The end of day-dreaming

The interim caretaker government took over on January 11, 2007 with a vow to clean up the messy politics of Bangladesh ruled by chaos, corruption and destruction and free the country from the curse of all pervasive corruption. Initially they started well in their promise and put the country on the path of promised reform and waged a crusade against crippling corruption that had gripped almost all the sectors of the country. In the battle against corruption several hundred people, including the top brass of both the main fronts of the country’s politics, were charged and formally arrested. This was a real bold move when the military-backed caretaker government dared to detain both the former prime ministers and party chiefs of BNP and Awami League – Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina and put them to trials for graft. The moves were cautiously welcomed by mass people who were supporting the caretaker government’s political reform drive with a hope for a better beginning for the country’s future. Even the ‘Battling Begums’ of the main fronts were facing music from their own party ranks and file for mending their ways and pressed for party reforms. And reformist blocks sprung up calling for party reforms in both Awami League and BNP for a better election to elect better leaders to rule the country. They even called for shunning the leadership of both the party chiefs for autocratic behaviour not practicing democracy in party affairs. On the other hand, the caretaker government, though not openly, pressed for a minus-two formula and opted for sending the Battling Begums into exile. But all these moves turned futile as the caretaker government get caught in its struggle to make the murky politics clean with few missteps and miscalculations. Moreover, the blunder the caretaker government made in the name of compromise with proven corrupt and criminal businessmen had crippled the whole package of promised reforms as the prices of essentials went beyond the reach of commoners and fixed-income groups. The failure to contain profit-mongering of corrupt businessmen and their proven syndication held the government captive to their will and made the government machinery ineffective and helpless amid public discontent. That has rotten the whole idea of reforms and withered away people’s faith and support for the caretaker government, which had initially made them dream about a better Bangladesh free from corruption and criminalise politics. And after day-dreaming for changes for long two years, all the hopes for changes are gone and the situation gets back to square one with reformists fizzled out as they have failed to prove their worth. So, the people are again left with no other options but to choose between the Battling Begums while the hapless caretaker government is facing people’s wrath and pondering to somehow hold a sort of electing to hand power back to a so called elected government and save their skin.

Now it’s Hannan-Hafiz tussle
After a long tussle between BNP’s Khaleda Zia loyalist Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah and reformist Mannan Bhuiyan following Bhyuiyan’s expulsion from party by chairperson just before her arrest, now the tussle concentrated in between Hannan Shah and Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed. In a new twist to BNP politics, Hannan Shah and Major (retd) Hafizuddin accused each other in the killing of President Ziaur Rahman in 1981. Both the BNP leaders also challenged each other Friday and promised to quit politics if the allegation is proved. Hafiz and Hannan Shah threw the challenge and counter-challenge through media personnel who went to their respective houses as part of regular reporting. Hafiz, recently appointed acting secretary general of BNP by pro-reformist leaders, said it was heard in the army at that time that “one of our leaders as a soldier helped General Manzur in implementing his plan.” He added: “What we have seen on television, Hannan Shah, on behalf of General Manzur, had negotiated with army chief General Ershad in Dhaka.” Hannan Shah alleged recently that Hafiz as PS betrayed with army chief Ziaur Rahman. In response, Hafiz Friday said he was a staff officer at the army headquarters and he had no soldier under his command. Responding to Hafiz’s allegation, Hannan Shah told reporters that he had no involvement in any activities relating to Zia’s killing. “If Hafiz can prove my involvement, I will quit politics,” he said, adding that Hafiz would have to seek apology for his falsehood and quit politics too. Shah said that after the killing of Zia, they brought his body to Dhaka from Rangunia in Chittagong and handed the body over to the acting President. “Had I been involved in the killing, I would have been tried in the army… there was no evidence against me,” he said.