(16th US President) 

 

 

Dear Leaders/Activists of BNP:

 

I hope you all are quite aware of the ongoing turmoiled political situations and instabilities in Bangladesh. What has happened is not first of its kind, and you all know that very well. But I'm not sure-  if you know that this time many of your own party's well-wishers and intellectuals are profoundly disturbed too. Suffice would be to refer to the article "Esob ki hochhe?" ("What's happening?") by pro-BNP intellectual Prof. Dr. Emazuddin Ahmed (former VC, DU) published lately in daily Prothom-Alo (www.prothom-alo). I would not and need not quote , or cite any partisan writer/politician here since incidents in rows are so obvious. Grenade collected from the spot where Awamileague leaders/activists were killed indiscriminately reads: ARGES 84, the types used during attacks on Indian parliament (Ref. daily Hindu 18 Dec. issue, 2001) and by militant Talibans against US-led forces.

 

  I am not writing this letter to raise any debate as to which of the political parties is the best one, or about the declaration of independence, or about expulsion of BNP's founding leader Prof. Badrudduza, or dead silence of such intelligent, patriotic and time-tested  leaders as Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmad, writer Ferdaus Ahmed Quraisee, your former Parliament Speaker Sheikh Razzak Ali et al. Nor do I intend to abuse BNP. This is simply to alarm you: still there is time. Please try to realize the gravity of the situations , if not for Bangladesh's future, but for the future of your own party!

 

  May I humbly start with a few questions:

 

 

 

 

 

  I wonder- did late President Zia, a brave hero of 1971 liberation war,  fight Pak military junta to instill Sharia Law into his beloved Bangladesh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

  With what is already happening- do you, my friends of BNP, think- will enhance and glorify the image of our beloved motherland at abroad? Or, would you reciprocate- Sheikh Hasina 'conspired' to do all these blasting just to kill herself and her leaders/activists to destroy our country's "holy" image?

 

  Think, think and think with a calm head. I'm not even trying to imply- Awamileague is an impeccable party. Nope. However- still I love to believe- as a non-partisan but for sure- as a writer with pro-liberation values- there do exist people of good will and conscience in all parties. Any one with a preliminary knowledge of history knows it well- power doesn't last for ever; however, failure to protect the sovereignty, people's rights and dignity do remain marked with stain for ever. And I don't think- all of you want your party to be marked in above-said way. May be only a bunch; if so, identify them correctly!

 

  One of the biggest misfortunes of our country is that- it has many bright minds, but sadly- they sell themselves too cheap politically at certain points. This goes true with Awamileague, BNP and many other leaders/activists of political parties about which we are told- "...of, for and by the people".  Two examples I would illustrate:

 

1) I recall having read an interview of present financial minister Mr. M. Saifur Rahman, MP;  a few years ago, in Dhaka-based daily Banglabazar Patrika. One of his remarks was: "some body for Awamileague, some body for BNP; but no body for Bangladesh!" Alas! Politics has changed this brilliant mind so much that he certifies political demagogue Delwar Hussain Saidee- whose only capital is taking advantage of commoners' sensitivity toward religion for narrow political interest, as "a wise and expert on Islam and politics" (Ref. Weekly Jai Jai Din, 31st Dec. 2003 issue). Who have made Saidee so potent that he dares to threaten people of Bangladesh with globally ill-famous "Blasphemy law"? (Ref. Prothom Alo, 26th January,2004)   

 

2) Many of you probably love to think- Shefik Rehman of Jai Jai Din is a pro-BNP intellectual. Wrong. A dead wrong notion! Read his weekly issues during 1991-94 and find out how he changed his stance like a chameleon**. I was a student in Dhaka ('91-'92) when Rehman was awarded with "Bongobondhu Padak" from a Motijheel-based pro-Awamileague organization called "Amra Surjomukhee". Shafik Rehman in reciprocation pleased Awamelague activists by his remarks: " I feel highly honored to be awarded an accolade which bears the name of the father of nation Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman". And in 2004? So called progressive thinker Mr.  Shafik Rehman owns one of the most luxurious house in Jews-located neighborhood in London, UK!  What is the source of his millions dollars worth house's capital? If you think I'm trying to malign the gentleman's character-  you are then missing the vital point. My simple question is: when will the politics of lie, pretension and overtly deception cease to exist?

 

Lastly a metaphoric story for you all:

 

   Once three people were passing through a jungle. Among them were a rich Bangladeshi Muslim, a rich Indian Hindu and a rich American Christian. A cunning thief took notice of them. Since he knew - he cannot fight all these three people alone; he devised a trick. He went ahead and stood before them while pointing finger first toward the American: "you're a foreigner and not like my desi Bhais (Indian and Bangladeshi)............ You deserve to be beaten." The thief silenced two desis while he killed and looted assets of the American. Next he turned toward Indian and said: "you're a kafir and don't believe in one Allah.............." The thief killed and looted the Indian as well. What is next? Do you think- the Bangladeshi guy was spared? Sorry! A thief is a thief. He killed and looted the Bangladeshi Muslim saying: "you're not from my village. I've no sympathy for you. People in my village need money more than you do!" And.....you know it.

 

   During 1971, we stunned the whole world by our courage, unity, determination and love for democracy and civil rights. In 2004 too, we have stunned the whole world. But this time only with our cowardliness, our submissiveness, greed and fictionalizations for narrow political interests.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jared Ahmed

Member, Advisory Committee

Member, ACLU

(www.ACLU.org)

NY

08/26/2004   

 

** an animal (reptile) that changes its color very fast depending on surrouding