AL's Withering Tested Men & Our Liberation War

Never into politics, but a keen follower of national and international politics, I selected a touchy subject today as a sense of fear has gripped me about the future of Golden Bengal. Bangabandhu and our martyrs' Golden Bengal.As we enter the month of mourning today, it is even more evident that elements had penetrated into our system to brutally assassinate Bangbandhu and most of his family members on 15 August 1975. Golden Bengal or Bangladesh is intertwined with Bangabandhu, his Awami League and the 1971 Liberation War.

Only the most faithful will never forget Bangabandhu from generation to generation, but that will be in their hearts and souls. They are moving out silently or elbowed out in one way or the other. The "hybrids" or turn coats are everywhere even those who still believe in another ideology or leader, are crowing the historical Awami League, which led Bangladesh to its independence in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Some of these elements still refuse to accept Bangabandhu as the Father of the Nation, but are enjoying the creams.To mention a few,  Abu Reza Mohammad Nizamuddin Naqvi who is a ruling party lawmaker from Satkania (Chittagong 15) is reportedly a man who never uttered the slogans like "Joy Bangal, Joy Bangabandhu."

One fine morning he burst into the political scene elbowing out tested Awami League men.  Although, Naqvi rejected all such allegations, but according to local reports his entire clan is close to the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami.

Rizia Nadvi made a berth in the Mohila Awami League as her husband is an MP, but it is no secret that she is the daughter of a Jamaat leader.Then look at Papul, the lawmaker from Lakshmipur, who is in a Kuwaiti jail for human trafficking, money laundering and bribery. He made news in the international media for all the wrong reasons. His wife too is a MP.

He won the seat as an independent and was later absorbed into the Awami League. His credit was he defeated a former opposition BNP politician.Should that be the only criteria? Intelligence agencies should give a red or green report before a criminal or a new face intends to join this famous political party.

Helena Jahangir, the new star in tarnishing Awami League's image, is now in police remand for all the money-making games she had played until arrest.
These elements are biting away Awami League's strength along with making "the spirit of Liberation War" only a lip service.We have an organisation called "Roktodhara '71" and in a recent online discussion to mark the mourning month starting today, it was established that we have to move forcefully to stop the trend of lip-service.

It is the first such organisation with the mission to spread the teachings and visions of Bangabandhu, who led us to independence, implement our plan to honour martyred and living valiant Freedom Fighters, hand over the torch of the war to our next generation and who will in turn to their next for years to come and to uphold the glory of our 1971 Independence War.We agreed with the Awami League crowded with turn coats and self-seeking people, it is us who need to do such critical and difficult tasks that has come on our shoulders.

It is a plain truth, that without Bangabandhu and the Liberation War, where does Awami League stand. We fear that one day, if the current trend continues, the party that has a glorious past will end up like the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) --- sign board, internal squabbling and press statements.

A party formed by military dictator General Ziaur Rahman to cling to power with people from all shades of ideologies, including 1971 collaborators of the Pakistani army. His widow, Khaleda Zia, followed suit and took a step further by appointing war criminals as her cabinet colleagues.
The ruling party's veteran leaders should not shy away due to bad elements. They should rather elbow out the bad to save the party and ensure that Bangabandhu's Golden Bengal gets stronger.

We may have great economic successes, mega projects and new earned positive overseas image, but without Bangabandhu, the Liberation War and our respect for the martyrs, it will not be the Bangladesh that the people fought for in 1971.There is no time to waste as these elements are everywhere eating away the foundation of Golden Bengal.Let us weed out these elements immediately, especially those who play with religion, disrespect Bangabandhu, insult the martyrs or their families and working hard to stub out the glory of 1971 war.

Nadeem Qadir is the Editor-in-Charge of the Asian Age, UN Dag Hammrasjold Fellow and President, Roktodhara '71