The nation's disgrace

How is it that even BTV, which is the state electronic media run by the citizens' tax money, can refuse to run any stories on the man's life, his political vision and struggle, and his achievement -- stories which are now among the treasure troves of, besides ours, world history of the twentieth century, for the world recorded the events of the creation of Bangladesh and the man who led the events to culmination.

In contrast, BTV could spend whole days and weeks, even month for the man, Ziaur Rahman who came much later in the political scenario of Bangladesh. Ziaur Rahman's announcing of the independence of Bangladesh on March 27, 1971 over makeshift radio as already declared by Bangabandhu on March 26 must be regarded as a milestone, and was followed by his participation in the war of liberation. So he has also a special place in our esteem and in our history of liberation.

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But on no account should he be placed at the pinnacle at the cost of Bangabandhu who sustained toil, trial, and tribulation for the cause of Bangalees for long 23 years under the oppressive and exploitive rule of the Pakistanis, and who for his unending struggle for the legitimate political and economic rights and interests of his people won their hearts to be their beloved leader.

BTV arranges programme of discussion on the death anniversary of many renowned personalities of the country and I followed one such programme on veteran writer and journalist, the late Abul Mansur Ahmed. During the discussion BTV displayed many books authored by him. But it took recourse to hiding one of Abul Mansur Ahmed's most voluminous works titled "From Sher-e-Bangla to Bangabandhu."

Mr. Ahmed, a senior politician, meticulously illustrated, as he himself saw, Mujib's rise to as the charismatic leader, Bangabandhu, and finally the "father of the nation." Maybe the powers that be are all bent on denigrating Mujib, and in line with that, among many of the detractions, his picture in the currency note was removed, and his mural in the Cantonment also. If that could be allowed to happen, why should we be surprised that BTV would not to show a book that bears the word Bangabandhu in its title?

Being saddened at the manner in which Sheikh Mujib is being neglected in the nation state of which he was the architect, I cannot help recounting a few events that are historical facts, perhaps not unknown to the readers and leaders of all hues. Who knows not that Sheikh Mujib's six-point programme sowed the seeds of the birth of this nation ? The Pakistani rulers sensed in it the disintegration of Pakistan, and so they conspired to liquidate him through his indictment in the Agartala Conspiracy Case. But students' movements and Moulana Bhasani's call "break open the jail, bring out Sheikh Mujib" foiled that conspiracy. And who can deny that his winning of 167 seats of National Assembly election of Pakistan out of 169 in East Pakistan in 1970 was the Bangalees' mandate for his six-points, and came as a bomb-shell to the Pakistanis and the Pakistani military junta, and that when they again began to conspire to frustrate the hopes and aspirations of Bangalees, he saw no other way ahead than to deliver his historic March 7 speech. And with what swan song he concluded needs no repetition.

People all over East Pakistan found the right chord in the speech of their most beloved and trusted leader. Was there anybody else who could be so fearless as Mujib to make such epoch-making decision known to the Pakistanis? And with that, 75 million people of East Pakistan found in him their undisputed leader. Pakistan in its history of 24 years was thrown into its worst political crisis.

Who was the towering man but Mujib from moribund East Pakistan to sit face to face with the President of Pakistan who in course of the political discourse with Mujib found it was none but he who was 'the root cause of total disintegration of Pakistan' and took him into captivity to determine his fate. But with the blessings of Almighty Allah to whom his people prayed for his life, and for the freedom fighters who fought with his name in their heart, as also for the pressure of world leaders and world press, he was honourably freed and he triumphantly returned to his people to take the reins of the newly founded People's Republic of Bangladesh.

Was there anybody else who could claim that position? It is none other than he who thought for Bangalees, fought for Bangalees, and achieved for Bangalees a homeland of their own to turn it into Sonar Bangla. Verily he became the father of the nation.

Yes, he failed in his mission. But should that have got some disgruntled military officers in collusion with one of his trusted colleagues who played the role of Brutus to annihilate him and his family members? That which his arch enemy Pakistanis could not dare do, a few black sheep of his fellow men accomplished!

It was because of his dynamic and patriotic leadership that recognition of most of the countries of the world was gained, the Indian soldiers who made our independence possible were made to leave this land within only three months, which was unique in history. The Herculean tasks of rebuilding the ravaged and shattered country could be achieved within the shortest possible time, and the country got set on strong footing. In the war-torn country people were disarrayed, violent and split in many groups and many had arms. They were brought under control and discipline to a satisfactory level with thousands surrendering arms. It was possible only because a leader of Mujib's stature and popularity was there.

By trying to deny his place as our founding father despite all his struggles, by not meting out due punishment to his killers, and finally by not paying him due tributes through observance of his death on August 15 as a state sponsored National Mourning Day, we are betraying ourselves and presenting ourselves before the world as a nation of betrayers.

AH Dewan is a retired government official.