuddin gongs open-secret agenda to keep her out of politics. So, we see a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice bowing head to Military backed government. When we see the heroic role of Pakistan’s Chief Justice against mighty President Musharraf’s ill intentions, we feel pity for our Chief Justice’s role. We really cannot be inspired by his lecture on Supreme Court’s role when his verdicts clearly show coinciding with rulers’ conspiracies. We do not want to contempt court but everyone has a right to criticize unfair judgment. Nevertheless, our chief justice failed to take action on BNP-Jamat appointed incompetent judges and against corruption of former Chief Justice. Like Mr. Mahfuz Anam pointed out, Supreme Court’s pro-government role might in fact be responsible for our future devastation.

Another very important and powerful person is our army chief Gen. Moinuddin Ahmed. He recently became the first General (after stripping off former army chief’s ‘General’ rank because of issuing statement involving suspected army role in August grenade attack on Sk. Hasina and AL leaders), perhaps to carry more weight. Though he is an employee of the republic and not in government, he is giving lot of political statements and lectures to the nation. Never in the history of our nation had any army chief given any statement when a government was in power. But we know that this government is basically his government with some civil faces in front. As long as you can fire your gun from another person’s shoulder, why put it on your shoulder? Similarly our army is running the country with some civil rubber stamp faces in the front. Recently Mr. Moin said, “If anyone puts his hand in fire, hand is bound to burn”. What an irony! Mr. Moin’s backed government initially was hailed from all quarters. But they started playing with fire when they wanted to put Hasina permanently in exile. Finally, they put their hand on fire after arresting her. It really burnt as we saw from recent beating of army personnel by university students. We do not want to see our army personnel humiliated like that. But again, per Gen. Moin, your hand will burn if you put it in fire.

Government still does not want to acknowledge that people have started losing faith in them. Their roles are getting questionable. Yes, Hasina is a popular leader of the largest party in the nation and she was not in power during last 5 years. People saw serious injustice, misrule, looting and corruption during BNP-Jamat rule; and yet, Hasina, Jalail are in Jail and top BNP leaders are still free! People would definitely question the fairness. And Mr. Moinul by his regular controversial statements openly proves this government’s real secret agenda. Government is saying that recent university incidents were manipulated by some teachers and two political leaders paid money. When the bank accounts of those two leaders are frozen and one of them is in custody and the other one is on the run, how can they pay money and organize a movement? Our cops are so efficient that they solved this mystery of uprising against government instantly and took the professors behind bar. Unfortunately, these same cops could not yet solve the grenade attack case on AL meeting and killing of ASM Kibria. What is the real fact? Did teachers also paid the army people to beat the students and initiate the situation?

We think this was deliberately done by Moinul-Moinuddin government. Was this a preplanned game to shut down main universities and the voice of Teachers Association before Supreme Court’s pro-government verdict against Hasina’s cases? Was this a precautionary measure?

In any case, we saw peoples’ grievances against this government. Mr. Moin embarrassed himself when people saw pictures of his mighty army member being beaten and running for life. We are not happy with this kind of picture and we do not want to see it again. But we want to remind Gen. Moin by his own words that hands will get burnt if placed on fire.

Intimidating Journalists

Barrister Moinul Hossain warned Jouranlists about the news coverage on the volatile situation in Bangladesh. He asked them to write carefully and responsibly. Army is now trying to stop news about the real situation.
Source: Dhaka News
দেশের বৃহত্তর স্বার্থে সাংবাদিকদের সতর্কতার সাথে কাজ করার এবং উস্কানিমূলক সংবাদ প্রচার না করার পরামর্শ দিলেন আইন ও তথ্য উপদেষ্টা ব্যারিস্টার মইনুল হোসেন।
--সিএসবি নিউজ

Faizi's Case: Freedom for Juidiciary

Faizi's Case: Bar Moinul’s Power and Our Free Judiciary
By Imran Faruk

High court declared Chittagong University’s investigation on justice Faizi’s case as illegal because High Court thinks tampering of Tabulation Sheet alone is not sufficient enough to declare fraud.

Some thoughts automatically cross our mind. Bar Moinul Hossain initially represented Faizi’s case and now he is a law advisor. Is he showing his ego and influencing the judiciary?

At least one dozen of current High Court judges were nominated by recent past BNP-Jamat government. The nominations included BNP-Jamat lawyers and party cadres. It is easy for Bar Moinul to influence them.

Interestingly, High Court didn’t summon any of the Chittagong University Investigation Committee members to provide their opinion on how the investigation was done and how the conclusion was drawn.

What other proofs High Court needed? The person who received payment to tamper Faizi and others’ mark sheets gave a confession to the Chittagong University Investigation Committee but High Court didn’t bother to summon him.

If a medical committee investigates a patient’s file and symptoms 17 years after the patient died and come to a conclusion of the cause of death, would High Court term it illegal? Based on archeological investigation after thousands of years, scientists are concluding about the diseases that old Egyptian Kings suffered from. But our High Court thinks an investigation after 17 years is insufficient.

Incidentally, fictitious extortion cases against Sk. Hasina filed after 8 years are very attractive to our judges and they do not think it baseless for insufficient evidence.

Flood and Politics in Bangladesh

Watch this news coverage by ATN and NTV on August 5, 2007, about the on-going debate on political parties participiation in flood affected areas. See what the political parties are saying and what the Caretaker Government's Advisor Barrister Moinul Hossain is saying about political parties' involvement into flood affected areas. He warned that if the current government fails, it will be devastating? What does that mean?

Is the Government heading for a big fiasco?

Is the Bangladesh's caretaker government heading for a big fiasco?
By Monsur Ibrahim

Supreme Court’s order against High Court’s ruling:
The full bench appellate division of Supreme Court stayed the high court’s ruling on Sheikh. Hasina’s bail till August 14. Per senior attorney Barrister Rafiq, he didn’t understand this kind of ruling even with his 47 years of experience in legal system. He said, if this was not Supreme Court, he would have claimed it as “too much politically motivated”, because high court has the full authority on writ petitions by regulation 102 of the constitution and the appellate division is regulated by section 103 of the constitution.

We have seen some interesting incidents with this ruling. As soon as the High Court gave its ruling, Barrister Moinul Hossain announced to file an appeal and government filed an appeal before 24 hours of High Court’s verdict and even before High Court mailed its ruling to government. Interestingly, the complainant of the case Mr. Azam didn’t tell the state to file an appeal but state was too much interested in it and filed it the next day.

Supreme Court took the hearing but postponed the verdict for one more day. It is not wise to criticize court’s decision but why they took one more day to give the verdict. Did our Chief Justice required to do it to consult with government and Bar Moinul Hossain? Since Supreme Court is autonomous, we hope that was not the cause.

BUT, hundreds of RAB and police force were placed in and around Supreme Court since early morning of the day before the verdict. The parties in the appeal were Government and Sheikh Hasina. Verdict could go either way. Who and how Police department and home ministry knew what the verdict is going to be and placed RAB and cops in and around court premises? If verdict would have been in favor of High Court ruling or Sheikh Hasina’s bail, no cops were needed. That means government knew well ahead of time that the verdict is going to be against Sheikh Hasina’s bail. Question is how government knew it? Either government dictated the Chief Justice or our Chief Justice informed the government. If the first case is true, this government is influencing the court more than any political government and scaring them because they have army behind them. If the second case is true, why would Chief Justice request cops? Is it because he knew that his judgment was not fair and requested for safety? We do not know but facts on the field raise these questions.

Khaleda and Saifur Rahman’s whitening of black money:
Isn’t it very interesting? The former PM and Finance Minister has black money! Isn’t it more interesting that they are not arrested whereas government (Bangladesh Bank) froze all bank accounts of Sheikh. Hasina, her husband Dr. Wazed Miah, Sheikh Rehana, Rehana’s husband Dr. Siddiqui, Sheikh. Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Sayema, Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, Grenade Victim Assistance Fund! Isn't it amazing even though Khaleda’s younger son Koko, brothers Syed Iskander and Shamim Iskander are largely involved in corruption and money laundering, their bank accounts are still operational?

Khaleda Zia’s Bank Account:
The strangest statements were made by Khaleda Zia’s attorney preparing her wealth statement. He said Khaleda Zia is scared because some interested fans may have opened bank accounts in Khaleda’s name and put money in those accounts. She wouldn’t know if there are many such accounts in her name because her fans could have done it. How unbelievable is that? Can any one open an account in any one’s name? Even though it may be possible by forging documents, is it possible to open an account in Prime Minister’s name and without her knowledge? Khaleda is not a ordinary person and any bank manager in Bangladesh knows that. Interestingly, when asked if Khaleda Zia had any foreign accounts, her lawyer had the same reply that some fans could have opened accounts in foreign countries in Kahleda’s name and could have put money in those accounts that she was not aware of. Though many things can happen in Bangladesh, you cannot open a bank account in a foreign nation without your identity and proper documents. Are we all idiots that we have to listen to this crap?

Human Rights Watch’s Asia Director Brad Adams’s open letter to Mr. Fakhruddin Ahmed:
In his open letter, Mr. Adams pointed out discrepancies between this government’s commitments and activities. He mentioned how this government is in power by their own choice and not compelled or forced by any one; the locations of illegal hidden DGFI (Defense Intelligence/ Directorate General of Forces Intelligence) torture chambers in the cantonment, and other illegal activities being carried out by army. Mr. Adams pin pointed the torture cells, how confessions are taken and video tapes are made by army people. Mr. Fakhruddin’s government has been criticized more than any corrupt political government. How sad will that be for our army’s reputation to act in UN peace missions? Already six Bangladesh army soldiers were expelled and deported from UN Peace Keeping Mission for raping in a foreign country. Army’s current role in illegal torture and abuse of human rights will simply add to the negative image of our army in the international arena.

Finally Bar Moinul Hossain:
Finally, Mr. Moinul Hossain expressed his concern that this government may not be successful. He said that in the context of price hike, flood situation and overall scenario of the country. Instead of consulting major political parties on how to combat these essential national issues and utilizing their manpower resources, government is more involved in sizing them. Instead of punishing real corrupt politicians, government is pressing hard on Sheikh Hasina and her party. In order to sustain power, they are apparently favoring Khaleda Zia and other highly corrupt politicians. People already doubt this government’s fairness because of their unfair partisan caricature.

We expected our Fakhruddin-Moeen government to be successful. But now the main player Mr. Moinul Hossain is casting doubt himself about their success. We won’t be surprised if this government is ultimately heading towards a big fiasco.

The life story of Barrister Mainul Hussain

Source: e Bangladesh
Written by: Hamid-ul-Huq
Tuesday, 31 July 2007

(Picture: Barrister Moinul at Shibir's Annual Meeting)

Bangladesh’s present law adviser, Barrister Mainul Hussain, has marvelous advantages. Lately, his tongue is wagging incessantly when he speaks before news reporters to lambaste fallen politicians. Only days ago he used to support politicians from one particular party. But now he took the onus on him to admonish them.

First, some background information. If you follow Bangladesh’s current politics you may already know that Bangladesh’s titular chief is none other than Dr. Fakhruddin, who worked for World Bank in the 1980s and 1990s stationed at Washington DC. The force behind the government, i.e., the military, has appointed Barrister Mainul Hussain as the law adviser who is also serving as the spokesperson for the military-backed interim government.

He is the most cunning person and he is unwittingly doing all the messy stuff to destabilize the political condition of Bangladesh. At times, the opportunist Mainul Hussain gives threats and issues warnings to the politicians. Therefore, it is pertinent to know who this man is. Let us probe his past.

Mainul Hussain in his twenties received nomination in 1970 parliamentary election from Bangladesh Awami League only because he was a son of Tofazzal Hussain aka Manik Mia. He did not know the ABCs of politics due to his tender age. But, he used his father’s identity and got elected in 1970. The shrewd young barrister did not jeopardize his comfort and stayed back while many people like another shrewd barrister Moudud Ahmed joined Bangladesh Liberation war. The popular vernacular newspaper, Ittefaq, was perceived as the mouthpiece of Awami League. The angry Pakistani military, therefore, destroyed Ittefaq building. But, see how Mainul Hussain - - an avid supporter of Pakistani military - - sold his soul and extended his hands of friendship toward the Pakistani generals. By hobnobbing with the Paki generals, Mainul Hussain was able to extract a large sum of money for repairing machineries and printing Ittefaq in 1971 but this time his paper became right away the mouthpiece of Pakistani military while publishing demoralizing news about our glorious freedom fight. In a sense he became a Fifth Columnist.

This wayward son of Manik Mia became a fan of the military establishment. The Paki general taught him how to salute a general. The teaching he got during 1971 made him a lifelong sycophant of army. This servile attitude of Mainul Hussain for military never faded away and up until now one could see his slavish devotion for the men in uniform.

The changeover in August 1975 brought military back into the seat of power. The mastermind for bringing military by killing Sheikh Mujib was Khandoker Mushtaque. Dear readers, see what Mainul Hussain did. He joined hands with killer Mushtaque, provided support and strengths to the killer military gang by writing editorials in his paper, the Ittefaq. Some days later, Mainul Hussain saw people throwing stones and shoes to Mushtaque when he went to Baitul Mukarram mosque. And cunning Mainul Hussain did not see much prospect and he left Mushtaque's party, Democratic League. After Mushtaque, military man Ziaur Rahman showed his strengths as a strong ruler - who formed a hybrid party BNP. Army strength is what Mainul Hussain likes the most. He served in Zia's BNP religiously until recently. He was ready to offer free legal services to any troubled case on BNP’s mischievous acts. You see him in the court to defend fraudulent clients. Dear readers, do you know who was the attorney for fraud justice Faizee appointed by Khaleda Zia? He is none other than Mainul Hussain. Such is his true color.

Mainul Hussain's love for democracy knows no bounds! He refused to join the national government in 1974 for the cause of democracy. But now, in the emergency rule, there is no democracy but the vocal and smiling [conspiratorial too!] Mainul Hussain is an unabashed advisor - who is saying everyday that Bangladeshis do not have any fundamental rights in the emergency rule. A hypocrite of the century, one might say!

Mainul Hussain's hypocrisy has no limit! He gave recently a sermon to destroy family dynasty in politics. The mischievous barrister became the editor of Ittefaq not by his merit but by inheritance. As a crown prince in Manik Mia dynasty he suddenly became the president of the editorial board. Did he attend any journalism school to learn the art of writing editorials? No. But he pontificates at every opportunity he gets by saying that dynastical politics is bad. Thus he has a double standard – one for him and the other for politicians he abhor.

Mainul Hussain foams at the mouth while mentioning the evil effect of musclemanship in politics. Now he declared his one-man jihad to clean Bangladesh politics by wiping out musclemanship from our politics. Fair enough. But do you know that years ago, the same Mainul Hussain hired hooligans to capture the Ittefaq building from his brother.

Mainul Hussain is not only a jealous man but suffers from inferiority complex. The vernacular newspapers Janakntha and Jugantor had earned popularity and thereby their circulation grew by leaps and bounds. However, this caused enough grief in Mainul Hussain. He was upset knowing that his paper, Ittefaq, lost its luster and became a third rated paper in Bangladesh . Consequently, sheer out of jealousy, he suddenly turned against Janakantha editor Atiqullah Khan Masud and Jugantor owner Nurul Islam Babul when opportunity landed in his door. Look what happened to these two gentlemen. Mainul Hussain goaded the military to arrest them after getting into power. He has been uttering such words against the editors stating that they have no knowledge of journalism. May I ask, where in the world did Mainul Hussain get lessons on journalism? His only qualification is that he is the son of a newspaper editor. This is his sole qualification on journalism. Mainul Hussain is so myopic that he very conveniently forgot that he inherited Ittefaq from his father. Shameless as he is, he will never admit once that family fortune has helped him catapult to the position he is holding now.

DU teachers demand Mainul's exit

Breaking News
Dhaka, July 29 (bdnews24.com) – Dhaka University teachers Thursday demanded removal of law adviser Mainul Hosein from the caretaker government for making biased comments in the wake of the arrest of Sheikh Hasina.

Dhaka University Teachers Association approved a five-point charter in the presence of 200 teachers at a meeting, chaired by Professor Sadrul Amin.

The demand for removal of the adviser is in the charter, which makes the first call on the government to get him out of the job since it took office in January.

Mainul told bdnews24.com at 11:16pm: "I don't want to comment on it. I don't give opinion based on the opinion of others."

He further said, "I expressed my views and they gave theirs."

The teachers demanded immediate freedom for the former prime minister from jail.

Security forces arrested Hasina at her Sudha Sadan home on July 16 in an extortion case, and a Dhaka court sent her to jail rejecting a bail prayer.

In the statement, the association protested an alleged move by the caretaker government to take Hasina, and another former prime minister, Khaleda Zia, "out of the political scene".

Teachers will wear black badges to classes Saturday in a symbolic protest against the arrest of Hasina and alleged harassment of Khaleda, the statement said.

The teachers decided not to join work for half the day on July 22. University exams will go on as scheduled.

The meeting also called on the government to return a democratic system to the country, clearing the way for general elections to take place.

Barrister Moinul Hossain Caught

Please watch this video and then read the following excerpt:


Salam Dhaka writes on June 25th, "I was watching NTV news over the weekend when something interesting happened. The press core asked superman Barrister Mainul Hossain why Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mujaheed was allowed to go to Turkey when he too is charged with murder?

The confused barrister asked "Who is he? I don't know him" and looked to his right
asking his secretary to answer the question.

Another reporter reminded him that he was the secretary general of Jammat!

This goes to show that this is a very uncomfortable topic for the great barrister, like it should be...”

Yes, Barrister Moinul Hossain does not remember or recognize who Mujahid is. Yet, he sat with Mujaheed only 2 chairs away from him in Islami Chatra Shibir's Annual General Meeting in 2005. What a great liar!!! Indeed, he is the real Spokeperson for the Military government.