The ups and down of politics

Today is November 27. Martyr Dr. Milon Day. It was a mild winter on this day in 1990. I was sitting in the central library of Dhaka University preparing for my honors final. Everything is normal and calm. Suddenly, I heard gunfire. I left the library out of curiosity. Then a few more shots. A sudden panic. Hesitant running. The procession started after a few minutes of gunfire. No one can say exactly what’s happening. The incident took place on the road between TSC and Suhrawardy Udyan. Shortly afterward, someone shouted, "Hold on!" Then the procession. At that moment, the protest spread on the campus of Dhaka University. As soon as the procession started, I came to know that two leaders of BMA (Bangladesh Medical Association) Dr. Milon and Dr. Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin were being taken to hospital. Armed cadres of the Notun Bangla Chhatra-Shomaj opened fire from Suhrawardy Udyan. Dr. Milon was shot. He died on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The death of Dr. Milon spread like a spark all over Dhaka and all over the country. Within an hour, Dhaka became a city of processions. Traffic is stopped, shops are closed. People come out of the office, court. Journalists at the press club went on strike indefinitely. The capital was billowed with slogans. "Ak dofa ak dabi, Ershad tui kobe jabi?" This slogan was everywhere. Did Ershad know that the lifespan of his reign was only seven days? On November 26, Shah Moazzem Hossain, a minister loyal to Ershad, said at a public meeting in Munshiganj, "There is no such thing as an opposition party in the country. Ershad will be in power for another 10 years. Dr. Milon's death changed everything in an instant. On December 4, Ershad announced his resignation. The long nine years of dictatorship came to an end. From 27 November to 4 December, Bangladesh was inactive. There have been many dramas behind the scenes. But no one could have imagined that such a sudden movement would destroy Ershad's nine-year-old reign. This is Bangladesh. The country of ups and downs. In the morning you will see the boat at the river bank, at noon you will see that the boat has gone far away. The barren sand of the river disappears into the tide in the evening. As the river changes its form in this country morning and afternoon, the minds of the people of this country also change from time to time. In this country of conspiracy, no one knows when people cry emotionally and when they destroy everything in anger. Uncertainty and drama are the characteristics of this country's politics. The main reason for this is the emotions of the people. The people of this country are like a sleeping volcano. Explosions can happen at any time. No one knows when that sleeping volcano will wake up.

After the fall of Ershad, everyone knew that Awami League would come to power. Dhanmondi 32 was full of people. Awami League leaders were busy sharing portfolios in the ministry. But the result of that election is different. After the fall of Ershad, how many Awami League leaders thought they would lose the election? The BNP won the elections of '91. Begum Zia became the Prime Minister. Did Begum Zia know what will happen in 2021? Did Begum Zia know then that she would have to suffer more tragic consequences than Ershad? His sons and daughters-in-law will not be in her bed. Did she know that the leaders of his party would do nothing for her? Just watch the joke?

After the fall of Ershad, Begum Zia got a chance to advance democracy and good governance. End the politics of bloodshed. To uproot the politics of revenge. If Begum Zia had predicted her future fate, she might have started a new era in politics. She would have repealed the Indemnity Ordinance. she would have brought the murderers of Bangabandhu to the trial.

After the '91 elections, nobody in Bangladesh thought that Sheikh Hasina would be the Prime Minister for 18 years. After the '91 elections, I have heard many leaders of the Awami League say that if there is Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League will remain in the opposition forever. Today, those who conferred many titles on Sheikh Hasina were the ones who raised questions about Sheikh Hasina's qualifications. The Awami League came to power in '96. The appearance of many Awami League leaders changed. Many in the Awami League behaved in such a way that they would never join the opposition again. But the result of the 2001 election was once more the opposite.

In 2001, the BNP-Jamaat alliance emerged. By flying the national flag in the vehicles of war criminals, the BNP focused on the permanent settlement of power. Instead of the people's vote, they got involved in a nasty game of usurping power through other tactics. If they now read the remarks made by the BNP leaders at that time, which disregarded the Awami League, they would be ashamed of themselves. In the first session of the National Assembly after winning the 2001 elections, Begum Zia said, "The Awami League will have to wait 42 years to return to power." Her eldest son Tarique Zia was one stickier than Begum Zia. Tarique Zia said at a rally of Trinamool activists, "The grave of Awami League has been created in the October elections. Now the janaza has to be performed. 'The remarks of the ministers of the BNP-Jamaat government were uglier and distasteful.

What has the BNP not done to stay in power for life? The Chief Justice has amended the provisions by increasing the age. They made sure that Justice KM Hasan is the caretaker head of government, made one and a half crore fake voters. The Election Commission has been formed with the obedient. The grenade attack took place on 21st August to destroy the Awami League. Awami League leaders and workers have been killed indiscriminately all over the country. Former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria was shot dead in Habiganj. His life might have been saved if he had been brought to Dhaka by helicopter. But he was not given a helicopter. If Begum Zia had known that such a day would come in her life, then maybe she would not have done so on that day. Ahsan Ullah Master, a popular leader of Gazipur, was shot dead. Roads were blocked in Tongi. Two hours’ delay in bringing the dying bloody freedom fighter to Dhaka. If Begum Zia knew her future even in the slightest, then surely she would not have allowed such an inhuman act to happen. To ensure power, Begum Zia appointed Moin U Ahmed as the army chief. But it was Moin U Ahmed who led Begum Zia's whole family in prison. In 2001 the BNP leaders who danced thinking that the Awami League will roam on the streets are now extinct. That is Bangladesh.

Sometimes it seems that if people could see their future, this violence, revenge, hatred, revenge would reduce a lot. If people knew his future then maybe power greed, corruption, lies would have reduced a lot. There is a saying that, “what goes around…comes around”. What man does is what sets the course for his future. What you do today, you will enjoy tomorrow.

If Zia had not seized power illegally, had not shaken hands with killer Mushtaq, would not have ruthlessly hanged (or killed) Taher, then maybe he would not be cursed in history like this.

If Ershad had kept his promise and transferred power to the people's representatives, the history of this country would have been different.

If Begum Zia had known, she and her son would be judged in this country. She will be jailed for corruption and she will have to rely on the mercy of Sheikh Hasina to go abroad for treatment, then she would have done things differently in 10 years of power. She would have been more humane and sympathetic. Begum Zia is a great lesson for those who do not think about the future when they come to power. That’s why people need to stay calm in good times. Powerful people have to be restrained. They have to respect common people. In the pages of history, we see those who have risen up, disrespected the people, despised the people have always suffered the consequences. But the greatest lesson of history is that no one learns from history.

Bangladesh Awami League is a 72-year-old party. Throughout the ages, the leaders and workers of this party have been persecuted and tortured. And that is probably why the people of this country have given life to Awami League. The most popular organization in the country is Awami League. In power for three consecutive terms. No other political party got this opportunity. That is why the people of this country want to see Awami League as very responsible, humane, and restrained. People expect that Awami League will not do what BNP and Jatiya Party have done. But lately, the words and deeds of some people of Awami League are full of unsolicited egoism. In the words and deeds of some leaders of the Awami League, it seems that there was no party in the country before Awami League, there will be none after Awami League. There is a manifestation of unrealistic thinking that the Awami League will be in power forever. A lot of so-called leaders have been made in Awami League lately. People are amazed at their awkward work and speech. They love to argue without even knowing what they are talking about. Let's talk about the students' half pass. Some of the government wants the students to get angry. So that it turns into a movement. All my life I have seen half fare on public transport for students. Now, why do students have to block the road? It can be easily solved. Every day students are protesting against this. Those in charge are watching it as this is some kind of joke. Seems like they just don’t care at all. Commodity prices are skyrocketing. The concerned people of the government do not have any headache about this. Anarchy is going on in public transport, no one is watching. People are getting killed all over the country, there is no sincere initiative to stop it. Some grassroots leaders of the Awami League are threatening the people.

In the Union Parishad elections, half-caste leaders are threatening the people in several parts of the country. They say, "If you don't vote the Nauka, you don't have to vote at all." How can the leaders of a party that has given so much blood and so much movement to establish the people's right to vote, speak like this? The behavior of some leaders of the Awami League does not seem to require a vote, the will of the people is worthless. On that day, one of the leaders said, "No one can remove the Awami League from power." The words of that leader are reflected in reality. Many in the Awami League are now working hard to get nominations, but not to get votes. Once the party is nominated, their work is done. Such a disease is spreading in the Awami League. The Awami League is suffering from the disorder of becoming a people's representative without people’s vote by managing the administration after getting the nomination. The greatest leader of that party respected common people the most. On the contrary, the ineligible leaders of the party whose current leader has sacrificed everything for the welfare of the people want to punish the people by beating them verbally.

Take a look at the way in which the BNP leaders used to despise the Awami League from 2001 to 2006, now many leaders of the Awami League speak the same language. Some of the Awami League leaders also want to crush the people. Show fear. Roll their eyes. I heard an audio of the newly expelled Gazipur Mayor Jahangir Alam. It’s unbelievable the way he insignificant the people. Many in the Awami League have grown in the last 13 years. There have been cars, there have been houses, there have been tons of money abroad. They do not know the past of the Awami League or the sacrifices of the Awami League. In the last 13 years, a part of the Awami League has undergone significant changes. They do not think of themselves as the servants of people, but the masters of people. Some in the Awami League think they are just first-class citizens; the rest are slaves. Some people in Awami League think that they will continue to win again and again like in 2014 or 2018 and people will just watch. These Awami Leaguers who have suddenly emerged do not know that this is a country of tidal wave. The minds of the people are like the rivers of this country. The scene changes in an instant. Ershad did not know in November '90 what would happen to him in December. Unbeknownst to Begum Zia in December 2006, a long dark tunnel awaited her in January 2006. Does Awami League know what will happen tomorrow?