Alas human rights: Whom do you belong?

Shefali Rani Das. She slipped and fell while fetching water from the pond, when she was 23. The lower part of the left leg got infected due to poor treatment. Later her left leg was amputated above the knee. Shefali, the mother of two children of Charfashan, was living a crippled life with one leg. But after the election of October 1, 2001, the crippled Shefali was not spared. On October 2, the day after the parliamentary elections, terrorists attacked Shefali's village. While the other women fled across the water and mud, Shefali, on crutches, could not cross the waist-deep water. Instead of helping a helpless crippled woman, the terrorists capture her. Took away her honor. In October 2001, such incidents happened indiscriminately across Bangladesh. "We are not so sorry for the goods looted by the terrorists. But how can we forget the shame and humiliation of the attack on the dignity of those women." This is how a Hindu woman of Charannadaprasad village in Lord Hardinge Union of Lalmohan Upazila of Bhola spoke of her helplessness after the 2001 elections.

Today, when some quarters are complaining about human rights in Bangladesh, I am reminded of October 2001. In the meantime, a documentary called 'Aynaghar' is being widely circulated on social media. In the documentary, a Malaysian expatriate is like the hero of a Bollywood film. Blindfolded, he told me where and how he was taken by which road. Another almost unnatural ex-army officer recounted how he was ordered to kill various people during the time of Babur (Lutfuzzaman Babur). He also gave a confessional statement that he committed extrajudicial killings in Rajshahi, Chittagong. He swore that he did not kill anyone innocently. Wow. So Babar, the State Minister of Home Affairs of the BNP government, would have ordered the killing without court, law, or trial? After the Ayanaghar documentary, the BNP leaders started chanting the name 'Ayanaghar'. Civil society started condemning and criticizing. Human rights violations in Bangladesh are now a serious issue. How strange! After seeing all these drama question comes to mind, alas human rights: Whom do you belong? A deeper analysis of the reason for the outcry of some people after Michelle Bachelet's recommendation and the Ayanaghar shows that this campaign is aimed at achieving a specific goal. This campaign has targeted the army, the symbol of Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty. This campaign is against the state. Against the existence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. The campaign aims to question the armed forces, the symbol of our sovereignty.

In 2020 and 2021, similar foul play began against Elite Force RAB. In February 2021, Al Jazeera aired a controversial documentary called 'All the Prime Minister's Men'. In this controversial report, some fabricated allegations were presented against them. On December 10 that year (2021), the United States imposed a ban on RAB. Those who made 'All the Prime Minister's Men' are the ones who made the documentary Ayanaghar. Now their target is the army. The crocodile cry on the issue of human rights in Bangladesh began during the trial of war criminals. Since 1975, the anti-independence forces had flourished. In 2008, the Awami League announced war crimes trials in its election pledge. At the time, few believed that the war criminals would finally be brought to justice. But Sheikh Hasina does what she says. He also started the trial of war criminals with infinite courage. Haider Akbar Khan Rono, a senior leader of the Communist Party, told me, "If Sheikh Hasina had not been the Prime Minister, even if the Awami League had been in power, the war criminals would not have been prosecuted." However, when the war criminals were prosecuted, the wealthy group hired various international human rights organizations. Such as Human Rights Watch. They were the first to raise questions about Bangladesh's human rights in the international arena. Since then the issue of 'human rights' has become a profitable business. Organizations like HRC raise various complaints against Bangladesh in different countries. The United States wants to know various information from Bangladesh about missing persons and extrajudicial killings. The Bangladesh Embassy in the United States has not disclosed this information. The United States also sent several letters to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. Wanted to know how true the allegations of human rights violations are. Wanted to know their information with a list of 76 people. The Ministry of External Affairs has played 'musical pillow' on this ever since. An inter-ministerial letter writing competition was held. But did not give United States the right answer. As a result, the US administration banned RAB on December 10.

The ambassador of Bangladesh in the United States woke up and said, “Is that so? I don’t know anything about this.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "This is very unfair." But by then, the damage was done. Those who conspired against RAB have succeeded. Now the conspiracy has started against the army. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said, "An independent commission must be formed to investigate allegations of human rights violations." She proposed setting up of an independent, impartial and transparent investigative agency to address serious allegations of disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture. A week has passed and Bangladesh has not given any official response to the proposal. Why this mess? Why ignore this?

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights came to Bangladesh on the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On arrival, she held a meeting with three ministers. On August 15, the day of the biggest human rights violation in the history of Bangladesh, she met 20 people known as critics of the government in a five-star hotel. Before that meeting, "Netra News" published "Aynaghar". 20 invitees spoke in the tone of Aynaghar. Michel said openly during the farewell that she believed in their words. Usually in such cases, the government officials meet at the end. The government has an opportunity to respond to the complaints raised. But in Michelle's meeting, the government or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not took that opportunity. Why? Is it incompetence or part of the conspiracy?

I have something to say about the meeting of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights with alleged human rights activists on August 15. Why is such a meeting organized on the National Mourning Day? Did the meeting pay tribute to the father of the nation? A minute's silence was observed in memory of the martyrs of August 15? If the topic of human rights violations of 1975 does not come up in the discussion about human rights on the National Day of Mourning, then it must be understood that the meeting is purposeful and biased. There is a conspiracy behind that meeting. The ghosts of the August 15 killers have become peddlers of human rights.

Where was the human rights when the father of the nation was brutally killed with his family in 1975? Where was the human rights when the indemnity ordinance was issued stopping the trial of the murder of the father of the nation? From 1975 to 1996, disappearances and murders occurred constantly. Colonel Taher's murder, thousands of soldiers were killed in prison without trial. Where were our peddlers of human rights?

The rampage of the BNP-Jamaat alliance when came to power in 2001 can be seen from the newspapers of the time: Two Awami League workers killed by BNP terrorists in Feni and Sonagazi (Dainik Janakantha, 4 October 2001)

BNP cadres riot in Mirpur due to voting Nouka. (Dainik Shonbad, 4 October 2001)

Attack on Awami League leaders and activists in the capital. (Dainik Ittefaq, 5 October 2001)

BNP activists cut the limbs of Chhatra League leader in Madaripur (Dainik Prothom Alo, 11 October 2001).

A minority school girl was kidnapped and raped after breaking into her house in Sirajganj. (Dainik Prothom Alo, 12 October 2001)

Newspapers can be filled with such numerous titles. At that time, a scholar was asked, what do you say about this insult to humanity? In reply, he said, 'BNP should be given more time. Let’s forget about the political oppression, killing opponents, rape. But what do you call Operation Cleanheart from October 16, 2002 during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government? 58 people died in Operation Cleanheart. More than 20 thousand people were brutally tortured. After 86 days of this campaign, the 'Impunity' Ordinance was issued. Through this, from October 16, 2002 to January 9, 2003, all the killings and tortures of the joint forces were prevented and impunity was given. I didn't see anyone moaning about human rights then. I have not even heard of any recommendations to the UN. The US has not banned anyone either. August 21, 2004 is another scandalous day in the history of Bangladesh politics. On that day, the Awami League rally was attacked on Bangabandhu Avenue. Where were the flag bearers of our human rights? Is human rights only a weapon to be used against the Awami League?

Now there is a commotion about the disappearance of 76 people. The thriller 'Aynaghar' has been made about this disappearance. Looking at the mirror reminded me of the story of Judge Mea. After the August 21 grenade attack, the BNP-Jamaat coalition government discovered Judge Mia. He was made the mastermind behind the 21 August grenade attack. Now, just like Judge Mia, the returned from disappearance is being discovered. The army is being insulted by making false statements with them. It's the same game. Same trick.

Now I am shocked when BNP leaders talk about Aynaghar and disappearances. During the BNP-Jamaat alliance, extrajudicial killings and torture took place arbitrarily. What happened in Bangladesh from 2001 to 2006 would have been investigated and judged if it had been in another country. Unfortunately for us. These crimes against humanity have passed as 'political reality'. Now the main issue of civil society is human rights. Some days they raised the chorus that the economy is gone. But when their guardian World Bank and IMF said, there is no economic crisis in Bangladesh. Economy is right on the way, then they focus on human rights from economy. I was amazed at the breadth of knowledge of these learned scholars. They do not have knowledge in any subject! From egg to chicken. From corona to Madonna. Economy, environment, human rights. An environmental lawyer who went to practice human rights on the day of mourning at Michelle's invitation. How did she suddenly become a human rights expert? The narrating economist also gave his well-thought-out views on human rights. If you notice, it will be seen that only 20-25 civilized people in the country have been walking around with binoculars for 12 years to find the fault of the government in all matters. Those who said there will be no Padma Bridge, those who became astrologers saying that Bangladesh will not get LDC graduation, those who laughed that there will be an epidemic in Bangladesh during Corona, the economy is destroyed, those who clinked glasses of red and white wine saying cheers because Bangladesh is becoming Sri Lanka have now opened a human rights shop. Why? To oust Sheikh Hasina? But while defeating Sheikh Hasina, they have declared war against the country itself. Is the human rights situation in Bangladesh so dire? Recently Fox News of the United States conducted a survey on the citizens of that country. In the survey, 67 percent of American citizens said that the United States is an unsafe country. Additionally, Fox News conducted a survey in the wake of gun attacks. The FBI recently raided Donald Trump's Florida home. After that campaign, Joe Biden administration was labeled as human rights violator. United States is the leader of the world. If they violate human rights, no one can say anything. The human rights situation in Pakistan and India is terrible. Amnesty International said in a report, "There is no minimum human rights in Pakistan." But there is no ban on Pakistan! Pakistan was not asked to make an independent commission. The issue of human rights is now being inflated like a balloon to attack this government and Bangladesh. Their goals are very clear. Before the election they will make even more horrible unbelievable lies about the army. The final step of this conspiracy is to ban the Bangladeshi army in the UN peacekeeping mission. Michelle's press conference is proof that they have come a long way in this conspiracy. Various games have been started behind the scenes so that the next election does not take place. Sheikh Hasina has made some policy revolutions in Bangladesh. One of these is the addition of 7(a) to the Constitution. Through this article of the constitution, she has closed forever the way to seize power in unconstitutional ways. The Prime Minister has made another silent revolution by making the army an impartial, professional institution. She kept the army away from its tendency to become an instrument of politics by taking all measures to promote professional excellence. That is why the army now keeps itself away from the political affairs of the country. Here lies the anger and resentment of civil society. That's why there are various complaints every day in the western countries including the United States. As a result, the United States is now talking about democracy, participatory elections in Bangladesh every day. European countries have also followed the United States in the upcoming elections. After participating in the 2018 elections, the BNP has gone back to demanding a caretaker government.

The Jatiya Party under the leadership of GM Quader is now behaving like a stranger. In the end, if Jatiya Party agrees with BNP, they will not hold elections. Then again a one-sided election situation like 2014 will be created. At this time, if psychological pressure can be created on the army, then the way for the ascendancy of civil power will be created. I am sure the prime minister knows the ins and outs of the conspiracy of civil and anti-state evil forces. What will she do to counter the conspiracy? The Bangladeshi ambassador to the United States committed a kind of betrayal in the matter of banning RAB. Our foreign ministry has shown incompetence and failure. Here too there may be conspirators. The promising institution called National Human Rights Commission has become a den trash. It is also necessary to look into the conspiracy of the bureaucrats. Now there is a tendency to shelve the UN proposals. So initiatives must be taken now without any delay. There are many worthy people who believe in the spirit of liberation war. They have to be utilized. The battle has begun. Sheikh Hasina must win this battle. For the people of this country. For the existence of the state called 'Bangladesh'.