Sk. Hasina massacred the vital principle of our liberation war

1. Sk. Hasina massacred the vital principle of our liberation war Muazzam H. Kazi, PhD, DABR Physicist, Lahey Clinic Faculty Tufts University, School of Medicine

2. The vital principle of our liberation war • Democracy • Liberty • Equality • Justice • And corruption free sonar Bangla.

3. Corruption or Pathological greed • The government appointed a probe committee of the worst-ever share market crash in January 2011; according to the 320-page report, a group of dishonest traders colluded with stock market regulators to swindle retail investors out of at least 20,000 crore taka. • Beximco’s Salman, they covered up for him in 1996, they’re doing it again, how can he  still be the PM’s private sector advisor? • On to the Destiny scam: They are accused of laundering and misappropriating Tk. 33,000 crore. • The textile firm Hallmark Group, and its five shady sister concerns embezzled about 3,600 crore taka from Sonali Bank’s Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch between 2010 and May 2012 • The finance minister, saying 4,000 crore taka is no big deal. For once Muhith was right, compared to what’s been stolen.

4. Corruption or Pathological greed • The telecom sector heads the list, irregularities since June 2009 are estimated to be 151,000 crore taka. Kickbacks in feigned system loss, over-billing by quick rental power plants and numerous energy deals are calculated to have cost the state’s coffers 140,000 crore taka. • Corruption in the education sector — conducted mainly through the MPO (Monthly Pay Order) system for 28,000 non-government secondary schools, madrasas and colleges, bribery in teacher recruitment, recommendations for government subsidies, purchase of books etc — accounts for 111,000 crore taka. • A major embezzlement in Bangladesh Krishi Bank (157 crore taka was siphoned away by ruling party loyalists masquerading as businesmen • Warid Telecom transferred  70% shares to Airtel (a front) thereby depriving the public exchequer of a 400 crore taka transfer fee.

5. Corruption or Pathological greed • Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) operations have milked 100 crore taka. • The Jubok (Jubo Karmasangsthan Society) scam is a precursor to Destiny, accused of laundering and misappropriating Tk.100 crore. • The Holiday news report also speaks of a possible cartel formation — involving the Summit Group, the country’s single largest power producer — which is “limited to family or political connections.” All power projects since the AL-led government came to power in January 2009, lack even an iota of “transparency,” bearing marks instead of “naked nepotism,” or, “huge” bribes. Summit is owned by the commerce minister’s family (M Shahidul Islam, “Sectorwise Rent-Seeking Rackets.  Over Taka 400,000 crore skimmed out,” Holiday, September 14, 2012). • The weekly Holiday report claims  that corruption rackets over the last few years have skimmed off 400,000 crore taka from four major public-run sectors — banking, telecommunication, energy and education.

6. Commentary, Mahfuz Anam • When does a government strangulate its capital city by preventing almost all modes of transport from reaching it? • When does a government bring to a virtual halt almost all internal city movements? When does a government create such a panicky situation that traders do not open shops out of fear of vandalism? • When does a government prevent its own citizens from carrying out their day to day activities? • When do government leaders tell blatant lies on television while the truth is clearly the opposite? • When does a ruling party let loose its goons upon normal citizens on suspicion that they might attend the opposition rally?

7. Commentary, Mahfuz Anam • When does an elected government adopt the most oppressive measure to prevent the opposition from holding a public rally? • What mindset, what myopia, what perverted logic, what disregard for ordinary people could have allowed a government party to permit its activists to attack ordinary passengers whose only “crime” was to want to come to Dhaka. • When does an elected government adopt the most oppressive measure to prevent the opposition from holding a public rally? • What mindset, what myopia, what perverted logic, what disregard for ordinary people could have allowed a government party to permit its activists to attack ordinary passengers whose only “crime” was to want to come to Dhaka.

8. Constitutional Guarantee The constitutional guarantee for ‘freedom of movement’ [Article 36], People wait for launches at Barisal terminal on 3/11/12. These launches, which provide service between Barisal and Dhaka remained suspended ahead of the opposition's grand rally in the capital on 6/12/12. Photo: Banglar Chokh, Source: Daily Star The government is violating the constitutional right of the people.

9. Constitutional Guarantee The constitutional guarantee for ‘freedom of movement’ [Article 36], ‘freedom of assembly’ [Article 37], ‘freedom of association’ [Article 38], and ‘freedom of thought and conscience, and speech and expression’ [Article 39 (1) and (2)]. Sk. Hasina massacred all of the above articles of our constitution.

10. Political Prosecution and Disappearances In a functional democratic society there is no room for political persecution or politically-motivated disappearances. Opposition leader Ilas Ali with his driver disappeared in April, 2012 It is widely believed that both of them were killed by RAB.

11. Custodial Death M U Ahmed, Supreme court Lawyer was a victim of custodial death. This is first time in the history of Bangladesh, that a supreme court lawyer was killed in police custody.

12. Medieval Monstrosity • Activists of the Juba League, youth front of the ruling Awami League, chopping off the arm of a young man belonging to their rival faction at Kathalbari in Kurigram upazila কুড়িগ্রামে যুবলীগ কর্মীর হাত কেটে নিয়েছে ছাত্রলীগ কর্মীরা

13. Asserting control by whatever means, including killing one’s opponent • পল্টনে মহাসমাবেশে যোগদানের পথে হামলা : পিটিয়ে বুড়িগঙ্গায় ফেলে দেয়া যুবদল নেতার লাশ উদ্ধার

14. Medieval Monstrosity • আটক নেতাকর্মীদের ছাড়াতে নাশকতা : চবির শিক্ষক বাস জ্বালিয়ে দিয়েছে ছাত্রলীগ কর্মীরা, Amardesh April 21, 2010

15. Beating up BDR soldiers • সরকারদলীয় কর্মীদের তাণ্ডবে আহত ১৬ : গোদাগাড়ীতে বিডিআর ক্যাম্পে হামলা ইনচার্জকে প্রহার : May 03, 2010 Amardesh

16. Picking a fight for no reason but to display superior physical/armed prowess • Source: Amardesh

17. Conclusions: • All these incidents are extremely alarming and deserve condemnation. • Hasina massacred the spirit of our liberation war, the population is groaning under "liquid fear" of total insecurity, not knowing from where and when without rhyme and reason, one's life, property and human dignity may come under lethal attack. • National aspirations were massacred, and now the nation is being massacred.

18. References: • Daily Ittefaq • DailyStar • New Age • Bangladesh Today • Daily Amardesh • Weekly Blitz • Weekly Holiday • Daily Manabzamin • Independent