Have we awakened, lately?

August, the month of national mourning for those millions who love Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had yet another awe-inspiring episode on seventeenth of the month which epitomised the pitiable state of the administrative machinery in Bangladesh. Very intriguing though it had been, the simultaneous bomb blasts almost all over the country had set a unique example, first of its kind in the entire world. Though it had been an absolutely negative phenomenon aimed at senseless annihilation of many innocent citizens it gave us a tacit re-affirmation of our capability to go for a concerted action in microscopic precision yet the anathema had been that the whole dastardly gamble had been to create total chaos and confusion within the country at the cost of peace and tranquility and above all, our national security.

State minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar claimed on the day of occurrence, that is August 17, that he had prior information from his intelligence about such an intriguing situation. According to him three probable dates were mentioned in the report. They were August 14, 15 and 16. The abhorring incident took place on August 17. On the same day a little ahead of the simultaneous bomb blast at 63 out of 64 districts the Prime Minister and head of the administration was already on board her flight to China. Now, if we look at the sequence both prior and after her departure we can not be sure if the Prime Minister was duly posted about the forehand report.

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It was very much evident that the demised intelligence report was at hand before August 14. And hopefully, the Home Ministry had enough brain-storming on the subject for drawing up a comprehensive plan to intercept any eventuality. If such a desired plan was on the table the miscreants couldn't have an easy sail. There could have been some positive action on the part of the law and enforcing agencies and for that matter, the State Minister to pre-empt, if not all, some of the mischief mongers. It was clear that their strategy to dodge the police outwitted the entire administration. In consequence, the three probable dates, i.e. 14, 15 and 16 August turned out to be a mere hoax. When nothing did actually happen on those three specific dates the law and order enforcing agencies went into a relaxing mood and eventually caught off-foot pitiably.

Still then, the government and the whole nation had a stunning message. Instantly was neutralised the adulating self-complacency generating from the unsolicited compliments from some western diplomats that 'Bangladesh was a moderate Muslim country.' Here religious extremism and fanaticism had no place. Inspired by such a lavish compliments the government was seen visibly elated. The state minister for Home Affairs in particular was awfully cajoled and infatuated because such commendations atoned for the successes of his ministry in respect of the law and order situation in the country. That's how he was prompted into jeering on the press report about 'Bangla Bhai'. In a state of jubilation he discounted the suggestion that there was anyone in the country in the name of 'Bangla Bhai' or 'English Bhai.' He rejected all those straightway as concocted stories to discredit the government. Yet the ebullient state minister had little or no time to collect himself and eventually to retract. It coincided with the intriguing revolutions, among others, made by Harry K. Thomas, former US Ambassador is Dhaka which carried categoric mentions about the so-called 'Bangla Bhai.' The Prime Minister herself was alarmed and ordered for immediate arrest of the hoodlum. And by then the devil went into hiding. All plans (!) of the law and order enforcing bodies continue till now as utterly inconsequential.

Not one or two, five hundred bombs blasted on August 17 all over the country (excepting Munshiganj) and all at a time. So, we have yet another world record because never before in any part of the globe such a symphony bombing occurred. Through these blasts the men behind have conveyed a very specific message to the state. It passed on to the government as well a very harsh cautionary signal. The whole episode had been an ignominious instance of failure in respect of the security of the state. It had been too an agonising example of indifference and unfathomable laggings of the people responsible for our national security. Besides, it had been a viciously planned conspirational act against the whole peace loving nation.

It has been a pity that none responsible in the realm of national security had the boldness or courage to admit the failure of his area. There has not been any symbolic resignation of any high-up let alone the state minister for Home Affairs. The much expected statement of the head of the government came 22-23 days after the incident. She spoke about the 17 August bomb blasts across the country in the Jatiya Sangsad only on September 8, 2005. It was a very casual sort of statement in the national parliament. She was lamenting that the mischief mongers were out to damage the 'moderate Islamic country' image of Bangladesh -- which was attributed to same of the former US diplomats in Dhaka. The unwholesome infatuation apart the Prime Minister looked very uncertain about the main planners behind the symphony bombing. It is, however, by and large revealed that many of the criminals so far intercepted have had their direct linkage with Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the powerful partners of the present 4-party alliance. The instance of arrest from Sylhet of one Shamim, son of a Jamaat-e-Islami leader can be cited as an example. One doesn't have to tell the Prime Minister that she is in a veritable hornet nest. She must act now before it is too late.

It is good to see that the national intelligence, in spite of the initial setback, has collected and reshuffled itself quite significantly. Hopefully, they are now free from the traditional 'myth' of 'orders from higher authority'.

Parallel to the 17 August abhorring episode the nation had yet another big jolt from the honourable High Court. The verdict annulling the 5th amendment of our constitutions scrapped the tenure of Khondker Mushtaque, Justice Sayem and Ziaur Rahman. Their holding of power was declared illegal and ultravires. The present government has obtained a 2-month respite to make an appeal, yet the verdict of the High Court, stayed for two months, has been a historic one in as much as it challenged the legitimacy of the governments after August 15, 1975. The whole nation awaits the hearing on the appeal of the government. If the judgement of the High Court is upheld it can very well be the first step for the long cherished independent judiciary.

Kazi Alauddin Ahmed is a management consultant.