Well managed probe report on BDR massacre

Probe report on the February 25-26 massacre inside the Bangladesh Riffles Headquarters, which was published by the team constituted by a number of senior officials of Bangladesh Army has generated significant volume of curiosities in the minds of conscious people in Bangladesh.

More interestingly, probe committee has endorsed the fact that they were unable to mention names of many of the political figures, who had hands behind the massacre, due to ´limitations´ of it.

Let me refresh the incident for my readers. During February 25-26 this year a large number of army officers were brutally murdered inside the Bangladesh Riffles headquarters while several female members were abused.

The most interesting part of the entire report, however is, they have endorsed the fact that should the army were allowed to storm into the headquarters of the border security forces, hours within the incident, lives of a large number of army officers could easily have been saved. But, it is well noted by all that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her several over enthusiastic leaders including Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mirza Azam were trying to buy time in the name of political settlement of the crisis, thus finally ending with a very sad and devastating result.

Right after the incident, a number of officers expressed their anger in presence of the Prime Minister at the Sena Kunja meeting. They demanded neutral and prompt investigation as well punishment of the culprits. But, since the publication of the first probe report, these is visibly no ´voice´ at all inside or outside the garrison of Bangladesh, except a few unmanaged comments by main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] and others.

I spoke to a number of journalists in Bangladesh as well as social elites and members of diplomatic corps in Dhaka on the impact of the just published report. All of them are seeing a ´great success´ of the government in managing the entire situation in its own way and it is now anticipated that, right after resolution of the BDR massacre issues, axes of the rulers will possibly fall on those angry officers who showed the ´audacity´ of expressing anger in presence of the Prime Minister.

Outside this massacre, the overall performance of the present government is so far, nothing good or new, except the heavy spending by the foreign minister Dr. Dipu Moni who is shuttling here and there without any result, at all. On the other hand, although the Prime Minister´s Saudi tour was a grand media success in the Kingdom as well as in Bangladesh, there is no good news of any specific achievement from this trip.

Commerce Minister Lt. Col. Faruk Khan who was behaving like an angry Youngman when took up the responsibility of this important ministry and repeatedly promised of keeping the prices of essentials within the buying capacity of the commoners, it is by now evidently proved that, his promises and aspirations are already bogged into the deep waters of Bay of Bengal.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun and State Minister Sohel Taj were showing high ambition in combating terrorism and extremism. But, in reality, according to the recent statement of the Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka turns into a city of crime right after the sun set. A foreign national was found dead at city´s Gulshan area last week. He was killed by unknown miscreants, while the police could not even find the identity of this person.

There is also threat on a number of foreign missions in Dhaka. According to various facts, foreign nationals and foreign investors are living in Dhaka in extreme terror. They are trying to avoid any program in the dark hours fearing increase in the crime frequency in the country.

Businessmen and entrepreneurs have already expressed severe dissatisfaction at the alarming rise in extortion. It is learnt that in most cases, ruling party thugs and cadres are involving in extortion. Members of law enforcing agencies are rather found helpless in the hands of these ´powerful´ people.

Grabbing of property by the members of the ruling party and their activists have been continuing since the present government came in power through the general election of December 29.

Most interestingly, number of political touts has greatly increased in recent days. Many people are seen wearing Black Mujib Coat to prove themselves to be members of the ruling party and are regularly seen engaged in various forms of tadbirs [lobbying] in favor of various people.

Last week, a person I knew for years called me and said, he has got assurance from the Prime Minister of getting license of an insurance company and a private television channel. The only reason behind such favor from the Prime Minister for him is, he is a member of one of the fractions of the ruling party.

It is even learnt that, millions of Taka are being received by most of the senior leaders as well as ministers of the ruling party and government in exchange of promise of various types of favors.

Meanwhile, foreign investors have already expressed dissatisfaction at the extreme low pace of performance of the present government. There is virtual standstill in all the ministries as there is ongoing cold war between the rulers and bureaucracy.

After being able to manage the BDR massacre issue, the present government has not much hurdle in continuing for years, despite the fact of its complete failure in ensuring good governance or even leading the nation towards a new era. Many even believe that, this government will be just another addition to the decade old sufferings and pains of the people of Bangladesh.