Declaration of Independence
| " Tajuddin came to my residence for shelter in that terrible night. It was, most probably, 12:45 am. With great concern Tajjuddin told me about two serious events: 1. Bangabonhu has officially declared the independence of Bangladesh and sent it to Chittagong (radio station) via wireless; 2. I implored him, holding his knees, to leave his residence and hide out, but he did not agree" Mr Abdul Gafur, Engineer Bangladesh Railway ".....Before he was arrested, Sheikh Mujib made a formal declartion of independence of Bangladesh sometime between 12:00 am and 1:30 am on March 26, 1971. It was broadcast over the clandestine Swadhin Bangladesh Betar (Radio) controlled by the Mukti Fauj (freedom fighters) at noon of March 26, 1971 SK Chkrabarti: The Evolution of Politics in Bangladesh, 1947-78 (p-208) "...The 25th of March was spent by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his party leaders in awaiting a call from General Pirzada for a final meeting with Yahya Khan and also for the final drafting session for working out the details of interim transfer of power. No such call came. At zero hours on the 26th March, the army swang into action against the unarmed people of East Pakistan, launching operation on a war scale. Meanwhile Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed the birth of sovereign Independent State of Bangladesh" Prabodh Chandra: Bloodbath in Bangladesh, New Delhi (p-127) "......In the night of March 25, 1971, he (Mujib) formally declared the independence of Banglaesh. This declaration was later broadcast all over the country via wireless. In the morning of March 26, 1971, I got this message at Mymensingh Agricultural university (BAU). The then Vice Chancellore of BAU, Kazi Fazlur Rahman called all the teachers, showed them Mujib’s declaration message and said: “This message came via the Mymensingh Police Line and Mr Rafiq Bhuiyan, the leader of Mymensingh Awami League, personally brought this message to me”. Immediately after the VC’s announcement, a meeting was held where Mr Bhuiyan read out the declaration of independence and recounted the dreadful Military crack down in Dhaka city the previous night...." Shamsuz Zaman Khan (The Janakantha: 26 March, 2002) ....." When the first shot had been fired, the voice of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman came faintly through an wavelength close to that of the official Pakistan Radio. In what must have been, and sounded like, a prerecorded message, the Sheikh proclaimed East Pakistan to be the People's Republic of Bangladesh...." Siddique Salik: Witness to Surrender |
SPEECHES OF BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIB ON 7TH MARCH 1971 AT RACECOURSE GROUND
বঙ্গবন্ধুর ৭ মার্চের ভাষণ
আজ দুঃখ-ভারাক্রান্ত মন নিয়ে আপনাদের সামনে হাজির হয়েছি। আপনারা সবই জানেন এবং বুঝেন। আমরা আমাদের জীবন দিয়ে চেষ্টা করেছি- আজ ঢাকা, চট্টগ্রাম, রংপুর ও যশোরের রাজপথ আমার ভাইয়ের রক্তে রঞ্জিত হয়েছে।
আজ বাংলার মানুষ মুক্তি চায়-তারা বাঁচতে চায়। তারা অধিকার পেতে চায়। নির্বাচনে আপনারা সম্পূর্ণভাবে আমাকে এবং আওয়ামী লীগকে ভোট দিয়ে জয়যুক্ত করেছেন শাসনতন্ত্র রচনার জন্য। আশা ছিল জাতীয় পরিষদ বসবে, আমরা শাসনতন্ত্র তৈরী করবো এবং এই শাসনতন্ত্রে মানুষ তাদের অর্থনৈতিক, রাজনৈতিক ও সাংস্কৃতিক মুক্তি লাভ করবে।
কিন্তু ২৩ বছরের ইতিহাস বাংলার মানুষের রক্ত দিয়ে রাজপথ রঞ্জিত করার ইতিহাস। ২৩ বছরের ইতিহাস বাংলার মানুষের মুমুর্ষু আর্তনাদের ইতিহাস, রক্ত দানের করুণ ইতিহাস। নির্যাতিত মানুষের কান্নার ইতিহাস।
১৯৫২ সালে আমরা রক্ত দিয়েছি। ১৯৫৪ সালে নির্বাচনে জয় লাভ করেও ক্ষমতায় বসতে পারিনি। ১৯৫৮ সালে দেশে সামরিক শাসন জারি করে আইয়ুব খান দশ বছর আমাদের গোলাম করে রাখলো। ১৯৬৬ সালে ৬-দফা দেয়া হলো এবং এর পর এ অপরাধে আমার বহু ভাইকে হত্যা করা হলো। ১৯৬৯ সালে গণ-আন্দোলনের মুখে আইয়ুবের পতনের পর ইয়াহিয়া খান এলেন। তিনি বলেলেন, তিনি জনগণের হাতে ক্ষমতা ফিরিয়ে দেবেন, শাসনতন্ত্র দেবেন, আমরা মেনে নিলাম।
তার পরের ঘটনা সকলেই জানেন। ইয়াহিয়া খানের সংগে আলোচনা হলো-আমরা তাকে ১৫ ইং ফেব্রুয়ারী জাতীয় পরিষদের অধিবেশন ডাকার অনুরোধ করলাম। কিন্তু 'মেজরিটি' পার্টির নেতা হওয়া সত্ত্বেও তিনি আমার কথা শুনলেন না। শুনলেন সংখ্যালঘু দলের ভুট্টো সাহেবের কথা। আমি শুধু বাংলার মেজরিটি পার্টির নেতা নই, সমগ্র পাকিস্তানের মেজরিটি পার্টির নেতা। ভুট্টো সাহেব বললেন, মার্চের প্রথম সপ্তাহে অধিবেশন ডাকতে, তিনি মার্চের ৩ তারিখে অধিবেশন ডাকলেন।
আমি বললাম, তবুও আমরা জাতীয় পরিষদের অধিবেশনে যাব এবং সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠ দল হওয়া সত্বেও কেউ যদি ন্যায্য কথা বলে আমরা তা মেনে নেব, এমনকি তিনি যদি একজনও হন।
জনাব ভুট্টো ঢাকা এসেছিলেন। তাঁর সঙ্গে আলোচনা হলো। ভুট্টো সাহেব বলে গেছেন আলোচনার দরজা বন্ধ নয়; আরো আলোচনা হবে। মওলানা নুরানী ও মুফতি মাহুমুদ সহ পশ্চিম পাকিস্তানের অন্যান্য পার্লামেন্টারী নেতা এলেন, তাদের সঙ্গে আলোচনা হলো- উদ্দেশ্য ছিলো আলাপ-আলোচনা করে শাসনতন্ত্র রচনা করবো। তবে তাদের আমি জানিয়ে দিয়েছি ৬-দফা পরিবর্তনের কোন অধিকার আমার নেই, এটা জনগণের সম্পদ।
কিন্তু ভুট্টো হুমকি দিলেন। তিনি বললেন, এখানে এসে 'ডবল জিম্মী' হতে পারবেন না। পরিষদ কসাই খানায় পরিণত হবে। তিনি পশ্চিম পাকিস্তানী সদস্যদের প্রতি হুমকি দিলেন যে, পরিষদের অধিবেশনে যোগ দিলে রক্তপাত করা হবে, তাদের মাথা ভেঙে দেয়া হবে। হত্যা করা হবে। আন্দোলন শুরু হবে পেশোয়ার থেকে করাচী পর্যন্ত। একটি দোকানও খুলতে দেয়া হবে না।
তা সত্বেও পয়ত্রিশ জন পশ্চিম পাকিস্তানী সদস্য এলেন। কিন্ত পয়লা মার্চ ইয়াহিয়া খান পরিষদের অধিবেশন বন্ধ করে দিলেন। দোষ দেয়া হলো, বাংলার মানুষকে, দোষ দেয়া হলো আমাকে, বলা হলো আমার অনমনীয় মনোভাবের জন্যই কিছু হয়নি।
এরপর বাংলার মানুষ প্রতিবাদ মুখর হয়ে উঠলো। আমি শান্তিপূর্ণ সংগ্রাম চালিয়ে যাবার জন্য হরতাল ডাকলাম। জনগণ আপন ইচ্ছায় পথে নেমে এলো।
কিন্তু কি পেলাম আমরা? বাংলার নিরস্ত্র জনগণের উপর অস্ত্র ব্যবহার করা হলো। আমাদের হাতে অস্ত্র নেই। কিন্তু আমরা পয়সা দিয়ে যে অস্ত্র কিনে দিয়েছি বহিঃশত্রুর হাত থেকে দেশকে রক্ষা করার জন্যে, আজ সে অস্ত্র ব্যবহার করা হচ্ছে আমার নিরীহ মানুষদের হত্যা করার জন্য। আমার দুঃখী জনতার উপর চলছে গুলী।
আমরা বাংলার সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠ মানুষ যখনই দেশের শাসনভার গ্রহণ করতে চেয়েছি, তখনই ষড়যন্ত্র চলেছে-আমাদের উপর ঝাঁপিয়ে পড়েছে।
ইয়াহিয়া খান বলেছেন, আমি নাকি ১০ই মার্চ তারিখে গোলটেবিল বৈঠকে যোগদান করতে চেয়েছি, তাঁর সাথে টেলিফোন আমার আলাপ হয়েছে। আমি তাঁকে বলেছি আপনি দেশের প্রেসিডেণ্ট, ঢাকায় আসুন দেখুন আমার গরীব জনসাধারণকে কি ভাবে হত্যা করা হয়েছে, আমার মায়ের কোল খালি করা হয়েছে ।
আমি আগেই বলে দিয়েছি কোন গোলটেবিল বৈঠক হবে না। কিসের গোলটেবিল বৈঠক? কার গোলটেবিল বৈঠক? যারা আমার মা বোনের কোল শূন্য করেছে তাদের সাথে বসবো আমি গোলটেবিল বৈঠকে ?
তেসরা তারিখে পল্টনে আমি অসহযোগের আহবান জানালাম। বললাম, অফিস-আদালত, খাজনা-ট্যাক্স বন্ধ করুন।আপনারা মেনে নিলেন।
হঠাৎ আমার সঙ্গে বা আমাদের সঙ্গে আলোচনা না করে একজনের সঙ্গে পাঁচ ঘণ্টা বৈঠকের পর ইয়াহিয়া খান যে বক্তৃতা করেছেন, তাতে সমস্ত দোষ আমার ও বাংলার মানুষের উপর চাপিয়ে দিয়েছেন। দোষ করলেন ভুট্টো- কিন্তু গুলী করে মারা হলো আমার বাংলার মানুষকে। আমরা গুলী খাই, দোষ আমাদের- আমরা বুলেট খাই, দোষ আমাদের।
ইয়াহিয়া সাহেব অধিবেশন ডেকেছেন। কিন্ত আমার দাবী সামরিক আইন প্রত্যাহার করতে হবে, সেনাবাহিনীকে ব্যারাকে ফিরিয়ে নিতে হবে, হত্যার তদন্ত করতে হবে। তারপর বিবেচনা করে দেখবো পরিষদে বসবো কি বসনো না। এ দাবী মানার আগে পরিষদে বসার কোন প্রশ্নই ওঠে না, জনগণ আমাকে সে অধিকার দেয়নি। রক্তের দাগ এখনো শুকায়নি, শহীদদের রক্ত মাড়িয়ে ২৫ তারিখে পরিষদে যোগ দিতে যাব না।
ভাইয়েরা, আমার উপর বিশ্বাস আছে? আমি প্রধানমন্ত্রীত্ব চাইনা, মানুষের অধিকার চাই। প্রধান মন্ত্রীত্বের লোভ দেখিয়ে আমাকে নিতে পারেনি, ফাঁসীর কাষ্ঠে ঝুলিয়ে নিতে পারেনি। আপনারা রক্ত দিয়ে আমাকে ষড়যন্ত্র মামলা থেকে মুক্ত করে এনেছিলেন। সেদিন এই রেসকোর্সে আমি বলেছিলাম, রক্তের ঋণ আমি রক্ত দিয়ে শোধ করবো; মনে আছে? আজো আমি রক্ত দিয়েই রক্তের ঋণ শোধ করতে প্রস্তুত।
আমি বলে দিতে চাই, আজ থেকে কোর্ট-কাচারী, হাইকোর্ট, সুপ্রীম কোর্ট, অফিস, আদালত, শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠানসমুহ অনির্দিষ্ট-কালের জন্য বন্ধ থাকবে। কোন কর্মচারী অফিস যাবেন না। এ আমার নির্দেশ।
গরীবের যাতে কষ্ট না হয় তার জন্য রিক্সা চলবে, ট্রেন চলবে আর সব চলবে।
ট্রেন চলবে- তবে সেনাবাহিনী আনা-নেয়া করা যাবে না। করলে যদি কোন দূর্ঘটনা ঘটে তার জন্য আমি দায়ী থাকবো না।
সেক্রেটারীয়েট, সুপ্রীম কোর্ট, হাইকোর্ট জজকোর্ট সহ সরকারী, আধা-সরকারী এবং স্বায়ত্তশাসিত সংস্থাগুলো বন্ধ থাকবে। শুধু পূর্ব বাংলার আদান-প্রদানের ব্যাঙ্কগুলো দু-ঘন্টার জন্য খোলা থাকবে। পূর্ব বাংলা থেকে পশ্চিম পাকিস্তানে টাকা যেতে পারবেন না। টেলিগ্রাফ, টেলিফোন বাংলাদেশের মধ্যে চালু থাকবে। তবে, সাংবাদিকরা বহির্বিশ্বে সংবাদ পাঠাতে পারবেন।
এদেশের মানুষকে খতম করা হচ্ছে, বুঝে শুনে চলবেন। দরকার হলে সমস্ত চাকা বন্ধ করে দেয়া হবে।
আপনারা নির্ধারিত সময়ে বেতন নিয়ে আসবেন। যদি একটিও গুলী চলে তাহলে বাংলার ঘরে ঘরে দূর্গ গড়ে তুলবেন। যার যা আছে তাই নিয়ে শত্রুর মোকাবেলা করতে হবে। রাস্তা ঘাট বন্ধ করে দিতে হবে। আমরা তাদের ভাতে মারবো-পানিতে মারবো। হুকুম দিবার জন্য আমি যদি না থাকি, আমার সহকর্মীরা যদি না থাকেন, আপনারা আন্দোলন চালিয়ে যাবেন।
তোমরা আমার ভাই, তোমরা ব্যারাকে থাকো, কেউ কিছু বলবেনা। গুলী চালালে আর ভাল হবে না। সাত কোটি মানুষকে আর দাবীয়ে রাখতে পারবা না। বাঙ্গালী মরতেশিখেছে, তাদের কেউ দাবাতে পারবে না।
শহীদদের ও আহতদের পরিবারের জন্য আওয়ামী লীগ সাহায্যে কমিটি করেছে। আমরা সাহায্যের চেষ্টা করবো। আপনারা যে যা পারেন দিয়ে যাবেন।
সাত দিনের হরতালে যে সব শ্রমিক অংশ গ্রহণ করেছেন, কারফিউর জন্য কাজ করতে পারেননি-শিল্প মালিকরা তাদের পুরো বেতন দিয়ে দেবেন।
সরকারী কর্মচারীদের বলি, আমি যা বলি তা মানতে হবে। কাউকে যেন অফিসে দেখা না যায়। এ দেশের মুক্তি না হওয়া পর্যন্ত খাজনা-ট্যাক্স বন্ধ থাকবে। আপনারা আমার উপর ছেড়ে দেন, আন্দোলন কিভাবে করতে হয় আমি জানি।
কিন্তু হুঁশিয়ার, একটা কথা মনে রাখবেন, আমাদের মধ্যে শত্রু ঢুকেছে, ছদ্মবেশে তারা আত্মকহলের সৃষ্টি করতে চায়। বাঙ্গালী-অবাঙ্গালী, হিন্দু-মুসলমান সবাই আমাদের ভাই, তাদের রক্ষা করার দায়িত্ব আমাদের।
রেডিও, টেলিভিশন ও সংবাদপত্র যদি আমাদের আন্দোলনের খবর প্রচার না করে তবে কোন বাঙ্গালী রেডিও এবং টেলিভিশনে যাবেন না।
শান্তিপূর্ণভাবে ফয়সালা করতে পারলে ভাই ভাই হিসাবে বাস করার সম্ভাবনা আছে, তা না হলে নেই। বাড়াবাড়ি করবেন না, মুখ দেখাদেখিও বন্ধ হয়ে যেতে পারে।
প্রস্তুত থাকবেন, ঠাণ্ডা হলে চলবে না। আন্দোলন ও বিক্ষোভ চালিয়ে যাবেন। আন্দোলন ঝিমিয়ে পড়লে তারা আমাদের উপর ঝাঁপিয়ে পড়বে। শৃংখলা বজায় রাখুন। শৃংখলা ছাড়া কোন জাতি সংগ্রামে জয়লাভ করতে পারে না।
আমার অনুরোধ প্রত্যেক গ্রামে, মহল্লায়, ইউনিয়নে, আওয়ামী লীগের নেতৃত্বে সংগ্রাম কমিটি গড়ে তুলুন। হাতে যা আছে তাই নিয়ে প্রস্তুত থাকুন। রক্ত যখন দিয়েছি, রক্ত আরও দেবো। এদেশের মানুষকে মুক্ত করে ছাড়বো ইনশাল্লাহ।
এবারের সংগ্রাম, মুক্তির সংগ্রাম, এবারের সংগ্রাম, স্বাধীনতার সংগ্রাম।
জয় বাংলা।
"This may be my last message, from today Bangladesh is independent.
I call upon the people of Bangladesh, wherever you might be and whatever you have, to resist the army of occupation to the last. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangladesh and final victory is achieved."
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
26 March 1971
The people of Bangladesh have proved to the world at large that they are a heroic nation; they know how to achieve their right and live like human beings.
We have achieved our independence. So long a Bangali lives, he will not allow this independence to be lost. Bangladesh will continue to exist as an independent country in history. There is no power on earth which can keep Bangladesh under subjugation.
Bangabandhu
Those who cannot maintain law and order cannot expect to be a great nation.
Independence is not achieved with the hoisting of the flag only. Ensuring the security of people's lives and property is also an inseparable part on independence.
It is only through agriculture revolution that the country would become self-reliant in food. The farmers must see to it that not an inch of the country's soil remains fallow and that the yield of the land is increased.
Bangabandhu
I have waged the independence movement of Bangladesh along with seven and a half crore people. So I appeal to the people to put an end to the activities of antisocial and disruptive elements.
My dear brothers of armed forces, you belong to the people and people belong to you. You do not form a separate entity. All of you are sons of the soil. This is why you will have to share the happiness and sorrow of the masses and stand beside them in rebuilding the devastated country. Allah is with you.
Our defence-preparedness is not meant to attack anyone. It is for self defense only. We are not willing to interfere into other's internal affairs. Similarly, we shall not tolerate other's interference into our internal affairs.
http;//skmujiburrahman.blogspot.com
A Political Profile of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The Father of the Nation
1920
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in a respectable Muslim Family on 17 March, 1920, in Tungipara village under the then Gopalganj subdivision ( at present district ) of Faridpur district. He was the third child among four daughters and two sons of Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and Sheikh Shahara Khatun. His parents used to call him Khoka out of affection. Bangabandhu spent his childhood in Tungipara.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in a respectable Muslim Family on 17 March, 1920, in Tungipara village under the then Gopalganj subdivision ( at present district ) of Faridpur district. He was the third child among four daughters and two sons of Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and Sheikh Shahara Khatun. His parents used to call him Khoka out of affection. Bangabandhu spent his childhood in Tungipara.
1927
At the age of seven, Bangabandhu began his schooling at Gimadanga Primary School. At nine, he was admitted to class three at Gopalganj Public School. Subsequently, he was transferred to a local Missionary School.
At the age of seven, Bangabandhu began his schooling at Gimadanga Primary School. At nine, he was admitted to class three at Gopalganj Public School. Subsequently, he was transferred to a local Missionary School.
1934
Bangabandhu was forced to go for a break of study when, at the age of fourteen, one of his eyes had to be operated on.
Bangabandhu was forced to go for a break of study when, at the age of fourteen, one of his eyes had to be operated on.
1938
At eighteen, Mujib married Begum Fazilatunnesa. They later became the happy parents of two daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, and three sons, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel. All the sons were to be killed along with their parents on 15 August, 1975.
At eighteen, Mujib married Begum Fazilatunnesa. They later became the happy parents of two daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, and three sons, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel. All the sons were to be killed along with their parents on 15 August, 1975.
1939
Bangabandhu's political career was effectively inaugurated while he was a student at Gopalganj Missionary School. He led a group of students to demand that the cracked roof of the school be repaired when Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq, Chief Minister of Undivided Bengal, came to visit the school along with Hussein Shaheed Suhrawardy.
Bangabandhu's political career was effectively inaugurated while he was a student at Gopalganj Missionary School. He led a group of students to demand that the cracked roof of the school be repaired when Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq, Chief Minister of Undivided Bengal, came to visit the school along with Hussein Shaheed Suhrawardy.
1940
Sheikh Mujib joined the Nikhil Bharat Muslim Chhatra Federation (All India Muslim Students Federation). He was elected Councilor for a one-year term.
Sheikh Mujib joined the Nikhil Bharat Muslim Chhatra Federation (All India Muslim Students Federation). He was elected Councilor for a one-year term.
1942
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman passed the Entrance (currently Secondary School Certificate) Examination. He then took admission as an Intermediate student in the humanities faculty of Calcutta Islamia College, where he had lodgings at Baker Hostel. The same year Bangabandhu got actively involved with the movement for the creation of Pakistan.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman passed the Entrance (currently Secondary School Certificate) Examination. He then took admission as an Intermediate student in the humanities faculty of Calcutta Islamia College, where he had lodgings at Baker Hostel. The same year Bangabandhu got actively involved with the movement for the creation of Pakistan.
1943
Sheikh Mujib's busy active political career took off in the literal sense with his election as a Councilor of the Muslim League.
Sheikh Mujib's busy active political career took off in the literal sense with his election as a Councilor of the Muslim League.
1944
Bangabandhu took part in the conference of the all Bengal Muslim Students League held in Kushtia, where he played an important role. He was elected Secretary of Faridpur District Association, a Calcutta-based organization of the residents of Faridpur.
Bangabandhu took part in the conference of the all Bengal Muslim Students League held in Kushtia, where he played an important role. He was elected Secretary of Faridpur District Association, a Calcutta-based organization of the residents of Faridpur.
1946
Sheikh Mujib was elected General Secretary of Islamia College Students Union.
Sheikh Mujib was elected General Secretary of Islamia College Students Union.
1947
Bangabandhu obtained Bachelor of Arts degree from Islamia College under Calcutta University. When communal riots broke out in the wake of the partition of India and the birth of Pakistan, Bangabandhu played a pioneering role in protecting Muslims and trying to contain the violence.
Bangabandhu obtained Bachelor of Arts degree from Islamia College under Calcutta University. When communal riots broke out in the wake of the partition of India and the birth of Pakistan, Bangabandhu played a pioneering role in protecting Muslims and trying to contain the violence.
1948
Bangabandhu took admission in the Law Department of Dhaka University. He founded the Muslim Students League on 4 January. He rose in spontaneous protest on 23 February when Prime Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin in his speech at the Legislative Assembly declared : " The people of East Pakistan will accept Urdu as their state Language". Khwaja Nazimuddins's remarks touched off a storm of protest across the country. Sheikh Mujib immediately plunged in hectic activities to build a strong movement against the muslim League's premeditated, heinous design to make Urdu the only state language of Pakistan. He established contacts with students and political leaders. On 2 March, a meeting of the workers of different political parties was held to chart the course of the movement against the Muslim League on the language issue. The meeting held at Fazlul Huq Hall approved a resolution placed by Bangabandhu to form an All-Party State Language Action Council. The Action Council called for a general strike on 11 March to register the protest against the conspiracy of the Muslim League against Bangla. On 11 March, Bangabandhu was arrested along with some colleagues while they were holding a demonstration in front of the Secretariat building. The student community of the country rose in protest following the arrest of Bangabandhu. In the face of the strong student movement
Bangabandhu took admission in the Law Department of Dhaka University. He founded the Muslim Students League on 4 January. He rose in spontaneous protest on 23 February when Prime Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin in his speech at the Legislative Assembly declared : " The people of East Pakistan will accept Urdu as their state Language". Khwaja Nazimuddins's remarks touched off a storm of protest across the country. Sheikh Mujib immediately plunged in hectic activities to build a strong movement against the muslim League's premeditated, heinous design to make Urdu the only state language of Pakistan. He established contacts with students and political leaders. On 2 March, a meeting of the workers of different political parties was held to chart the course of the movement against the Muslim League on the language issue. The meeting held at Fazlul Huq Hall approved a resolution placed by Bangabandhu to form an All-Party State Language Action Council. The Action Council called for a general strike on 11 March to register the protest against the conspiracy of the Muslim League against Bangla. On 11 March, Bangabandhu was arrested along with some colleagues while they were holding a demonstration in front of the Secretariat building. The student community of the country rose in protest following the arrest of Bangabandhu. In the face of the strong student movement
1949
Sheikh Mujib was released from jail on 21st January. Bangabandhu extended his support to a strike called by the Class Four employees of Dhaka University to press home their various demands. The University authorities illogically imposed a fine on him for leading the movement of the employees. He rejected the unjust order. Eventually, the anti-Muslim League candidate Shamsul Huq won a by-election in Tangail on 26 April. Mujib was arrested for staging a sit-in strike before the Vice-chancellor's residence. When the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League was formed on 23 June. Bangabandhu was elected its joint Secretary despite his incarceration. He was released in late June. Immediately after his release, he began organizing an agitation against the prevailing food crisis. In September he was detained for violating Section 144, Later, however, he was freed.
Sheikh Mujib was released from jail on 21st January. Bangabandhu extended his support to a strike called by the Class Four employees of Dhaka University to press home their various demands. The University authorities illogically imposed a fine on him for leading the movement of the employees. He rejected the unjust order. Eventually, the anti-Muslim League candidate Shamsul Huq won a by-election in Tangail on 26 April. Mujib was arrested for staging a sit-in strike before the Vice-chancellor's residence. When the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League was formed on 23 June. Bangabandhu was elected its joint Secretary despite his incarceration. He was released in late June. Immediately after his release, he began organizing an agitation against the prevailing food crisis. In September he was detained for violating Section 144, Later, however, he was freed.
He raised the demand for Chief Minister Nurul Amin's reJsignation at a meeting of the Awami Muslim League in October.
The Awami Muslim League brought out an anti-famine Minister Liaquat Ali Khan's visit to the province. Once again Bangbandhu was arrested and jailed, this time for two years and five months for leading the demonstration.
1952
On 26th January, Khwaja Nazimuddin declared that Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan. Though still in jail, Bangabandhu managed to play a leading role in organization a protest against this announcement. From prison he send out a call to the State Language Action Council to observe 21st February as Demand Day for releasing political prisoners and making. Bangla the state language. He began a hunger strike on 14 February. On 21 February the student. Community violated Section 144 and brought out procession in Dhaka to demand the recognition of Bangla as the state language. Police opened fire, killing I the process Salam, Barkat, Rafique, Jabbar and Shafiur, who thus became Martyrs of the of the Language Movement. In a statement from jail, Bangabandhu condemned the police firing and registered his strong protest. He was on hunger strike for 13 consecutive days. He was moved from Dhaka Central Jail to Faridpur Jail to prevent him from making contact with the organizers of the movement. He was released from jail o 26 February.
On 26th January, Khwaja Nazimuddin declared that Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan. Though still in jail, Bangabandhu managed to play a leading role in organization a protest against this announcement. From prison he send out a call to the State Language Action Council to observe 21st February as Demand Day for releasing political prisoners and making. Bangla the state language. He began a hunger strike on 14 February. On 21 February the student. Community violated Section 144 and brought out procession in Dhaka to demand the recognition of Bangla as the state language. Police opened fire, killing I the process Salam, Barkat, Rafique, Jabbar and Shafiur, who thus became Martyrs of the of the Language Movement. In a statement from jail, Bangabandhu condemned the police firing and registered his strong protest. He was on hunger strike for 13 consecutive days. He was moved from Dhaka Central Jail to Faridpur Jail to prevent him from making contact with the organizers of the movement. He was released from jail o 26 February.
1953
On 9 July, Mujib was elected General Secretary of East Pakistan Awami League at its council session. Efforts were made to forge unity among Moulana Bhashani, A.K. Fazlul Huq and Shaheed Suhrawardy with the objective of taking on the Muslim League at the general elections. To achieve this goal, a special council session of the party was called on 14 November, when a resolution to form the Jukta Front (United Front) was approved.
On 9 July, Mujib was elected General Secretary of East Pakistan Awami League at its council session. Efforts were made to forge unity among Moulana Bhashani, A.K. Fazlul Huq and Shaheed Suhrawardy with the objective of taking on the Muslim League at the general elections. To achieve this goal, a special council session of the party was called on 14 November, when a resolution to form the Jukta Front (United Front) was approved.
1954
The first general election were held on 10 March. The United Front won 223 seats out of a total of 237, including 143 captured by the Awami League. Bangabandhu swept the Goppalganj constituency, defeating the powerful Muslim League leader Wahiduzzaman by a margin of 13.00 votes. On 15 May, Bangabandhu was given charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests when the new Provincial Government was formed. On 29 May, the Central Government arbitrarily dismissed the United Front ministry. Bangabandhu was again arrested once he landed at Dhaka airport after a flight from Karachi on 30 May. He was freed on 23 December.
The first general election were held on 10 March. The United Front won 223 seats out of a total of 237, including 143 captured by the Awami League. Bangabandhu swept the Goppalganj constituency, defeating the powerful Muslim League leader Wahiduzzaman by a margin of 13.00 votes. On 15 May, Bangabandhu was given charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests when the new Provincial Government was formed. On 29 May, the Central Government arbitrarily dismissed the United Front ministry. Bangabandhu was again arrested once he landed at Dhaka airport after a flight from Karachi on 30 May. He was freed on 23 December.
1955
Bangabandhu was elected a member of the Legislative Assembly on 5 June. The Awami League held a public meeting at Paltan Maidan on 17 June where it put forward a 21 point programme demanding autonomy for East Pakistan. On 23 June, the Working Council of the Awami League decided that its members would resign from the Legislative Assembly if autonomy was not granted to East Pakistan.
Bangabandhu was elected a member of the Legislative Assembly on 5 June. The Awami League held a public meeting at Paltan Maidan on 17 June where it put forward a 21 point programme demanding autonomy for East Pakistan. On 23 June, the Working Council of the Awami League decided that its members would resign from the Legislative Assembly if autonomy was not granted to East Pakistan.
On 25 August, Bangabandhu told Pakistan's assembly in Karachi.
"SIR, YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY WANT TO PLACE THE WORD 'EAST PAKISTAN' INSTEAD OF 'EAST BENGAL' WE HAVE DEMANDED SO MANY TIMES THAT YOU SHOULD USE BENGAL INSTEAD OF PAKISTAN. THE WORD 'BENGAL' HAS A HISTORY, HAS A TRADITION OF ITS OWN. YOU CAN CHANGE IT ONLY AFTER THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONSULTED. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO BENGAL AND ASK THEM WHETHER THEY ACCEPT IT SO FAR AS THE QUESTION OF ONE-UNIT IS CONCERNED IT CAN COME IN THE CONSTITUTION. WHY DO YOU WANT IT TO BE TAKEN UP JUST NOW? WHAT ABOUT THE STATE LANGUAGE, BENGALI? THEY WILL BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER ONE-UNIT WITH ALL THESE THINGS. SO, I APPEAL TO MY FRIENDS ON THAT SIDE TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO GIVE THEIR VERDICT IN ANY WAY, IN THE FORM OF REFERENDUM OR IN THE FORM OF PLEBISCITE."
On 21 October, the party dropped the word "Muslim from its name at a special council of the Bangladesh Awami Muslim League, making the party a truly modern and secular one. Bangbandhu was reelected General Secretary of party.
http://muktimusician.wordpress.com
SHEIKH HASINA, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was born on 28 September, 1947 at Tungipara under Gopalganj district. She is the eldest of five children of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of independent Bangladesh.
She graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1973. She was elected Vice President of the Students Union of Government Intermediate Girl’s College. She was a member of the students League Unit of Dhaka University and Secretary of the Students League Unit of Rokeya Hall. She actively participated in all the mass movements since her student life.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with the members of his family was martyred on the fateful night of 15 August 1975. Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana were the only survivors as they were in West Germany at that time. Later she went to the United Kingdom from where she started her movement against the autocratic rule in 1980. Sheikh Hasina was unanimously elected President of Bangladesh Awami League in 1981 in her absence, while she was forced to live in exile in New Delhi. Ending six years in exile, she returned home finally on 17 May 1981.
In the parliamentary election held in 1986, she won three seats. She was elected Leader of the Opposition. She led the historic mass movement in 1990 and announced the constitutional formula for peaceful transfer of power through Articles 51 and 56 of the Constitution.
Following the election of 1991 Sheikh Hasina became Leader of the Opposition in the country’s Fifth Parliament, She steered all the political parties in the parliament towards changing the Presidential system into the Parliamentary one.
Sheikh Hasina created awareness among the people and waged a struggle for Non-party Caretaker Government to ensure free and fair polls. Her movement reached the peak after a non-cooperation movement in March 1996 and the provision for Non-party Caretaker Government was incorporated in the Constitution.
At the call of Sheikh Hasina a large number of people of all walks of life expressed solidarity with the movement at the ‘Janatar Mancha’. In the Parliamentary election held on 12 June 1996, Bangladesh Awami League emerged as the majority party and she assumed the office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 23 June 1996.
After becoming the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina adopted a number of pragmatic policies for overall development of the nation including poverty alleviation. During the last four years her government achieved laudable success including signing of the historic 30 year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India, signing of historic peace Accord on Chittagong Hill Tracts and inauguration of the Bangabandhu Bridge on the river Jamuna.
Sheikh Hasina was conferred Degree of Doctor of Law by the Boston University of the USA on 6 February 1997 and Honorary Doctor of Law by the Waseda University of Japan on 4 July 1997. She was also conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Liberal Arts by University of Abertay Dundee of the United Kingdom on 25 October, 1997. She was conferred Honorary Degree of Desikottama (Doctor of Literature, honoris causa) by Visva-Bharati University of West Bengal, India on 28 January 1999. She was also conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on the ground of her distinguished creative contributions in the service of society by the Australian National University on 20 October 1999. Dhaka University conferred Honorary 'Doctor of Laws' degree to Sheikh Hasina on 18 December, 1999 for her outstanding contribution towards peace and democracy. The World famous Catholic University of Brussels, Belgium conferred Honorary Doctorate degree (Doctor Honoris Causa) on Sheikh Hasina on 04 February, 2000 for her decisive role in establishing democracy, protecting human rights and peace. Sheikh Hasina has been conferred Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the Bridgeport University, USA on 5 September, 2000.
Sheikh Hasina has been awarded UNESCO's Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize for 1998 for her remarkable contribution to bringing peace through ending the 25 years of conflict in Chittagong Hill Tracts with political courage and statesmanship.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received prestigious Pearl S. Buck Award '99 on 9 April 2000 in recognition of her vision, courage, achievements in political, economic and humanitarian fields by Randolph Macon Women's College of USA. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been awarded the prestigious CERES' medal to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in recognition to her fight against hunger on 02 August, 1999. The All India Peace Council awarded her 'Mother Teresa Award' in 1998. The Mahatma M K Gandhi Foundation of Oslo, Norway awarded Sheikh Hasina ‘M K Gandhi Award’ for 1998 for her contribution towards promotion of communal understanding, non violent religions harmony and growth of democracy at the level of grassroots in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina was named Paul Haris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. She was also given Medal of Distinction in 1996-97 and 1998-99 and Head of State Medal in 1996-97 by the International Association of Lions Clubs.
She has authored several books including "Why Are They Street Children", "The Origin of Autocracy", 'Miles to Go", "Elimination of Poverty and Some Thoughts", "People and Democracy", "My Dream My Struggle" and "Development for the Masses." She performed holy Hajj and Umrah several times.
Sheikh Hasina is the Chairperson of "The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust". She has been helping a lot of poor boys and girls for their education.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, throughout her life has been a strong proponent of peace, freedom and democracy. From an early age, inspired by the lofty ideals and love for the people of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the liberator of Bangladesh, she developed a strong sense of identity for the common people. She always spoke out against oppression and violation of human rights. This commitment has hardened over the years, particularly when her parents, brothers and scores of relatives were brutally assassinated by the misguided members of the military in 1975 soon after the independence of Bangladesh.
Since that time her resolve for democracy and development for the teeming millions of Bangladesh has become firmly entrenched. She struggled for the return of democracy in Bangladesh and fought valiantly for its establishment in the country in every possible manner. She was committed to making Parliament the centre of all national activities.
In 1996, the people of Bangladesh gave her a strong mandate as the Prime Minister of the country. Despite serious resource and constraints and recurrent natural calamity as well as widespread poverty, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during the first two years of her government, has lived up to her unswerving commitment to the cause of peace, democracy, development and human rights.
Her first act of peace within months of her assumption of office was the initiative for resolution of the long-standing water-sharing dispute with India through a 30-years treaty. This put an end to a very complex regional dispute.
Her visionary idea of a business summit among the political and private sector leaders of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan has added a new chapter in the history of South Asia.
Her dedicated leadership also made possible a peace agreement in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, thereby solving the 23-year old insurgency in the Hill districts of Bangladesh. This peace accord brought an area inhabited by nearly 5 million people out of violence and into a time of peace and development. Though the international media has not given much prominence to this accord, it is uniquely remarkable because the peace accord benefited such a large number of people and the whole area has been brought under development programs following the complete surrender of arms by the insurgents.
Her quest for peace has taken her to India and Pakistan to talk to the leaders of these two countries soon after the nuclear test urging reduction of tension in the region.
Prime Minister Hasina has been a strong advocate for the Culture of Peace at global, regional and national levels. In many major conferences, she espoused the concept of the Culture of Peace, most recently in South Africa at the 12th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which has a membership of 114 countries. Her initiative has resulted in the first-ever resolution by the Plenary of the United Nations General Assembly on the Culture of Peace. She also provided leadership for the declaration by the UN of the period 2001 to 2010 as the International Decade for Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.
Prime Minister Hasina’s determination for the eradication of poverty, in particular through wide-ranging microcredit programmes, has been recognized world-wide. Her co-chairpersonship of the Microcredit Summit in February 1997 which resolved to bring 100 million families of the world out of poverty by 2005 focused world attention to her strong commitment to the eradication of poverty and enlistment of the poorest of the poor. She has been a champion of microcredit by spreading the message in major international forums. Her leadership led to the adoption for the first time by UN General Assembly a far-reaching resolution on the role of microcredit in the eradication of poverty.
Along with poverty eradication, she has focused on the empowerment of women and has successfully completed legislation to ensure adequate representation of women in the local government bodies, leading to the election of more than 14,000 women to these bodies in 1997. She has taken major initiatives to stop violence against women and children.
She has also provided leadership in the field of education, particularly for the education of girls in her own country as well as advocating it for global support. Her government has greatly enhanced budgetary allocation for primary education focusing on girls’ education.
To improve the quality of life of the people of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has particularly focused on human development, paying special attention to healthcare, family planning, nutrition, women’s rights and survival and development of children. At the UN and other forums, she has been a major voice in support of the cause of children and their rights.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has, all along her life, defended human rights in every possible way. Her active promotion of the rights of women and children has drawn appreciation by both government and NGOs as well as international organizations. She has promoted the right to development as having centrality in the human rights regime. At the NAM Summit in South Africa in 1998, her proposal for a Convention on the Right to Development received welcoming endorsement of the Heads of State and Government. She initiated the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission and the office of Ombudsperson as well as Bangladesh’s recent accession to six major human rights instruments including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Her keen interest resulted in the signature by Bangladesh of the Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and ratification of the Landmines Treaty, being the first country in South Asia to do so.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s initiative resulted in the hosting of the first-ever conference of the Asian parliamentarians devoted to peace and cooperation in Dhaka in September 1999 which elected her as the first President of the Association of Asian Parliaments for peace established at the conference.
At present, as someone who has lost so much personally and has been a victim of oppression and denial of freedom, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stands out as a messenger of peace, democracy, development and human rights. Her leadership of the eighth largest country of the world manifests her concern for the people, seen again during the worst-ever floods in Bangladesh in 1998.
Sheikh Hasina is the recipient of the UNESCO Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize for 1998 for her role in bringing peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina has been awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Award for 1998 (Oslo, Norway) for her contribution towards promotion of communal understanding, non-violence, religious harmony and growth of grassroots democracy in Bangladesh.
She has been awarded 1999 CERES Medal for contribution to the agriculture development by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
She is the winner of the 1999 Pearl S. Buck Award for "your vision, your courage and your achievements in political, economic and humanitarian spheres capture the spirit of the award and of the woman who inspired it."
She has been awarded honorary Doctor of Liberal Arts by the University of Alberta Dundee in the United Kingdom in October 1997.
She has been conferred honorary Doctor of Laws by the Boston University in the United States and the Waseda University of Japan.
She has been conferred the degree of Desikottama (Doctor of Literature) by the Visva-Bharati University, India founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
She has been conferred honorary Doctor of Laws by the Australian National University in October 1999.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been conferred honorary Doctor of Laws by Dhaka University in December 1999.
She has been conferred honorary Doctor of Laws by the Catholic University of Brussels in February 2000.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been conferred by the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for her contribution to world peace and development by the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut in the United States on 5 September 2000.
Under her leadership her party Bangladesh Awami League led grand alliance to win a landslide victory in the 9th Parliament Election on December 29, 2008 with 262 seats out of 299 in the National Parliament.
Sheikh Hasina took oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh at a ceremony held at Banghabhaban on January 06, 2009.
Sheikh Hasina is married having one son and one daughter.
রাজনীতিবাজ রাজনীতিবীদ ও জনগণ
ইতিহাসের প্রথম স্বাধীন বাঙালী রাষ্ট্রে, প্রথম সংবিধানের অধীনে, প্রথম নির্বাচনে, স্বাধীন নাগরিক হিসাবে প্রথম ভোট দিতে গিয়ে ভীষণ মর্মাহত হয়েছিলাম। গর্বে, আনন্দে টগবগিয়ে ভোটকেন্দ্রর দিকে এগিয়ে যাচ্ছিলাম, একজন পরিচিত জান-কোরবান আওয়ামী লীগ কর্মী মহাখুশিতে ছুটে এসে বিনয়ে গদগদ হয়ে জানাল, আমার কষ্ট বাঁচাতে আমার ভোটটা সে নিজেই দিয়ে দিয়েছে। ছেলেটির বিদ্যাবুদ্ধি, সংস্কৃতিবোধ বিবেচনায় তাকে বকা দিতেও করুণা হয়েছিল। সে যে স্বাধীন মানুষের পবিত্রতম দায়িত্ব ও কর্তব্যবোধের বিষয়টিকে তার অপরিচ্ছন্ন হাত দিয়ে ধরে নোংরা করেছে, এ বোধ তার ইহজন্মেও হবে না।
এর দু'বছরের মাথায় স্বাধীনতার শত্রুরা বঙ্গবন্ধুকে হত্যা করলে বাংলাদেশের রাজনীতিতে অভিশাপ নেমে আসে। নিজেদের শুভ বুদ্ধি, জ্ঞানবিদ্যা, সংস্কৃতি, আত্মসন্মানবোধ বিসর্জন দিয়ে একপাল লোভাতুর নষ্ট মানুষ রাজনীতির নামে জড়চৈতন্য সামরিক সৈরাচারীদের সংগে আঁতাত করায়, মানব সভ্যতার রাজনীতি নামক প্রতিষ্ঠানটিই বিলুপ্ত হয়ে পড়েছিল। রাজনীতির নির্লজ্য দুবৃত্তায়ন, প্রহসনমূলক নির্বাচন, ভোটের হরিলুট ইত্যাদির ফলে জনগণের সামনে ক্ষমতাখাদক এমন এক শ্রেনীর মানুষের আবির্ভাব হলো যাদের আর রাজনীতিবীদ বলা যায় না। ওদের রাজনীতিবাজ বা রাজনীতিখোর বলা চলে। বর্তমান সময়ে আওয়ামী নেতৃত্বের মহাজোট সরকারের রাজনীতিতে দায়িত্ব, কর্তব্যবোধ ও শুভবুদ্ধি প্রবাহের একটি লক্ষণ দেখা যাচ্ছে বটে কিন্তু জনগণের সামনে এখনও রাজনীতিবাজদের বেপরোয়া দাপটের কমতি নেই। প্রকৃত রাজনীতিকদের স্বপ্ন থাকে, ‘‘মোর নাম এই বলে খ্যাত হোক, আমি তোমাদের লোক’’। আর রাজনীতিখোরেরা জনগণকে কি চোখে দেখে সে সম্বন্ধে আমি আমার একটি পুরানো গল্প আবার বলতে চাই।
মনে করুন আপনি খর দুপুরে গ্রামের নির্জন পথ ধরে দূরে কোথাও যাচ্ছেন। পথে দেখলেন মাঠের মধ্যখানে অশ্বথ গাছের ছায়ায় একটি ন্যাংটো রাখাল ছেলে একাকী বসে আছে, রাস্তার অন্যদিকে তার গরুর পাল চরে বেড়াচ্ছে। আপনি সেখানে আসতেই আপনার প্রশ্রাবের ভয়ানক বেগ চাপল। আপনি কোনদিকে ফিরে বসবেন? অবুঝ হলেও মানবসন্তানটির দিকে কাপড় তুলে আপনি পেশাব করবেন না। আপনি বসবেন অবোধ কিন্তু সংখ্যায় অধিক পশুদের প্রতি মুখ করে। কিন্তু রাজনীতিবাজের ওসব সূক্ষ্ম বোধ নেই। জনগণ গরুছাগল বা ন্যাংটো খোকা যাই হোক, তাদের কিছুই যায় আসে না।
বিএনপির রাজনীতিবাজদের দিকে চেয়ে দেখুন। তাদের অত্যাচার, লুন্ঠন ও দুঃশাসনে অতীষ্ঠ হয়ে জনগণ তাদের আঁস্তাকুড়ে ফেলে দিল। তারা বলল এটা নির্বাচন কমিশনের কারসাজি, সেনাবাহিনীর ষড়যন্ত্র; প্রহসনের নির্বাচন। কিন্তু তারা সংসদে গেল সংসদ অকার্যকর করতে আর নিজেদের বেতন-ভাতা ও সুবিধাদি নিতে। নতুন সরকারের প্রথম দিন থেকেই সরকারের উৎখাতে তারা মেতে গেল। অস্ত্র হাতে দিয়ে পুলিশে ধরিয়ে দেয়ার মত করে, তাদের তৈরি দুঃসহ সমস্যাগুলি সরকারের ঘাড়ে চাপিয়ে তার বিরুদ্ধেই আন্দোলন শুরু করেছে বিএনপি। এখন সরকার পতন আন্দোলনের জন্য বিভাগীয় শহরগুলিতে গান্ধী জিন্নাহ সুকার্নো শেখ মুজিবদের দুনিয়া কাঁপানো স্বতঃস্ফূর্ত লক্ষজনতা সমাবেশের নকল করে কোটি কোটি টাকা খরচ করে ভাড়া করা শ্রোতা আনা হচ্ছে। আবার এক ধরনের রাজনীতিবাজদের ঐ সমাবেশ বানচাল করার বাহাদুরি নিতে এবং দলীয় লুটতরাজ ও সৈরাচারে লিপ্ত হতে দেখা যাচ্ছে। বোঝা গেল, রাজনীতিবাজরা বিপুল সংখ্যায় ভোট দেওয়া জনগণকে এখনও গরুছাগলই মনে করছে। তারা ক্ষমতান্ধ বলেই জনগণ যে দুই যুগ ধরে তাদের কাপড় তোলা দেখেছে, এ সহজ কথাটা ভুলে গেছে। তাদের নষ্ট মগজ ও ভোঁতা চৈতন্যে আর ধারন ক্ষমতা অবশিষ্ট নেই বলে তারা ধারনাও করতে পারেনা যে যুগ পাল্টাচ্ছে, বাংলাদেশের রাজনীতিতে সভ্যতা, মানবতা ও স্বাধীনতার জন্য বাঙালীর চিরন্তন সংগ্রামের ধারা আবার ফিরে আসছে।
স্বাধীনতা ও মানবকল্যাণের এ সূচনালগ্নে, কেউ যেন আর জনগণের সামনে কাপড় তোলার ধৃষ্টতা না দেখায়।
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