The New Nation - Internet Edition

Muhammad Quamrul Islam

A week before 40th Asad Day on January20, 2008 I received an invitation from Shahid Asad Divash Udjapan Committee 2008(Martyred Asad Day Observance Committee2008) to participate in discussion Meeting at Hatirdia Raziuddin Degree College. As I hesitated to accept invitation not being feeling well at age 67 to go from Dhaka in spite of my deep eagerness, Shamsuzzaman Milan reacted you are quit fit and should not feel unwell. Then I said taking strength in mind I would go, give me a reminder on that day, which he did. I am thankful to him. Might be I am losing heart fighting against odds over the years; what it was 1969 mass upsurge to liberation and exploitation free society, for which Asad laid down his life, and what followed after emergence of Bangladesh on December16, 1971!

I started from Dhaka with respected engineer Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah in his car, as scheduled and reached Hatirdia venue at 3.30 Jauary20. Milan and others had program in the morning in Dhaka, who accompanied us, thanks to all of them. While in the car on way we discussed various issues from personal to political he came to know Dr. Mazed is my relation. He took 5 national dailies including one English that I read, at times felt very uneasy at partisan treatments of subjects in newspapers. Earlier in the morning I also read Prothom Alo, which is busy with reporting roundtables, and Bangladesh First Bangladesh 2025. What to do except to increase the level of patience, but some times hard to keep, as I call spade a spade in discussions at Hatirdia, I am duty bound to share with readers.

The local speakers told it is for the first time Asad Day is observed at his birthplace and center of peasant movement at Hatirdia. I felt gratification at this historic moment; while almost everything is done for media coverage; the Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh provides to elites or lackeys. I told journalists present note it and pass on to respective media. It is known to all print and TV channels in Dhaka carry news of various organizations observe Asad Day over three and a half decades of sovereign existence of Bangladesh but to what effect? Is the spirit of Asad following down the bloodline? The consensus including those who spoke at Hatirdia is No. It is observed to get coverage for personal aggrandizements. Few got benefits even in the name of Asad from ruling regime, as Asad was close to them in 1969 at personal and political levels.

Under ongoing purge against corruption, anew start has been made, let it sustains. The national dailies reports January 20, in separate messages, that President Prof Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed shown deep regards to the memory of Shahid Asad. Rightly on this day Standing Committee Member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) former minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan has said Shahid Asad would remain source of inspiration to struggling people of Bangladesh.

I told in meeting how I came in contact with Asad in late 1960s who was introduced by our batch mate politician Mohiuddin Ahmed to 'Paltan Group'. Paltan- Stadium was our evening place to meet discussed different issues, after we passed out of Dhaka University 1961, joined jobs. Asad impressed me at first meet; he joined peasant movement after his M.A. He used to come, felt at ease, discussing relevant issues. We're inclined to National Awami Party [NAP], founded by Maulana Bhashani in 1957 for exploitation free society, regional autonomy, and democracy. Asad was martyred, we were all dumbfounded, who was younger to us. His martyrdom laid the foundation for movement to democracy and liberation of Bangladesh for emancipation of toiling people. Sovereignty was achieved, but his dream for emancipation of people, of all strata remains unfulfilled, would it be?

An upcoming leader left us; he would not have faltered in post Bangladesh1971. Could it be presumed, as his seniors could not, no junior to him could replace him in words and deeds? It is easy blame others that elderly left communist leaders splintered in numerous factions allegedly tied to interests at home and abroad do as well as fake NAP unlike left democratic front and Congress in Indian state of West Bengal. They cannot get even one per cent votes in Bangladesh, but keep banners year after year office at costs, insiders say for selfish purposes. Could Asad thought, politico bureaucratic nexus, near and dear ones would cash his name? Would the beneficiaries answer?

It is encouraging there were many willing speakers including Asad's co-workers, friends, but due to time constraint president of the meeting could not accommodate them. I told in speech bring out a memorial book on Asad containing which are untold, and those told in various speeches that recalled yester years serve as reference to new generation. Hatirdia hat [rural market] movement, as part at the call of leader of the oppressed Maulan Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani in erstwhile East Pakistan December29, 1968 brought Asad into a focus, which is significant. Committee'08 emphasizes, asked to remember Shahid farmer Hasan Ali, Shahid Miachan and Shahid Siddique master.

Where is the spirit of that movement in post Bangladesh? It has been hijacked by foreign funded NGOs, which talk about land reform and development under various banners, but actually want pressing problem to linger for their seminars and tours abroad. Agricultural front of political parties eaten up vitality of peasant movement, which is also by and large responsible for encroachments of agricultural lands for non-agricultural use, long drawn land disputes cases at Courts, making actual owners poor and dispossessed, land terrorist grabbers increased percentage of landless population over years.

While on this I wish to convey his friends and neighbors spoke eloquently evaluating Asad at Hatirdia, like Principal Aurangazeb Yakub, Prof Abdul Mannan Khan, Lt Col (retd) Joynul Abedin, convener of the committee and president of the meeting Principal Tofazzal Hossain Bhuiya and others. The common tone was, it is not big task remember him only. Prof Khan assessed over proceeding decades we were going in the reverse way. It is hard to tell truth. We need to be free from corruption, and freedom of toiling masses, Principal Yakub observed questioned are we now prepared for that? It does not appear to him. What is said, what is happening, where to go? We agree and pass on these questions to Caretaker Government and Political Parties seek viable solution.

Very pertinently it was observed we did not wage independence struggle to go abroad. What's now? The ruling elite own houses in developed countries, progeny settled there or study there for settlement. The low income, or poor class finding no opportunity for work goes abroad for earning, selling last property for visa. What happens- hassles they pass in own country, and then in employing countries mostly, report national dailies time to time. Wage Earners Remittances are main source of foreign exchange for meeting expenses of the government. True, respective families on receipt of money from wage earners abroad do have living far above the past, but at the cost of productivity, for non -agricultural use of agricultural land for construction of buildings etc. It's coupled with constructing roads and highways, eating up lands, low and high, ignoring traditional rivers and canals routes that were not only used for transports but also for irrigation.

How cost benefit ratio is worked out justify such projects in this small state of 1,43,998 square km, having150 million population, shrinking agricultural acreage, said an elderly economist, who finds no justification. He narrated while working as Economist, Housing and Planning, Water and Power Development Authority [WAPDA] in then East Pakistan now Bangladesh, it was always top priority to protect, and increase land, thru cooperative consolidation or so, for agricultural production purposes for food and other requirements. If one takes the trouble to read those guidelines for Feasibility studies, Projects executed in 1960s, he can find how productive those were and improve upon for welfare of people not few. Expenditures on research would then be justified.

Report in national dailies January 19& 20,2008 show Bangladesh First Bangladesh 2025 held a seminar at Hotel Sonargaon after about one and a half years! Its inaugural program was August 7, 2006 towards end of last Parliament and government, leading to Caretaker Government as per13th amendment to Constitution. Dr. Kamal Hossain appears on both the occasions; inaugural one held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center. So cozy on both days expensively for delving poor people's problem, at whose cost! What is the progress so far we do not know. The difference between these two has been change in the line up of speakers' guests. Why?

Prothom Alo quoted January20, 2008 former caretaker government adviser Dr. Akber Ali Khan said politicians might be inefficient and corrupt but prices did not raise like this during last15 years of elected government. Dr, Akber was not in session2006 because he was yet to be adviser of Council of Chief Adviser Iajuddin- 2006? How he can escape the responsibility as a retired bureaucrat for inapt bureaucracy to persistent rise in prices over preceding years, he mentioned in another seminar, a civil activist reminded? Oh, a former president FBCCI was present for the second time. Khan asked hold dialogue for elections so that an elected government could prepare the next budget.

May I convey views from our economic and political experience to Dr. Kamal Hossain that we do not agree with Dr Akber and others who spoke, as reported? True price of rice has gone up for variety of reasons, requires no repetition, including two floods and super cyclone SIDR last year, which caused severe damages to paddy and property. A credible vernacular columnist said he found syndicates controlling rice markets causing sufferings to consumers for what is open secret. We endorse steps by Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam to bring down the prices, including help of law enforcers. Has reshuffle of Council of advisers' improved political reforms and culture; brought down prices? People find no change as reported in national dailies. So in a meeting at Hatirdia, I dismissed contentions by them and asked for open debate over TV channels. It is now up to him to respond.

Once again I thank sincere friends of Asad Day looking for exploitation free society at Hatridia, for fellow countrymen. My affections to local journalists including Kazi Anwar Kamal President Monohordi press club, Fahima Khanam, news editor, weekly Narsingdi Barta. I hope more students and teachers of college to attend such functions in future. If I am in good health and spirits, Inshallah, I will respond calls outside Dhaka that's the way mould new generation to honest politics, which is ingrained in human nature. Let the old order yield place to new leaderships.

(The writer is a senior citizen and Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh)