The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hasanuzzaman Khan

The Government in an apparent shift of its policy towards the corruption suspects are not contesting their release on bail. In an appeal against bail order of Tarique Rahman Anti Corruption Commission counsel Anisul Huq did not appear before the appellate court. In the last fortnight a number of heavyweight politicians detained on corruption charges have walked to freedom after being bailed out by the higher judiciary.

Some of them are Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, Mohammad Nasim, Obaidul Kader, Rafiqul Islam, Abdul Jalil and Salman Rahman. They are all tipped to contest the upcoming polls from their respective parties.

In the crusade against corruption about 200 politicians were taken into custody. Of them 60 politicians were convicted in trial in the special makeshift courts located at the high security Sher-e-Bangla Nagar complex.

Thirty-five of the convicts filed appeals in the higher court, the disposal of which were not expected before December. According to the judgment of the Appellate Division in Ershad's case a person cannot be treated as guilty unless the entire process of law in the case is exhausted.

Awami League acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam was subjected to threat and intimidation from different quarters after he opened his big gun targeting Tarique Rahman as 'champion of the corrupts'.

Ashraful in a press conference at his NAM flat immediately after Tarique's release from BSMMU prison cell said, no corruption suspect should be detained any longer after the 'champion of the corrupts' was set free.

A section of Awami League leaders including its Publicity

Secretary Asaduzzaman Noor came to rescue of Ashraful by issuing a statement in which they said they were ready to give adequate answer.

A number of fugitive ministers of the last government including Abdullah Al-Noman and Wahidul Alam have been bailed out by the higher courts. Morshed Khan and Syed Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury have also contacted their representatives in Dhaka now to get judicial remedy to return to the country.

All the persons in question are competent to participate in the upcoming polls. The convicts who have filed appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court are Sigma Huda, Amanullah Aman, Mir Nasiruddin, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Barrister Nazmul Huda, Mohammad Nasim, Lutfuzzaman Babar, Morshed Khan and Mosaddek Ali Falu.

Awami League leaders in their apparent departure from past policy have joined an Iftar with Jamaat-e-Islami hosted by Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka. Earlier their long-drawn stance was to boycott any function which is attended by the anti-liberation forces including Jamaat leaders. Their leader Amir Hossain Amu said, their stance not to attend any function attended by Jamaat was wrong. AL leader Ashraful moving one step forward said, have we to abstain from prayer in the mosque if Jamaat man was found attending it.

Political analysts found the analogy in line with the election strategy pursued by the big political parties.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, the TIB Chairman, who was so long a crusader against corruption, said, the Government seems to have been tempted toward holding election as election in our country could not be considered to have been meaningful unless it is participated by the big parties.

The Government is doing everything possible to make big parties participate in the polls even at the cost of anything.

Dr. Kamal Hossain, a lawyer of international repute, said, the Government has deviated from its position to fight corruption. Most of the corruption suspects are in the beeline in the jail to be enlarged on bail.

In view of the developments, that have taken so far, political analysts are of the firm view that the government has shifted diametrically and opted for an election with the participation of the two major parties with a view to making a smooth exit for itself.

In the backdrop of the actions taken, words expressed and exchanged, over the last few days by the two big parties political analysts are of the view that they have hardly changed from their former positions which had made the 1/11 incident inevitable.

"Now it is for us to wait and see how things move in the coming days". opined analysts.