The Day Democracy Was Freed from Detention

M. Nazrul Islam:

11 January 2007 marks the beginning of one of the most controversial political events in the country’s history. On that day the country had entered the era of a so-called 1/11 government. A state of emergency was imposed on that day to normalize a tumultuous political situation created over the BNP-Jamaat government’s unilateral decision to hold a farcical election. Later, an army-backed interim government was formed following the caretaker government system.

The changes that the 1/11 government had brought forth in the country’s political scene landed major political parties in hot water. The army-backed caretaker government in its two-year term hatched many plots to break up major parties and create new ones. Many political leaders and businessmen were incarcerated in corruption cases. The undemocratic interim government had also arrested Awami League President and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 16 July 2007 on false corruption charges. But eventually, the government was forced to release her on 11 June 2008, after nearly 11 months of keeping her incarcerated in a special prison cell at the national parliament building. Since then, 11 June is marked by leaders and activists of Awami League as “Hasina’s jail-free Day”.

Whenever we take a trip down memory lane we can vividly remember the flagrant misuse of power and show of force by the usurper of state power in 2007. By snatching all democratic rights of the people, they had put the people in a big cage and democracy in detention. Politicians were harassed unnecessarily, as if doing politics was a crime. As a result, many became hesitant to reveal their political identity. Coming on the heels of five years of misrule by the BNP-Jamaat government, the unconstitutional government had established a reign of terror. In the name of reforming politics, they had thrown politics into a dark abyss. There is no denying that the misrule of the previous four-party alliance government had paved the way for the 1/11 government to take hold and go after politicians. The evil force not only arrested Sheikh Hasina but also attempted to ‘minus’ her from politics. Repeated attempts were made to smear her image and destroy her party.
Let’s not forget that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had to spend most of his political life in prison. While fighting for the rights of the Bangalees, he had to endure great pain at the hand of the West Pakistani rulers. Just like her father, Sheikh Hasina too had to embrace hardship, harassment, and imprisonment. Just as Bangabandhu always stood by the people to establish their rights, Hasina returned to the country from exile in 1981 defying military rulers’ intimidation to fight for democracy and people’s rights. Her journey has never been easy, but she has always been ready to take great pains and make the ultimate sacrifice to accomplish her mission.

Imprisonment and suppression of politicians is not a new phenomenon in the politics of this subcontinent. There are many examples of great politicians planning their futures while sitting in jail. Similarly, Sheikh Hasina did not idle away her prison time. During solitary confinement, she made proper use of her creative mind and solidified her conviction. She was so devoted to the welfare of the country and people that even while going through a difficult time she couldn’t stop thinking about the welfare of the people. For example, while commemorating her days in solitary confinement, Hasina revealed that she made the plan to elevate Bangladesh to a middle-income country during her solitary days in prison.

We can see many instances of ups and downs in the annals of our political history. In politics, some events repeat themselves, just as history repeats itself. The contribution of Bangabandhu can never be erased from our politics, but it is a pity that many attempts were made to cast aspersions on him. Bangabandhu had to go through many ups and downs in his long political career. Similarly, Hasina’s appearance in politics was not a pleasant experience for her, and her political journey has never been smooth. She managed to come to her present position by crossing countless hurdles at every step. She had to risk her life. But nothing could divert her from reaching her goal which is to serve her people.

Just like her father, she too had many ups and downs. After losing her entire family on 15 August 1975, she had to spend a solitary life in exile. She was not allowed to return home. Upon her return to the country from exile in 1981, she had to navigate through a road full of thorns. Though the people warmly welcomed her, bullets of the assassins have always been following her. More than a dozen attempts were made on her life. She was first elected as a parliament member in 1986 and was made the leader of the opposition in the parliament. She, however, resigned in public interest in 1988 and led a movement against the government’s tyranny. At that time several attempts were made on her life including in Chattogram and Kotalipara. Then a massive grenade attack was launched at her rally on 21 August 2004. But she survived those heinous attempts narrowly by the grace of Allah almighty. But the conspirators didn’t stop. Her arrest on 16 July 2007 was a part of that conspiracy. Before that, she was arrested in 1983, 1985, and 1990.

Bangladesh had to overcome many difficult situations to reach today’s position. It is still facing mountains of obstacles in its development journey. Poet Nirmalendu Gun wrote, “Sheikh Hasina faces obstacles in every step. Despite that, she managed to take Bangladesh to a respectable position in the international arena.”

But the conspiracy has not stopped yet. The country is going through a deep conspiracy at the national and international level. Some recent incidents give such an indication. We have to find a way out of this situation under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Only she can unite the people of the country under the spirit of the liberation war and take it forward. So, there is no alternative to her leadership. Bangabandhu has brought independence to us; now her worthy daughter is leading from the front for our economic emancipation.
Rabindranath Tagore writes, “A great man has to take the limitless responsibilities of ordinary men. His/her life is a journey of continuous struggle. The idea of a country is not all geographic, but also spiritual. It is enriched with the currents of thought and love that have flowed through the ages. Countless is the number of those who have gone through suffering and death to prove the truth of the person who is immortal in them, and the country is the creation of their sacrifice.”

We may find a reflection of this saying of Tagore in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She has selflessly dedicated herself to the welfare of her countrymen and thus, sealed a permanent place in the hearts of the people. Therefore, when the beloved leader of the people was released from prison by the 1/11 government on 11 June 2008, the whole country was overjoyed. Her release gave democracy a new lease of life. It was the day when the country returned to the light after conquering darkness. 11 June, therefore, is the day of freedom of democracy.

But we must not forget that the reactionary forces are lurking somewhere to plunge the country into the darkness again. Only a concerted effort by all democratic, progressive, and pro-liberation forces under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina can save the country from the clutches of evil forces. So, let’s reaffirm our pledge and take a united stand under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership to break the back of reactionary evil forces and take the country forward.

Writer: President of the All European Awami League

Courtesy: Daily Sun