What may happen before 12/24?
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
July 24, 2008
Millitary controlled interim government in Bangladesh continues to reaffirm its promise of holding the next general election by December 24. This has been made clear by the Chief Executive Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed as well as other players in the government. Political experts opine that the forthcoming local government poll in the country is simply an acid test to determine if holding of the general election is possible by keeping the State of Emergency in existence. Although there is slight festivity in the electoral areas of the local government poll, the nation is yet to be convinced of holding of the general election as per road map, as the government itself is in jepardy in making things straight in order to give ´go ahead´ signal to politicians for the possible election. On the other hand, some analysts are rather skeptical of seeing any election by 2008, as they argue saying, once elected government comes in power, it will directly or indirectly contain members of two of the major political platforms in Bangladesh. And there is possibly no reason to clarify the result or fate of such victory by those parties, which are continuing to be number one target of the present rulers in Dhaka. Sensing this, millitary controlled government in Bangladesh may try to see a new avenue opened for them to avert the election as well give an acceptable justification to the international community in allowing Dhaka in continuing the present type of government at least for a couple of years.
Meanwhile, although the major agenda of the present government in Bangladesh is to combat corruption and all forms of terrorism, it is already alleged that many of the members of the government, including son and wife of the President of the Republic are getting engaged in corruption. There are numerous corruption charges against former advisors in the interim government such as Tapan Chowdhury, Barrister Moinul Hussein etc. But, till date there is no investigation into any of the matter, nor there is any action taken against the corrupt neo-VIPs in the country. It is even alleged that, taking the advantage of the present unique situation in Bangladesh, several officials and members of Anti Corruption Commission as well as a particular law enforcing agency in the country are gradually becoming wealthier. According to fact sheet, a large number of plots and apartments in Dhaka and other parts of the country are being mostly purchased by this particular group.
The present government, although began its journey by giving a huge slap on the faces of corrupts, are gradually becoming shaky and timid and continuing real action against the corrupts or reaching into compromise with the corrupts for reason unknown but anticipated. Now corruption is rather spreading, in most of the sectors in the country. But, the most corrupt and notorious corrupt department in Bangladesh is of course Rapid Action Battalion [RAB], which is already infamous for extra judicial killing and series of criminal activities. It was already alleged that several units of this ´elite force´ are engaged in dealing in drug and narcotic as well as various forms of illegal or immoral activities. This organization stormed into the office of Weekly Blitz in March 2008, looted cash and valuables and exhibited dirtiest ever actions any civilized nation could ever imagine. But, the government, instead of taking action against the culprits, are trying to do anything to defend them. Because, the units of RAB are headed by millitary personnel. And, it is always a tendency of the millitary officials to defend their own specise irrespective of whatever they might do. It is even seemed at several times that Rapid Action Battalion has already turned into a frankenstein for Bangladesh.
Taking the advantage of the forthcoming local government election, musclemen and dirty people are once again coming back to politics. It was also reported in the newspapers that a person facing corruption charge from the prison is already contesting in the poll as mayor. There are numerous allegations of hoodlums and culprits participating in the election. So, wha difference the present millitary controlled interim governmen could attain in past several months? Frankly speaking, nothing! Yes, they have been able to anyway screw up country´s economic backbone by taking series of wrong decisions as well as by for no reason starting battle with the business community en messe. At the beginning, when the power seizure took place in January 2008, it seemed that as if the business community were the prime enemy of the government. Hundreds of cases of harrassment of businessmen are already documented and recorded by various local and international agencies. To Bangladeshi business community, the present era is like a nightmare. On the other hand, due to such fearsome atmosphere in the economic area in the country, Bangladesh continues to face series of problems and obstacles, right from shortage of food to shortage of electricity or recent fertilizer crisis. It is even learnt that by the end of this year, export of readymade garments to the Western markets will further decline. Should there be no election by December 2008, Bangladesh will surely enter another tunnel of unknown fate.
There is no doubt that the rulers in Dhaka are at least partially aware of what fate awaits them after December 2008. Understanding this, they might either get prepared to hold the election as per schedule and handover power to the elected government by abandoning the former heavyweight in the large political parties. Surely the government is taking Awami League and BNP into their serious consideration, while there is no sign of any interest in bringing ´reform´ within Jatiyo Party, which is owned [not led] by former millitary dictator Huseein Muhammed Ershad. Bunch of corrupts and culprits as well as terrorists are holding various posts and positions in this party. But, the millitary controlled interim government is silent even to utter a single word against Ershad? Why? People will surely understand, the reason behind such lack of interest by the rulers in Dhaka in taking any initiative for reform with Jatiyo Party is because, Ershad is a former millitary ruler.
On the other hand, the test tube party of the present government named Progressive Democratic Party [PDP], which had premature birth under the ´leadership´ of Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi is already seen by its ´genetic fathers´ that such carricature by Qureshi cannot be a proper might to face the influence and popularity of Awami League, BNP, Jamaat or any other major political party. Qureshi´s PDP joke could be similar as Dr. Kamal´s Gono Forum or other small fries in Bangladesh politics such as Workers Party, Communist Part etc.
Taking the advantage of unique situation in Bangladesh, notorious Islamist groups like Hizb Ut Tahrir, Khelafat Majlish etc are gaining strength. It is even learnt that some vested quarters are giving partonization to these groups with the goal of using their notoriety during coming December to avert the promised election by 2008. It is even forecasted by experts that from the coming November, many of the Islamist terror groups will be activated in order to show to the international community that holding election was impossible.
Meanwhile, although the major agenda of the present government in Bangladesh is to combat corruption and all forms of terrorism, it is already alleged that many of the members of the government, including son and wife of the President of the Republic are getting engaged in corruption. There are numerous corruption charges against former advisors in the interim government such as Tapan Chowdhury, Barrister Moinul Hussein etc. But, till date there is no investigation into any of the matter, nor there is any action taken against the corrupt neo-VIPs in the country. It is even alleged that, taking the advantage of the present unique situation in Bangladesh, several officials and members of Anti Corruption Commission as well as a particular law enforcing agency in the country are gradually becoming wealthier. According to fact sheet, a large number of plots and apartments in Dhaka and other parts of the country are being mostly purchased by this particular group.
The present government, although began its journey by giving a huge slap on the faces of corrupts, are gradually becoming shaky and timid and continuing real action against the corrupts or reaching into compromise with the corrupts for reason unknown but anticipated. Now corruption is rather spreading, in most of the sectors in the country. But, the most corrupt and notorious corrupt department in Bangladesh is of course Rapid Action Battalion [RAB], which is already infamous for extra judicial killing and series of criminal activities. It was already alleged that several units of this ´elite force´ are engaged in dealing in drug and narcotic as well as various forms of illegal or immoral activities. This organization stormed into the office of Weekly Blitz in March 2008, looted cash and valuables and exhibited dirtiest ever actions any civilized nation could ever imagine. But, the government, instead of taking action against the culprits, are trying to do anything to defend them. Because, the units of RAB are headed by millitary personnel. And, it is always a tendency of the millitary officials to defend their own specise irrespective of whatever they might do. It is even seemed at several times that Rapid Action Battalion has already turned into a frankenstein for Bangladesh.
Taking the advantage of the forthcoming local government election, musclemen and dirty people are once again coming back to politics. It was also reported in the newspapers that a person facing corruption charge from the prison is already contesting in the poll as mayor. There are numerous allegations of hoodlums and culprits participating in the election. So, wha difference the present millitary controlled interim governmen could attain in past several months? Frankly speaking, nothing! Yes, they have been able to anyway screw up country´s economic backbone by taking series of wrong decisions as well as by for no reason starting battle with the business community en messe. At the beginning, when the power seizure took place in January 2008, it seemed that as if the business community were the prime enemy of the government. Hundreds of cases of harrassment of businessmen are already documented and recorded by various local and international agencies. To Bangladeshi business community, the present era is like a nightmare. On the other hand, due to such fearsome atmosphere in the economic area in the country, Bangladesh continues to face series of problems and obstacles, right from shortage of food to shortage of electricity or recent fertilizer crisis. It is even learnt that by the end of this year, export of readymade garments to the Western markets will further decline. Should there be no election by December 2008, Bangladesh will surely enter another tunnel of unknown fate.
There is no doubt that the rulers in Dhaka are at least partially aware of what fate awaits them after December 2008. Understanding this, they might either get prepared to hold the election as per schedule and handover power to the elected government by abandoning the former heavyweight in the large political parties. Surely the government is taking Awami League and BNP into their serious consideration, while there is no sign of any interest in bringing ´reform´ within Jatiyo Party, which is owned [not led] by former millitary dictator Huseein Muhammed Ershad. Bunch of corrupts and culprits as well as terrorists are holding various posts and positions in this party. But, the millitary controlled interim government is silent even to utter a single word against Ershad? Why? People will surely understand, the reason behind such lack of interest by the rulers in Dhaka in taking any initiative for reform with Jatiyo Party is because, Ershad is a former millitary ruler.
On the other hand, the test tube party of the present government named Progressive Democratic Party [PDP], which had premature birth under the ´leadership´ of Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi is already seen by its ´genetic fathers´ that such carricature by Qureshi cannot be a proper might to face the influence and popularity of Awami League, BNP, Jamaat or any other major political party. Qureshi´s PDP joke could be similar as Dr. Kamal´s Gono Forum or other small fries in Bangladesh politics such as Workers Party, Communist Part etc.
Taking the advantage of unique situation in Bangladesh, notorious Islamist groups like Hizb Ut Tahrir, Khelafat Majlish etc are gaining strength. It is even learnt that some vested quarters are giving partonization to these groups with the goal of using their notoriety during coming December to avert the promised election by 2008. It is even forecasted by experts that from the coming November, many of the Islamist terror groups will be activated in order to show to the international community that holding election was impossible.