Bangabhaban awaits for whom?

April 21, 1977. It's past midnight. Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem is deep asleep in his bedroom at Bangabhaban. A sudden sound of boots. Sound of screaming. President Justice Sayem woke up and heard a loud noise. Some soldiers broke the door of his bedroom. The President was still unable to fully get out of bed. Armed military men surrounded the president pointing stun guns at him under the leadership of Ziaur Rahman. Justice Sayem trembles with fear. Such a situation was beyond the imagination of that old man. Zia was holding a paper. In a threatening tone, he said, "Sign Hair." The president was a little embarrassed. He asked in a frightened tone, what is it? Zia replied 'You are sick. You are resigning from the post of President due to illness.' Gathering some courage, he said, 'I had a health check-up last week. I am completely healthy.' Zia now aims the stun gun at his chest and in a stern voice he says, 'sign'. Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem had no other option. He has to give up either his life or the presidency. With trembling hands, he picked up the pen and paper and signed. Zia then pushed Justice Sayem away and snatched the paper. Minutes later Zia, the army chief, a military hero, declared himself president. The account of Zia's capture of the Bangabhaban at midnight appears in the book titled 'At Bangabhaban: Last Face' written by Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem himself. The book is not available in the market now. It has a Bengali translation. But that's censored. The Bengali translation does not contain the story of Zia's capture of Bangabhaban. The original English book was banned by the BNP after coming to power in 1991. This is one of many scandalous incidents that happened around Bangabhavan after independence. Bangladesh's presidential fortune is not very cheerful. Most presidents did not complete their terms. Two presidents were killed in military coups.

Those who became president in Bangladesh can be divided into two categories. A type of president who is under a presidential system of government. They were very powerful. Three of them were directly elected by the people. However, all three votes were controversial and farcical. Another type of president is those under parliamentary democracy. Now Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy. The power of the President is now largely formal. But still, he is the guardian of the state. This highest post of the country is important for many reasons. Bangladesh will welcome a new president this year. The countdown to the presidential election has begun. Bangabhaban waits for whom? 

We may get the answer to this question very soon. But the past history of our presidency is full of bitterness. There have been conspiracies to destroy democracy in various ways in Bangabhaban. Therefore, the selection of new residents of Bangabhaban is important for many reasons.

During the Great Liberation War of 1971, the Mujib Nagar Government was formed on 17 April. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu was declared President in the 'Mujib Nagar Government'. Bangabandhu was then in Pakistan prison. Tajuddin Ahmed made Bangabandhu the President and became the Prime Minister himself for strategic reasons. After the victory in the liberation war, the father of the nation returned home on January 10. Without delay, he introduced parliamentary democracy in the light of the spirit of the liberation war. Bangabandhu left the post of President and took oath as Prime Minister. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury was elected as the new president on January 12. Abu Sayeed Chowdhury was the president for almost two years. Then on 24 December 1973 Mohammadullah became the President. On January 25, 1975, a presidential system of government was introduced in Bangladesh. Mohammadullah left the post of president and became a minister. After the terrible tragedy on August 15, 1975, Mohammadullah became the vice president under murderer Mostaq. Mohammadullah is undoubtedly one of those whose names are notable in making joke of the most honorable post of presidency. How does a person become a minister or vice president after being in the highest constitutional position? When all these impersonal, greedy people enter Bangabhaban, it poses a danger to politics and the country.

After January 25, 1975, a new system of government was introduced in the country. All political parties are brought under one umbrella. Bangabandhu took oath as President. But after only 202 days, the country's founding father was brutally killed by the anti-independence forces. Within three and a half years of victory, the scandalous chapter of killing the president with his whole family was written in Bangladesh. The Supreme Court termed the presidential chapter of murderer Mostaq as unconstitutional. So, I am not willing to recognize the 83-day tenure of the murderer Mostaq as president. After Mostaq, Justice Sayem became the President on November 6, 1975. I started my writing with his story. Army chief Zia declared himself president by removing Sayem at gunpoint. In my opinion, it was treason. Because his becoming president while serving in the army was a serious constitutional crime. But in a cruel irony of fate, the very weapon that brought Zia to power also brought his tragic end. Zia was brutally killed in a military coup in Chittagong on 30 May 1981. Vice President Justice Sattar became Acting President. But according to the constitution, he was ineligible for the presidential election. Constitution was amended to make Justice Sattar eligible for election. On November 15, 1981, the presidential election was held through direct voting. Justice Sattar won the election by defeating Awami League nominated candidate Dr. Kamal Hossain. But widespread allegations of vote rigging and fraud arose against Justice Sattar and the BNP. Bangabhaban has been affected again. On March 24, 1982, a military coup took place in Bangladesh. Justice Sattar was deposed. Ershad Putul made a puppet president by seizing power. Justice Ahsan Uddin Chowdhury was made President. But the real power was Ershad. Ershad followed in Zia's footsteps at every step of his illegal dictatorship. On December 10, 1983, Ershad deposed Ahsan Uddin Chowdhury and declared himself the president. This military dictator served as president for about seven years. However, he remained in power for nearly nine years as the chief martial law administrator and usurper of illegal powers. A short-term caretaker government was then formed under the leadership of Justice Sahabuddin. It was the result of the mass anti-dictatorship movement. Justice Sahabuddin served as the head of the non-partisan, neutral caretaker government or acting president for about a year. BNP came to power in the 1991 elections. The two major parties agreed to re-establish parliamentary democracy in the country. The bloody chapter of the presidential system of government came to an end. In a parliamentary democracy, the powers of the President are severely curtailed. BNP made the post of President dishonorable. Late Dr. Akbar Ali Khan in an article entitled 'Bangabhabane Bantuk: Is the executive moving towards an elected dictatorship?' of his book 'Obak Bangladesh: Bichitro Cholona Jale Rajniti' has presented the actual story in a very skillful manner. I am presenting some of it for the readers to consider it relevant: 

"At the end of 1991, I was transferred from the post of Economic Counselor to the Bangladesh Embassy in the United States and appointed as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Two or three days after joining the finance department, Finance Minister Saifur Rahman called me. He expressed his opinion about various irregularities of a managing director of a bank and suggested filing a file recommending his removal and appointment of senior deputy managing director in his place. I returned to the office and after discussing with the officers of the concerned department I was satisfied that there was much truth in the Minister's allegations. I request the Joint Secretary to immediately prepare the file as directed by the Minister. The file arrived on my desk within a few hours. A summary of the document is submitted to the president for approval. It may be recalled that the files regarding changes in the bank's managing directors had to be submitted to the President in the President-ruled system. But after the fall of Ershad, the constitution was amended and a cabinet-ruled government was constitutionally introduced. Although the constitution was amended, the rules of procedure were not amended. The Rules of Procedure prior to the amendment of the Constitution stipulated that the appointment of Managing Directors would require the approval of the President. As there was still inconsistency between the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure, the Cabinet Division's direction was sought as to whether the President's permission was required in this case. The Cabinet Department in consultation with the Ministry of Law said that till the time the rules of procedure are not amended, the permission of the President should be taken in this case. The joint secretary showed me the document. I was satisfied and forwarded the summary prepared for the President to the finance minister.

The next day when the minister came to the office, his personal assistant informed me that I should meet the minister immediately. As soon as I went to the minister's room, the finance minister asked me, why did I present the summary to the president? Am I not aware of the cabinet-ruled state system that has been introduced in the country? In that context, he asked in English that, do I think Batku sitting in Bangabhaban is really running the country? After saying that it was done on the advice of the Ministry of Law, his anger turned on the Ministry of Law. He abused the Law Secretary over the telephone and told me that the document could not be sent to the President. I said you write that the summary should be presented to the Prime Minister. He wrote and accordingly, the document again returned to him and action was taken with his and the Prime Minister's permission.

The solution of the departmental work was fine, but a big suspicion arose in my mind. The relationship between the finance minister and the President was not good at that time. The then president was short. But by using the word Batku (short), the finance minister was not only mocking his shortness, but also implied the political philosophy of the finance minister. He believed that the role of the President was secondary in a cabinet-led state system. If the members of the cabinet are as powerful as giants, then the power of the President is like dwarf." (Book: 'Obak Bangladesh: Bichitro Cholona Jale Rajniti; Page 165-166) 

Abdur Rahman Biswas was a local-level razaka in 1971. Through this, BNP made the highest constitutional post of the country dishonorable. But despite that, Abdur Rahman Biswas completed his term. He is the first president in Bangladesh to hand over power peacefully after completing his term. The Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina came to power after 21 years in the 1996 elections. Sheikh Hasina tried to make parliamentary democracy work. The prime minister's question and answer session was launched in the parliament. She took initiative to make the parliamentary committees effective. Sheikh Hasina also made the highest constitutional post dignified. Retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and former Chief Justice of the Caretaker Government, Sahabuddin Ahmed was elected as the guardian of the state. Sheikh Hasina wanted him to be neutral. Wanted to be accepted by all. Sheikh Hasina started the custom of honoring the President. Meeting the President after visiting foreign countries. Sheikh Hasina introduced the practice of going to Bangabhaban to inform him of various situations. She replaced the 'Batku President' as 'His Excellency'. Power is not a big deal for her. She took the honor of the President into unique heights. Sheikh Hasina set an extraordinary example of giving recognition to the constitution and constitutional positions. But in return she was betrayed. Justice Sahabuddin as President took a stand against Awami League. He questioned the government by making various irrelevant statements. One of the reasons for Awami League's disaster in the 2001 elections was Justice Sahabuddin's controversial role. Justice Sahabuddin is a prime example of what happens when a so-called impartial person is brought to the highest post. In October 2001, the BNP won a huge victory. BNP chose the party's founding leader Professor Dr. Badruddeza Chowdhury as president, because BNP wanted a 'Batku' as president. BNP did not accept an acceptable, truly guardian president. Professor Chowdhury became untouchable and that is why the ruling BNP took the initiative to cut him off. After his resignation, BNP took 77 days to find another 'Batku' person for the post of President. Until then Speaker Barrister Zamir Uddin Sarkar served as Acting President. Professor Iajuddin Ahmed of Dhaka University became the new 'Batku' discovered by BNP. BNP leaders used to call him 'Yes Uddin' and he was like joke for the BNP leaders. He too had become an impersonal, clownish figure during the crisis. Being obedient, 'Yes Uddin' pushed the whole country into deep crisis. The main reason why the unelected government sat on the chest of Bangladesh for two long years was the lack of political wisdom of Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed. It was the second Batku president that has done the worst damage to BNP. In 2009, Awami League formed the government for the second time under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. This time, Sheikh Hasina chose Zillur Rahman, the guardian of the party, an idealist leader without deviation in politics. However, Zillur Rahman became a guardian of the nation due to his political wisdom and foresight in the crisis of 1-11. He earned the trust, confidence and respect of all. He died as President. The whole country was shocked by his death. As a President he was truly the head of the family called the State. After his death, Awami League chose Abdul Hamid as its president. A grassroots-born politician who speaks in common people's language. In simple words, he can climb the high walls of Bangabhaban and blend into the crowd. An idealistic but very simple man. His stay at Bangabhaban for nearly 10 years in two terms is now coming to an end.

I did this brief review of the Presidents since independence out of fear. Democracy is threatened whenever the wrong people enter the Bangabhaban. Undemocratic rulers have degraded the highest office by inducting loyalists into the Bangabhaban. We don't want a shameless president like Mohammadullah. I also reject those who oppucy the Bangabhaban with arms and plays the tune of patriotism. Just as we don't want a nameless 'Batku' to be the president, we also don't want a civilized ex-bureaucrat to controvert the 'Bangabhaban' with the power of extreme neutrality. The President is the first citizen of the state. A politician. An ideal person with whom people will relate and think of as one of their own. Awami League has such a person. 'Democracy' will be secured if he is given the ticket of Bangabhaban. If the key of Bangabhaban is in the hands of the wrong person, 'democracy' will go into exile again. Hard times are coming ahead. Selecting the resident of Bangabhaban is now very important.