On the fateful night of November 3 in 1975, I was at Pabna. We had no knowledge as to what was happening in Dhaka since the Bangladesh Radio stopped broadcasting of its programme and news from the following morning. It remained so until an announcer on the night of November 4 said: He who loves this country has the right to live here.
He continued that Brigadier General Khalid Mosharraf had taken over the State power as the Chief Martial Law Administrator, dissolved the Parliament and the cabinet and ordered imprisonment of Chief of Staff Major General Ziaur Rahman.
As a conscious citizen of the country, I tried to know about the political philosophy of Khalid Mosharraf. Someone said, ” Khalid Mosharraf is leftist and holds good command.” But the sad thing is that Colonel Taher, who was also leftist, staged a counter-coup on November 7 and the soldiers under him killed Khalid, which shocked me.
Another shocking news was the assassination of four national leaders inside the Dhaka Central Jail. The saddest thing is that the government of that time could not save them who deserved State security, as citizens.
It implies upon the State, according to the Islamic doctrine, to protect the life and property of every individual irrespective of his religious, social and citizenship status. As a result, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Qumruzzaman, who fought for their country, were brutally killed inside the jail.
Such things should never happen any more. May Allah keep their souls in peace.
Ameer Hamzah
Dhaka
Democratic right, not compromisable
We nave lost our identity from January 5, 2014, we feel like empty shells, nothing to look forward to, we have to suppress our voices, rightful demands of the people which are beneficial for the country, like cancellation of Rampal Power Plant and Rooppur nuclear power plant are being denied not caring how disastrous it will be for the country.
When the election was held in which merely five percent people participated it was said that it was only to continue the process, another election will be held soon. But now the ruling party has shifted from that stance and clearly saying that there will be no election before 2019.
The next election also will not be acceptable if it is not held under a neutral government and the present backbone less election commission is not changed and the Chief Election Commissioner will be a person who is not like Rakibuddin Ahmed who has failed miserably in his duty.
We do not know what is in store for us ,we can only pray and hope for getting back our democratic right.
Nur Jahan
Chittagong
