The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Masum Billah

The trial of war criminals seems to gain momentum very recently. The Sector Commanders Forum has surfaced as a new platform to bring the war criminals under trial but interesting enough and with dormant questions in mind why after thirty seven years of our independence? What did these sector commanders do for so long years? Why did they hibernate? Which thing has instigated them to take the stand now when the whole country is under the grip of skyrocketed price hike making the life of the middle, lower middle and the working class almost stranded and impossible? What is their role to mitigate the sufferings of the people who feel a fish out of water to stride their lives? Wasn't the dream of our liberation war to bring smile on their face, to emancipate them from the clutches of poverty, disease and illiteracy? What steps have they taken to materialise the dreams which touch the common Bangladeshis every hour and every day? What did they do during the elected government? Even, some of them were in the government and with the government but was not as vocal as seem today. Now the question arises can this crucial national issue which has remained unresolved for long thirty seven years be addressed during the limited period of this interim government? why are they making haste to deal with this thing just now?

I simply get astonished to see the prioritising of national problems and the steps to address them. Which things or phenomena have instigated them to take to the streets and pressurize the interim government to materialise their dream? Why didn't AL and BNP take steps to deal with this crucial thing during their tenure? It is not an easy matter that caretaker government will desire and it will happen automatically. It claims national consensus and it cannot not be done scattered and hastily, rather through a concrete, convincing and agreeable process which will claim no less trouble than holding a national election. The previous elected government avoided the matter realising the magnanimity of the hustle. Number two, not only Jamat Islam but also other opportunist must be brought under trail. Who derived benefit through them and using them must be taken into serious consideration. What role was played by whom and which party during the liberation war must be viewed through a critical eye. Only claiming the credit does not guarantee and ensure the genuine role the parties in achieving freedom. Who failed to arrange the trial for them must be identified? Why dilly dallying game did they play? Whys still more than fifty percent of our people live below the poverty line? Why after thirty seven years of our independence fifty three percent drop out in the secondary level education? Who will give the answer of these questions?

The laudable steps and measures taken by the interim government have brought some ray of hope and change in the police depart education department, Rajuk Bhaban and in many state owned enterprises and service sectors. Still far away from satisfactory stage. I heard and observed several incidents took place with police. Quite encouagring and hopeful. Police has started changing their behaviour and they are trying to become service and people oriented. Definitely this credit goes to the caretaker government. But serious failure of the caretaker government is to bring the price spiral under control. Though many measures have been taken, situation continues to prove odd. We are not sure how fare the party government could address it in its true perspective but this government has invited all sorts of wrath from the people only for this reason because people need to survive first, then the question of corruption or ill governance of party governments mean good work to them .

The first and foremost duty of this government is to present a free, fair and acceptable election in the country. In doing so, they have started dealing with some basic problems without which the establishment of meaningful democracy would be impossible. It was long overdue but no government took any realistic or pragmatic step which resulted in the serous chaos in the political arena of the country and its upshot is this sort of government without direct voting of the public. Definitely some positive changes the country has witnessed but price hike has paled all sorts of better performances of this government. So, the government finds it very difficult to face and deal with it without any political background. The dishonest businessmen and rising price of commodities in the world market contributed a great deal to make the situation worse. The election is going to be held under a new voter identity card which has ever been done in the country. Surely it is a gigantic task. They have to face the sidr and many other odds. Sometimes doubts peep in our mind whether election is going to be held on time. In the midst of these phenomena suddenly a group of our liberation war commanders strongly raised their voice to try the war criminals during the tenure of this government ; it does not sound pragmatic at this moment. It might be a conspiracy not to allow this government to hold a free and fair election. They want to hold rally and all kinds of gathering in the name of war criminals' trial which will broaden the way to make street demonstration by political parties. Simply it will create chaos and encourage other political parties to start their usual business of calling hartal and anarchy in the country. They countrymen have refused this politics for ever, at least from their mind. They don't want to be the hostage and plaything of the politicians and their nasty games.

Who has/have given them shelter and incorporated them into politics must be sought for? How they have been rehabilitated in the country ? Still I remember the scenes and sights and dangerous days of liberation war. I remember how my tears rolled down to see that our houses had been down by Pak army. We were in the hiding. Sometimes I think that was our sacrifice to free the nation. But what we see still? The heap of corruption has arisen to the sky, the rich have fattened richer, and the poor are becoming poor. No pragmatic or sustainable step has yet been taken. But sometimes a storm of demand which surfaces suddenly tries to outdo the normal activities of alleviating poverty of the country.

Those who played the questionable and heinous role during our liberation war have been identified and the curses have been hurled towards them by the nation. They also don't feel mental peace living in this free soil which they didn't want for some mysterious reasons. They are already treated otherwise. With the passage of time, they country and next generation will erase the politics they belong to , I mean religion based politics which inspired them to play the questionable role in the name of Indian occupation of this country. What kind of trial our sector commanders want to mete out to them now ? They will be in jail or hanged?

Have you ever thought of its after effect? It will just divide the nation into two and once again the country will plunge into a deep chaos and crisis as international conspirators are associated with this thing. The ongoing peace and harmony of the nation will be destabilized. Foreign gurus will once again find their ways to intrude our internal affairs and the opportunists will derive benefit from it.

All the sinners must face divine justice. I am sure for whatever reasons or causes they collaborated the Pak army to kill the innocent people of this sacred soil must not go unpunished. At least their mental agonies stand as a divine punishment. Their internal debate of mind and public hatred are no less justice they face everyday. We, human beings, don't have any right to kill even an ant. In that cage if we help or kill thousands and lakes of men and women , the divine representatives, must not go unpunished.

We do appreciate the present government's concern and stance to invite some war heroes of India to attend our thirty seventh Independence Day anniversary. We must develop good relations with our neighborly countries. We have to follow the ideals of Fidel Castro who believes that producing crops is more important than producing arms and ammunition. Its result is every child of Cuba goes to school; everybody has access to medical treatment. Being a small country and in the nose of America, she still exists with pride and its own way of socialism in spite of the fall of socialism in the entire Eastern Europe.

Creating enmity with people and international community never brings happiness and any solution for the developing country like ours. The static policy of the country will be jeopardized if the sector commander's proposal and demonstration are materials.

Now our first and foremost duty is to help this government hold a credible election and form a national welfare government whatever party or parties it or they may be. Let them identify the basic problems of the country and take steps to resolve them.

And the matter of war criminals trial will be decided by them taking the national consensus and an acceptable way which will in no way hamper the poverty alleviation programme and other programs to achieve the Millennium Develop Goals. Sudden, emotional, guided or inspired from any quarter to deal with this sensitive national and historical issue will further make the situation dark. We must give importance to prioritising the problems and take timely steps in respect of anything.