Abu Hena :
Though late, the United States, the driving force for freedom and democracy in the world, now stands ready to help countries that seek democracy and freedom, peace and prosperity. Its refreshing to note that the US Congress now realizes that they have interest in every place on the earth and that they have a unique responsibility to lead, guide and help every country that has the desire to be free, open and prosperous.
In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Foreign Affairs Committee of US Congress asked the State Department to share “an outline” on how it will respond to allegations of irregularities during the December 30 parliamentary election in Bangladesh. “The allegations of widespread rigging and voter suppression must be taken seriously,” the panel said, “US should demonstrate its commitment to democratic institutions, beginning with Bangladesh”, said the committee chaired by Eliot L Engel. The letter to Pompeo said, “As you know, supporting democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the Indo-Pacific region is critical to advancing US interests, and reports of widespread irregularities in Bangladesh’s recent elections seriously threaten those important interests.” The House Committee claimed that the election was flawed with “violence, mass arrests and a crackdown on free speech” and it was particularly worrying since Bangladesh has a “strong and proud democratic tradition.” The panel further said, reporters saw ballot boxes “suspiciously full” on morning of the election and the Awami League agents turning away voters. “To make matters worse, the government of Bangladesh failed to grant credentials and issue visas to most international election monitors, including those funded by the United States.” Early on the US State Department criticized Bangladesh’s “inability” to issue documents to monitors from US funded ANFREL.
The United States became the greatest power in the world under FDR’s leadership. He joined the WWII on the undertaking from the colonial powers that the world would be free after the war. That made the United States the leader of the free world. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1988, the United States assumed the leadership of the whole world.
During the World War II the whole world was united against the military machine of the Axis powers. WW II was followed by the cold war. There was a kind of discipline imposed by the cold war also, when most countries belonged to one or the other side. Cold war, in that sense was a powerful preserver of stability and balance of power. It is now gone.
Without it, a country now threatened by external interference or internal dictatorship can look for help only in one direction – the United States. In the absence of adequate US initiative and commitment to that end, a country under challenge either internally or externally, cannot put its trust on anyone else. This is happening because the collapse of the Communist Russia has not created a democratic threshold of a world order. With the fear of cold war gone the leaders of democracy now feel indifferent to those who once suffered or are suffering for none compliance with totalitarian dictates. It is reassuring to note that the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs has shown its wisdom reaffirming its commitment to defend and preserve democracy in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. We commend the US Congress for acknowledging the “strong and proud democratic tradition” of Bangladesh which is over hundred years old.
In Bangladesh democratic traditions were founded and preserved by long serving outstanding political leaders and statesmen like Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Huq, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani. Fazlul Huq was first elected to the Bengal Legislative Council from Dhaka in 1913 and served on the council for 21 years until 1934. He was a member of the Indian Central Legislative Assembly between 1934 and 1936. He pushed for land reforms in Bengal curbing the oppressive influence of the land-lords and money-lenders. Huq founded the All Bengal Tenants’ Association which later evolved into a political platform. Held important political offices in the sub-continent including President of All India Muslim League, General Secretary of Indian National Congress, Mayor of Calcutta (1935) and Prime Minister of Bengal (1937-1943). He was voted fourth in a BBC poll of the greatest Bengalis of all times.
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was trained as a Barrister in Oxford where he practiced law at Gray’s Inn in Great Britain. Upon returning to India in 1921 he was elected Member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly and continued upto 1936. He joined the Swaraj Party and was elected Deputy Mayor of Calcutta in 1924 when C.R Das was elected Mayor and Netajee Subash Bose was Chief Executive Officer. He championed an alternative to the partition of Bengal, the idea of an independent united Bengal not federated with either India or Pakistan. He was Prime Minister of undivided Bengal from April 23, 1946 to August 14, 1947 and Prime Minister of Pakistan from 12 September, 1956 to 17 October, 1957. He was co-founder of Awami League and its President (1956-1957). During his premiership Pakistan joined CENTO and SEATO. He brought about parity between Eastern and Western wing of Pakistan and enacted the 1956 Constitution of Pakistan as Law Minister.
Mazlum Jananeta Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani was a rural based politician renowned for selflessness and solidarity with the oppressed. His long political career spanned the British colonial India, Pakistan and Bangladesh periods. He founded Pakistan Awami League and was its President from 1949-1957. He was known for his lifelong stance for the poor against the oppressive establishment. He played a very critical role in the 1969 movement which eventually led to the collapse of the Ayub regime and the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other co-accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case. His decision to boycott the 1970 Pakistan general election led to the electoral sweep by Awami League. In 2004, Bhasani was ranked number 8 in BBC’s poll of the Greatest Bengali of all time.
Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan was the Speaker of Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly from 1948 to 1954 succeeding Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He was also Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly from 1962 to 1963. Preceded by another Bengali Abdul Wahab Khan. Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan was another Bengali who served as Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly.
The Bengali Language Movement was political movement in former East Bengal advocating the recognition of Bengali language as an official language of the then Pakistan in order to allow its use in government affairs. The continuation of its use as a medium of education, its use in media, currency and stamps, and to maintain its writing in the Bengali script. The Language Movement catalysed the assertion of Bengali national identity in East Bengal and become a forerunner to the Bengali nationalist movements, including the 6-point movement and subsequently the Bangladesh Liberation War. In 1999, UNESCO declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day.
Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia was a Bengali journalist and politician. He was the founding editor of the Daily Ittefaq. He wrote the editorial Rajnoitik Moncho, when most of the journalists were considered leftists, Mia followed the pattern of Awami League. He was a great game changer. He carried the message of revolution to the people of Bangladesh and they were inspired more by his editorials than by the words of any political leader.
Put simply, one cannot begin to understand Bangladesh unless he looks at the contributions made by those great men, politicians and statesmen over the years from the beginning of the past century to 1971. What we did have then was what they left behind and one would be surprised how much researchers of today can work out from it. The only tools they used were the democratic principles which suggest a whole set of rituals and role playing, so you can build up a picture of the life of a nation.
The only seed they sowed was democracy and from that the crops to be harvested must be democracy, not autocracy or dictatorship. The assertive confidence of those 70 years gave strength on the battlefields of the war of Independence. The stage was thus set and destiny disclosed. The nation now rallied to Sheikh Mujib’s voice promising victory, freedom from occupation and independence. And victory finally come at the cost of sacrifices of millions. Every year we now visit the “Shaheed Minar” at Dhaka where the memories of the Martyrs of the Language Movement are lovingly preserved and tended. At the same time, this year Bangladesh seems a dreary, gloomy place after the scandalous 30 December election when the government and the civil and military establishment were simply set against the voting rights of men and women, and that was that. And now things are looking very threatening.
At this hour when the seeds of democracy sowed by our ancestors have produced the march of autocracy in Bangladesh, we look to the leader of the free world to take urgent steps to save democracy for which the people of this land voted in 1970 and then fought a bloody War of Liberation. The best course will be a re-election under a neutral government.
(The writer is a former Member of Parliament)
Though late, the United States, the driving force for freedom and democracy in the world, now stands ready to help countries that seek democracy and freedom, peace and prosperity. Its refreshing to note that the US Congress now realizes that they have interest in every place on the earth and that they have a unique responsibility to lead, guide and help every country that has the desire to be free, open and prosperous.
In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Foreign Affairs Committee of US Congress asked the State Department to share “an outline” on how it will respond to allegations of irregularities during the December 30 parliamentary election in Bangladesh. “The allegations of widespread rigging and voter suppression must be taken seriously,” the panel said, “US should demonstrate its commitment to democratic institutions, beginning with Bangladesh”, said the committee chaired by Eliot L Engel. The letter to Pompeo said, “As you know, supporting democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the Indo-Pacific region is critical to advancing US interests, and reports of widespread irregularities in Bangladesh’s recent elections seriously threaten those important interests.” The House Committee claimed that the election was flawed with “violence, mass arrests and a crackdown on free speech” and it was particularly worrying since Bangladesh has a “strong and proud democratic tradition.” The panel further said, reporters saw ballot boxes “suspiciously full” on morning of the election and the Awami League agents turning away voters. “To make matters worse, the government of Bangladesh failed to grant credentials and issue visas to most international election monitors, including those funded by the United States.” Early on the US State Department criticized Bangladesh’s “inability” to issue documents to monitors from US funded ANFREL.
The United States became the greatest power in the world under FDR’s leadership. He joined the WWII on the undertaking from the colonial powers that the world would be free after the war. That made the United States the leader of the free world. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1988, the United States assumed the leadership of the whole world.
During the World War II the whole world was united against the military machine of the Axis powers. WW II was followed by the cold war. There was a kind of discipline imposed by the cold war also, when most countries belonged to one or the other side. Cold war, in that sense was a powerful preserver of stability and balance of power. It is now gone.
Without it, a country now threatened by external interference or internal dictatorship can look for help only in one direction – the United States. In the absence of adequate US initiative and commitment to that end, a country under challenge either internally or externally, cannot put its trust on anyone else. This is happening because the collapse of the Communist Russia has not created a democratic threshold of a world order. With the fear of cold war gone the leaders of democracy now feel indifferent to those who once suffered or are suffering for none compliance with totalitarian dictates. It is reassuring to note that the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs has shown its wisdom reaffirming its commitment to defend and preserve democracy in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. We commend the US Congress for acknowledging the “strong and proud democratic tradition” of Bangladesh which is over hundred years old.
In Bangladesh democratic traditions were founded and preserved by long serving outstanding political leaders and statesmen like Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Huq, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani. Fazlul Huq was first elected to the Bengal Legislative Council from Dhaka in 1913 and served on the council for 21 years until 1934. He was a member of the Indian Central Legislative Assembly between 1934 and 1936. He pushed for land reforms in Bengal curbing the oppressive influence of the land-lords and money-lenders. Huq founded the All Bengal Tenants’ Association which later evolved into a political platform. Held important political offices in the sub-continent including President of All India Muslim League, General Secretary of Indian National Congress, Mayor of Calcutta (1935) and Prime Minister of Bengal (1937-1943). He was voted fourth in a BBC poll of the greatest Bengalis of all times.
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was trained as a Barrister in Oxford where he practiced law at Gray’s Inn in Great Britain. Upon returning to India in 1921 he was elected Member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly and continued upto 1936. He joined the Swaraj Party and was elected Deputy Mayor of Calcutta in 1924 when C.R Das was elected Mayor and Netajee Subash Bose was Chief Executive Officer. He championed an alternative to the partition of Bengal, the idea of an independent united Bengal not federated with either India or Pakistan. He was Prime Minister of undivided Bengal from April 23, 1946 to August 14, 1947 and Prime Minister of Pakistan from 12 September, 1956 to 17 October, 1957. He was co-founder of Awami League and its President (1956-1957). During his premiership Pakistan joined CENTO and SEATO. He brought about parity between Eastern and Western wing of Pakistan and enacted the 1956 Constitution of Pakistan as Law Minister.
Mazlum Jananeta Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani was a rural based politician renowned for selflessness and solidarity with the oppressed. His long political career spanned the British colonial India, Pakistan and Bangladesh periods. He founded Pakistan Awami League and was its President from 1949-1957. He was known for his lifelong stance for the poor against the oppressive establishment. He played a very critical role in the 1969 movement which eventually led to the collapse of the Ayub regime and the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other co-accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case. His decision to boycott the 1970 Pakistan general election led to the electoral sweep by Awami League. In 2004, Bhasani was ranked number 8 in BBC’s poll of the Greatest Bengali of all time.
Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan was the Speaker of Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly from 1948 to 1954 succeeding Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He was also Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly from 1962 to 1963. Preceded by another Bengali Abdul Wahab Khan. Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan was another Bengali who served as Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly.
The Bengali Language Movement was political movement in former East Bengal advocating the recognition of Bengali language as an official language of the then Pakistan in order to allow its use in government affairs. The continuation of its use as a medium of education, its use in media, currency and stamps, and to maintain its writing in the Bengali script. The Language Movement catalysed the assertion of Bengali national identity in East Bengal and become a forerunner to the Bengali nationalist movements, including the 6-point movement and subsequently the Bangladesh Liberation War. In 1999, UNESCO declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day.
Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia was a Bengali journalist and politician. He was the founding editor of the Daily Ittefaq. He wrote the editorial Rajnoitik Moncho, when most of the journalists were considered leftists, Mia followed the pattern of Awami League. He was a great game changer. He carried the message of revolution to the people of Bangladesh and they were inspired more by his editorials than by the words of any political leader.
Put simply, one cannot begin to understand Bangladesh unless he looks at the contributions made by those great men, politicians and statesmen over the years from the beginning of the past century to 1971. What we did have then was what they left behind and one would be surprised how much researchers of today can work out from it. The only tools they used were the democratic principles which suggest a whole set of rituals and role playing, so you can build up a picture of the life of a nation.
The only seed they sowed was democracy and from that the crops to be harvested must be democracy, not autocracy or dictatorship. The assertive confidence of those 70 years gave strength on the battlefields of the war of Independence. The stage was thus set and destiny disclosed. The nation now rallied to Sheikh Mujib’s voice promising victory, freedom from occupation and independence. And victory finally come at the cost of sacrifices of millions. Every year we now visit the “Shaheed Minar” at Dhaka where the memories of the Martyrs of the Language Movement are lovingly preserved and tended. At the same time, this year Bangladesh seems a dreary, gloomy place after the scandalous 30 December election when the government and the civil and military establishment were simply set against the voting rights of men and women, and that was that. And now things are looking very threatening.
At this hour when the seeds of democracy sowed by our ancestors have produced the march of autocracy in Bangladesh, we look to the leader of the free world to take urgent steps to save democracy for which the people of this land voted in 1970 and then fought a bloody War of Liberation. The best course will be a re-election under a neutral government.
(The writer is a former Member of Parliament)
