How were the first 100 days of the BNP-Jamaat rule?

The regime from 2001 to 2006 will always be marked as a horrible period in the political history of Bangladesh. This regime of BNP-Jamaat is a sign of how hellish a country can be taken by the ruling party. Even today, those days still haunt the people who witnessed the regime. Without waiting, the thugs started a rampage even before coming to power. They started setting the example of brutal consequences for Awami League supporters months before the election. They started massacres on Awami League and minorities even before the elections. A chaotic situation broke out across the country immediately since the afternoon of election day. Horrible violence including murder, rape, arson, and looting started all around. The countrymen did not experience such a terrible situation after 1971 and 1975. So the government had to promise to curb the violence within 100 days. But it was nothing but a vague promise.

Let's look back at what the BNP-Jamaat alliance did in that promised 100 days. It is just an attempt to give an idea to the young generation based on the published news data. Many of them were not born or not mature enough then to understand what was going on.

The BNP-Jamaat government announced a 100-day programme after coming to power. Though it was hard to trust the government amid the ongoing situation, people still hoped to see an end to murder, rape, looting, arson, and oppression of minorities. But nothing changed during the 100-day programme. The utter failure of the government in all areas including the economy, law and order, politics, and administration left people hopeless. Those intellectuals who used to be proud of the country got slapped in their faces. If anyone protested, his name was included in the blacklist.

Evidence suggests that the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power through the back door with a commitment to hand over the country's mineral resources to foreigners. BNP-Jamaat leaders exhausted the precious mineral gas of the state in exchange for huge gratuities, various facilities at home and abroad, cars, flats etc as the reward. Although these were the incidents after 100 days of the government, the purpose of mentioning these is to give an idea – who helped the BNP-Jamaat alliances to come to power.

The way BNP-Jamaat ruled the country since assuming power raised questions among pro-BNP intellectuals within one month - how the BNP-led government was running the country in such clumsy hands despite previous experience, are they capable of managing the state system at all? How the party created a chaotic situation across the country within just 100 days? Even the alliance's well-wishers questioned its capability to run the state. In various political programmes and newspaper columns, they used to comment: nothing in the state was going well, and everything was at a standstill. They [BNP-Jamaat men] started blundering from day one and tarnishing the country's image in the international arena. The human rights situation had gone to a sorry state...etc.

Even many senior leaders of the BNP-Jamaat alliance used to express disappointment over the government’s activities and performance. For example, in a discussion organized by Sangbad Pathok Sangsad, the leaders of the coalition government had to accept the frustration and anger among ordinary people due to the failure of the government. As the organizer publicly placed the details of the incidents from news reports, they could not deny the facts and reality.

At that time, BNP leader and then environment minister Shahjahan Siraj expressed his regret saying, "... We are now getting busy with ourselves. People are already frustrated and distressed. Though many of our leaders and activists are involved in terrorism and extortion, they are not being arrested or punished. Dhaka Metropolitan Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami ATM Azharul Islam said that if the coalition government wanted to gain the public trust, it should make the country free from terrorism, extortion and corruption. People should be aware of these issues before they burst into protest. People vote for a peaceful state, not for any particular person or party's interests.

Jatiya Party General Secretary Kazi Firoz Rashid said that BNP is not able to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people after it came to power. Terrorism has increased instead of stopping. No criminals are being arrested. People will not allow us much more time. People don't want BNP's promises, but actions. Maulana Abdur Rashid Majumder, vice chairman of Islami Oikyajot, said that the people's trust in the coalition government is rapidly declining that ending the chances of success of the coalition government.

From these statements, it is clear how hellish the situation was that upset the whole country and ruling MPs and ministers had to admit their failure in front of the people.

On that day, Sangbad Pathak Sangsad placed a report on the first 100 days of the BNP-Jamaat government. It showed more than 1,200 people were killed in terrorist activities. On average, four rape incidents took place daily while six more were murdered every day.
Some incidents during those 100 days may be recalled here.

OC of a police station lodges GD to protect life:

Raozan area of Chittagong became infamous as a town of terror because of the family of pro-Pakistani Faka Chowdhury. Sons of this razakar made Raozan a terrorist hub. Even during the day and afternoon, no political party leaders could move freely on the road for the fear of their lives! BNP leader former MP Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury (Gika Chowdhury), also a razakar, proudly admitted in a meeting at Raozan that he provided Tk 5 lakh ransom for killing former OC Abul Hossain of Raozan Police Station.

Gika Chowdhury also said that it might cost more to kill the current OC. Seeing the situation, the OC lodged a general diary seeking protection for his life. Where there is no security for the life of the police officer, what would be the case for ordinary people?

Potol brings international shame to Bangladesh football:

Though Bangladesh is hardly named outside SAF Games, it has a football association as a member of FIFA. It allows Bangladesh to hoist its flag during international matches. But coming to power, State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman Potol did a major mistake. Bangladesh had to pay a huge price after he dissolved the committee of the Bangladesh Football Federation without prior notice and plan. As a result, FIFA suspended Bangladesh's membership. The political vendetta to induct their political persons dissolving the previous committee brought such shame to the whole country. FIFA took action for violation of FIFA rules.

The sports minister could not even imagine how shameful this expulsion from the international arena of football was. As soon as he came to power, he planned to oust all the officials who were recruited during the Awami League period and use the football federation for personal and political purposes. As a member of FIFA, the players used to carry the red-green flag of Bangladesh in different countries. The name of Bangladesh was at least mentioned on the occasion of various regional and international competitions. But the ban brought an end to such an opportunity. Facing wide criticism and pressure from the media, Minister Potol tried to show many excuses. But the countrymen said - he who could not uphold the flag of Bangladesh in the world arena, cannot hoist the national flag on his car.

In this regard, veteran journalist Ataus Samad wrote then, FIFA had suspended Bangladesh from the international football game due to the dissolving of the elected committee of the national football federation. It resulted in the cancellation of the SAARC Football Championship in Bangladesh. But the government could not show any reason for such negligence. Such an incident frustrated the football players and brought shame to the countrymen today. The former Prime Minister and current Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament, Sheikh Hasina can now say that while her government has given Bangladesh cricket the opportunity and dignity to play international Test matches, Khaleda's government has brought great humiliation for the country in the international football arena.

Mafia empire Hawa Bhaban started operating from day one:

Bangladesh still bears the burden of the looting of Hawa Bhaban even after all these years. At that time, even a makeshift shopkeeper needed to pay extortion in name of Hawa Bhaban for setting up a roadside business. Persons related to Hawa Bhaban used to meddle in every activity from any business, foreign investment, transports, mills and factories to jobs and promotions. Even the MPs and ministers had to share their portion of extortion with Hawa Bhaban. A huge mafia empire was built by smuggling billions of looted dollars abroad.

The BNP-Jamaat coalition government set an unprecedented example of nepotism and corruption in all areas of the state from the first day of assuming power. Khaleda Zia was the Prime Minister in name only, but her 'Crown Prince' Tarique Rahman ran the country from behind the scene as he was the most powerful one despite not being MP or minister. Her second son Arafat also took control of the cricket board. Prime Minister's elder sister 'Chocolate Apa' was a member of the cabinet. Brother Sayeed Iskander also became an MP, who exercised illegal power in various sectors including Bangladesh Biman. Iskander managed to get a waiver of interest worth Tk 12 crores from Sonali Bank. Khaleda Zia's nephew Shahrin Islam Tuhin was defeated as MP but won the seat in Hawa Bhaban for lobbying. Other BNP leaders were also involved in looting along with Khaleda Zia's relatives.

The then president Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury's son Mahi B. Chowdhury and finance minister Saifur Rahman’s son were made Member of Parliament despite having no experience in politics. The mafia rule of Hawa Bhaban started nepotism from the first day of coming to power. All the activities of the mafia empire of Hawa Bhaban led by Tarique Rahman were an open secret. Their audacity grew so much that they believed no one could even touch them. The opposition party protested against these and was later subjected to reprisals. These mafia bosses tried to stop them by hurling grenades.

A report on Hawa Bhaban in Prothom Alo newspaper on January 17, 2002, said that it was infamous since its journey. A section of the party called it 'Kashimbazar Kuthi' at the beginning of the opening Hawa Bhaban at the BNP Chairperson's office at Banani Road 13/D, House-53. They were sceptical about this office. But it again came to the spotlight after the formation of the government. Many people believed that the administration was following the instructions received from Hawa Bhaban. People from different levels including ministers, secretaries and businessmen openly discussed that the house was becoming a second power centre or a government within a government. It made the final decision regarding transfers and promotions in various ministries. There was a lobbying system for commercial benefits from the public sector. In this case, a relative of the Prime Minister, who was defeated in a seat in North Bengal in the last parliamentary elections, was a pioneer. In many cases, the administration people also committed misdeeds by using the name of Hawa Bhaban. And all was going on openly.

Who is running the country - is it not normal to raise this question among people? Khaleda Zia's nickname was Putul. Tarique and his gang made her puppet in real. However, even though Khaleda Zia was in a 'puppet' condition, she supported her son in all his misdeeds. She was accustomed to luxurious life and was one of the accomplices of the misdeeds of her sons. All she could do was sign papers and sit on the seat of the Prime Minister. The rest of the power lay in the hands of the mafia boss Tarique Rahman.

Administration or Farce:

People expected that the BNP-Jamaat coalition government would fall shortly after the government started reshuffles and dismissals in the name of reshaping the administration. But the public perception did not come true in the first 100 days of the coalition government. That period is considered a nightmare for government employees even today. During the Awami League tenure, there was instability in the administration due to various reasons including mass transfer of appointees, forced retirement, suspension of promotion, dismissal and so on. The worries of government employees knew no bounds about the random transfer and dismissal orders.

Was there any working environment in government offices? Have the government employees been able to perform their duties properly in the first 100 days of the coalition government? On January 22, 2002, JaiJaiDin, a newspaper edited by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s speech writer and her trusted journalist Shafik Rehman, wrote:

Well-wishers in the present government are now saying that the government has done enough, it should fix the bureaucracy immediately. No civil government in the past has witnessed so much unrest in the bureaucracy as it does now. The current government seems not to have any good or bad policies regarding administration and bureaucracy. What has been done with the bureaucracy so far is better-called anarchy or chaos. In the absence of any specific policy of rewarding and reprimanding bureaucrats, powerful opportunists are getting benefits in the administration. Government officers are being dismissed, suspended and asked to show cause over unnamed letters, phone calls and baseless information. Many efficient, qualified and honest officials were also affected. No one has any idea who is doing what from where. Such misdeeds are happening In the name of the Prime Minister Secretariat, Hawa Bhaban, influential BNP leaders and their relatives.

Even Khaleda Zia’s close aide Shafik Rehman's newspaper could not but hide such reports about corruption and irregularities. So it is easy to imagine how miserable the real situation was.

BNP-Jamaat alliance occupies institutions, what not:

After assuming power, the BNP-Jamaat government and its supporters started behaving recklessly to take control of everything. They occupied everything from university halls, bus terminals, public toilets, VC offices, houses, lands, freedom fighter offices, contractor offices, graveyards, shops, press clubs, colleges, MP hostel suites and rooms, and various institutions, to car parking spaces. Even they manipulated the history of the Liberation War.

Weekly magazine Saptahik 200 published a nine-page visual report titled 'Dakhaldaritter Natun Addhay (New Chapter of Occupation)' on January 18, 2002. People were astonished to know it. The report showed how a mafia world was engulfing all the institutions, government and administration and the whole country one by one.

Lies in textbooks that changed the history of the Liberation War overnight:

The BNP-Jamaat government added another shame to their record by distorting the history of the Liberation War. The government tried to establish the fabricated story through academic textbooks. In 'Bangla Sahitya Kanika' of eighth graders, they inserted a blatant lie in an essay titled “Shwadinotar Pathe Shwaranio Jara (those who are remembered on the struggle for independence)”. It read: "Ziaur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971, from Kalurghat Betar Kendra in Chittagong as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Provisional Bangladesh Government and Head of State."

Zia was just a paid armed officer of the Mujibnagar government, headed by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, during the Liberation War. After the declaration of independence by Bangabandhu on the night of March 25 (26th March of the calendar), it was re-read from various places. At least eight of the local Awami League leaders read the declaration from Chittagong's only 10-kilowatt range radio station. As Major Rafiqul Islam, who was nearby, politely refused to read the declaration and left the defence bureau, another senior officer Ziaur Rahman got the chance and read the declaration without mentioning Bangabandhu’s name initially. Later he had to add the phrase ‘on behalf of Bangabandhu’ under the pressure of Awami League leaders. The recorded audio is still preserved. Even Zia, during his lifetime, never claimed himself to be the 'proclaimer' of independence. In one of his articles published in Bichitra, he admitted that Bangabandhu's 7th March speech was a declaration of independence to all the military forces.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the supreme leader and commander-in-chief of the Liberation War. The war was conducted under his command and General Osmani was the commander of the Liberation Army. But BNP hide the information highlighting Zia as ‘Supreme Commander and 'Head of State in the textbook! How ugly their thinking is!

Even BNP’s well-wisher Shafik Rehman, also editor of JaiJaiDin could not accept this distorted history. He wrote in his column – “This is not the real history. Ziaur Rahman read out the declaration on March 27, 1971, and read the historic declaration in the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The credibility of the government has been greatly impacted due to this distortion of information (JaiJaiDin, January 22, 2002)”.

In one of his poems, Professor Dr Humayun Azad wrote, “Ekdin Sob Kichhu Nostoder Odhikary Choly Jabe (One day, everything will go under the control of scoundrels one day).” The nation witnessed everything go under the control of the scoundrels within the first 100 days of the BNP-Jamaat government.

If you go out, can you return home alive?

The law and order situation deteriorated to such an extent that every person in the country was going through a terrible panic. Serious crimes were being committed from the highest levels of the state.

In this context, The Daily Star newspaper on October 10, 2001, wrote: “Salauddin Quader Chowdhury (Chittagong-7), VP Joynal (Feni-2), Ilias Ali (Sylhet-2) and Hafiz Ibrahim (Bhola-2) have direct connections with the criminal world. Many of them are accused in cases like murder, illegal land grabbing, leading armed terrorists and extortion. Even top BNP leader Mirza Abbas (Dhaka-6) is accused of occupying the bus terminal. The previous caretaker government has filed a case under the Public Safety Act against him on charges of terrorism and has finalized the charge sheet process.

Look at the names. Razakar SQ Chy, another notorious murderer of Raozan and the godfather of terror. He spread his supremacy in large areas including Raozan and Rangunia by making people landless. Grabbing others’ properties and massacres were regular occurrences. VP Joynal established his reign of terror in the Feni region. He killed countless Awami League leaders and activists. Ilias Ali was a murderer since his student life. Ilias, an armed cadre of Ershad's new Bengali student society was recruited in Chhatra Dal for his expertise in killings. Ilias killed Chhatra League leader Chunnu in 1990 and Liton in 1991 on the orders of Khaleda Zia. He was accused in a total of 18 murder cases. He also rose to the top leadership of the Chhatra Dal. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi became the president, and Ilias became the general secretary of the BNP’s student wing. Becoming more reckless, he also killed many leaders of Chhatra Dal and BNP. But Khaleda Zia acquitted him of everything and made him MP.

Ilias had conflicts with the Saifur Rahman group in the area. A few months ago, Mirza Abbas blamed the party conflict behind his disappearance. From the first day he became an MP in 2001, he poured blood to suppress the opposition party. Hafiz Ibrahim emerged as a terror in person. The minorities of the Bhola region still trembled in fear about his name. From the very first day after winning the election, his terrorist forces looted and vandalized the houses of Hindus in the Bhola area. They also killed, raped and gang-raped women and children, mutilated bodies, evicted minorities from their land and did whatnot.

The rampage of BNP-Jamaat left the people of the country completely helpless. The people assumed that the government would not allow anyone to live people with self-respect. Many remember another tragic incident. Naraynganj fine arts student Simi committed suicide due to Chhatra Dal and Juba Dal cadres Doyel, Khalil, Mofazzal and Ripon and police’s SI Bashar. Thus, the crimes and atrocities badly disturbed the lives of ordinary people across the country. Robbery and extortion became very common crimes rare compared to others.

The editorial column in the January 22, 2002 issue of the weekly JaiJaiDin wrote: The incidents of petty crimes like robbery and extortion are rampant. Many people are becoming victims of these crimes every day. People walking on the streets, and travelling in rickshaws or baby taxis are more targeted. They do not go to the police station even if they lose everything, because it is of no use. The same person is mugged repeatedly in a week. Sometimes the muggers ride into the baby taxi on the public street and use sharp weapons to snatch money, mobile phone sets, and watches. They even sometimes stab people after taking the money. They also reportedly spread powder or chemical splashes on the faces and eyes of the victims while leaving. Sometimes, getting no money, they even take away the clothes of general people. This type of mugging incident is common in all areas of Dhaka city. A person who works for a whole month and gets paid at the end to run his family falls prey to snatchers often. It should not be difficult for anyone to understand what is the state of mind of the victim. It is the responsibility of the government to protect citizens from such mental and financial torture.

‘Can we return home safely after going out for work in the morning – was the headline almost every top newspaper of the country used to publish on the front pages.

What a peaceful future!

The dream Prime Minister Khaleda Zia showed to the nation of a beautiful and peaceful future soon after coming to power, completely faded away in 100 days. The sufferings of the people went unbounded as BNP-Jamaat took to power. The price of daily commodities was increasing with the whimsical comments of the then Finance Minister Saifur Rahman. Prices of rice, dal, flour, oil, fish and meat rose rapidly compared to the income of the people. The government failed to curb the price hike as it did not have any control over the traders. The businessmen used to comment openly that they had no other alternative to earning their benefits from the investment they donated to bring BNP-Jamaat to power. The government itself increased the prices of oil, gas, electricity and water. The suicide incidents of dying under train wheels or drowning in rivers, or having poisons along with family members due to acute starvation were among the daily news reports.

In a meeting, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said that the coalition government could not give anything except the price hike in 100 days. Journalist Ataus Samad commented - the BNP government has irked the countrymen by rising prices of fuel, oil, gas and electricity though they promised to bring happiness in their election manifesto just a few days ago. Voters are now openly asking, what burden this government will impose on the ordinary people.

Examples of some insane comments of concerned persons and others:

* A cabinet of 60 people is not much. It will not increase the cost much: Khaleda Zia [Prothom Alo, December 3, 2001]
* Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Don't be so impatient: BNP Secretary General and Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan to the allies [Prothom Alo, January 15, 2002]
* God, not the ministers runs the country: Finance Minister Saifur Rahman at MCCI meeting [Bhorer Kagoj, January 25, 2002]
* Remember that my party man has been killed, and don't file a case against the party men: BNP MP Major Mannan to the police officer regarding the filing of a case over the killing of BNP leader Khaled Imam in party infighting [Prothom Alo, January 2, 2002]
* There will always be many thieves and robbers at the party. We have to collaborate with them do politics: BNP Chittagong Metropolitan Committee Vice President Ekramul Karim [Prothom Alo, December 13, 2001]
* Wipe out the eyes of the hells: ADC Kohinur Mia's instructions to police during an attack on Awami League leaders [Ittefaq, January 10, 2001]
* Got justice during BNP government, Long live, Khaleda Zia: Ershad Sikder, acquitted in a murder case [Prothom Alo, October 26, 2001]
* The potential of the tourism industry in Bandarban at the edge due to police extortion and harassment: District BNP Joint Secretary Abdul Mabud [Protham Alo, January 2, 2002]