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Parties of the leeches

Back in history when the great Greek emperor, Alexander reached the gateway of this sub-continent, the then powerful ruling class laid down their arms without a fight to the invader and accepted unconditional surrender. At their cowardice the great warrior was astounded and commented in disgust, ‘How strange this land is!’

  That comment flashed in my memory after hearing all the rattling that generated a storm in the teacups in the political arena of Bangladesh lately. The backdrops are the utterances of Dr. B. Choudhury & Dr. Kamal Hossain about the ‘civil society.’ They started with a 3rd force then corrected themselves and started talking of a ‘different stream of politics’ not mentioning a word as to how they are different from the present lot who prevail on mainstream politics and state power. Obviously they can’t give any rational explanation being a part of them since the independence. That being reality, why then these chanting by the known opportunists? The answer is simple. Another attempt to perpetuate the vested interests and leadership of the state and society with a different tune.

  Since the inception of Bangladesh, coteries and political parties that ruled the country has sucked the nation of it’s wealth and has made life of the common people unbearable and turned the country into a bottomless basket. They earned the country a reputation to be the most corrupt nation in the world. These ruling coteries are now totally exposed to the people as a bunch of leeches. Ill-gotten wealth, muscle power accumulated due to uninterrupted sucking the blood of the nation for over a long 35 years has made these coteries so arrogant that they have become totally intoxicated and void of realities. They have lost the ability to understand the inevitable.

  Following independence, after usurping state power Awami League and its cohorts inaugurated the process of sucking national wealth keeping Sheikh Mujib in front that continues unabated till today. BNP did no less under the façade of the ‘broken suitcase’ of Zia. Not only the leaders and stalwarts but also most of the party cadres and supporters at every level joined the fray and became novo rich over night. This saga of outright loot and plunder is no longer a secret. The character of the JP chairman and wanton corruption by his party is well exposed to the public, thus needs no further elaboration.

  At present all the mainstream political parties are naked with their bankruptcy and considered redundant. They are identified in the eyes of the people to be the same in character. As the very existence of this class is at stake now some of the leeches have launched themselves as chameleons in the political arena with a hope to fool the people once more. They are pretending to be saints than sinners being the champions of the so-called civil society. Such a hope is nothing but audacious misadventure! What is the character of the so-called civil society? Who are they? Where they exist? If it means the people who live in the posh enclaves like Baridhara, Gulshan, Banani, Uttara, Dhanmondi and other such exclusive localities around the country; then one can rightfully ask what are the identities of these people who have flocked together occupying these places, step by step since the country got its independence over the time? Who are these so-called self-styled elites? Don’t they belong to the class of leeches sharing the booties of loot and plunder becoming rich and famous over night? These leaders and members of the coterie shamefully proclaiming themselves to be the members of the so-called civil society. In their eyes the ‘foolish people’ are no longer that foolish. In today’s fast changing world the heart and soul of the people are also changing. Due to the IT explosion people are much more conscientious and are in a position to see through the clever mechanizations of the chameleons.

  Two main exponents of the leech coterie are Dr. B. Choudhury and Dr. Kamal Hossain, popularly known as the fair weather bird in Bangla, ‘BOSHONTER KOKIL.’ If one glimpse through their past, their images become clear like a mirror.

  Dr. Kamal Hossain worked as the assistant to the Ford Foundation sponsored economists drafting the 6-point programme of Awami League. Well in time he flew away with his family to cuckoo’s nest in West Pakistan in 1971when the people of the then East Pakistan were facing the most barbaric military onslaught, at the order of the ruling Junta. Since then the whole 9-month period of the liberation war, he enjoyed the warm hospitality in the midst of his father in laws family, as his wife happens to be a Sindhi. He returned after independence along with Sheikh Mujib. On his return he was entrusted with the responsibility to draft the constitution and he proved ably planting the 4 principles of Indian constitution, which was thrusted upon by Indian rulers as the 4 main pillars of the national constitution of the newborn country at the dictate of Sheikh Mujib. Later he captured the coveted post of Foreign Minister to shape up the foreign policy of Bangladesh to serve the interest of Indo-American axis. Last but not the least it was this Dr. Kamal Hossain who carried out necessary dissection in the constitution to legitimize introduction of one party rule of BKSAL and also pave the way for Mujib to turn himself into a despotic dictator. After the historic change of fascist regime through 15^th August revolution 1975, when the closed door of multi party democracy flung open at that time along with all other banned political parties Awami League also got a chance to reborn. At that juncture Dr. Kamal tried to be the party supreme but could not succeed due to inner party squabbling. Then as an alternative strategy at the signal of his foreign mentors he flew to India and brought back Sheikh Hasina from her safe sanctuary and installed her as the party chairperson. By doing so he thought that he would be able to have his hold both on Hasina and the party. But, neither his niece nor the party was wild about him. The enraged uncle thus left the party and formed another platform called ‘Gono Forum’. But his initiative failed hopelessly to catch the imagination of the people. As a result, in utter despondency he had been spending most of the time abroad as the agent of a few multinational companies. Off late the cuckoo is back to join the chorus in the political arena sensing spring is not too far.

  Dr. B. Choudhury, one time a committed cardholder pro Moscow communist having long standing fraternal relation with the CPI and Indian Congress party. Later reached to the highest position of the state being the most ardent follower and standard-bearer of Gen. Zia’s political philosophy. But soon after he ornamented the coveted post of President he was suddenly found to be a traitor and was forced to resign with a kick on his back. He made a shameful exit from Banga Bhaban without uttering a single word protesting the allegations brought against him. After becoming a senior citizen he announced that he has retired from active politics forever and would concentrate in his practice as a physician and Tagor’s songs of which he is a great connoisseur. The same Dr. B. Choudhury from nowhere with a touch of some magic wand from hibernation dared to launch himself in politics riding on the shoulders of so-called civil society. Time will say why this sudden change of heart. Dr. Kamal wasted no time to shake hands with Dr. B. Choudhury. Intriguing indeed! However, one could possibly find some harmony between spring, cuckoo and Tagor’s melody if he likes, but in real politick for these two personalities to co-habit is a remote possibility as both of them cherish the same desire, to capture the top slot. Therefore, it is but natural that this honeymoon will soon turn into a battle of wits between the two, as to who can use the other’s shoulders to fulfill their political ambition. Now after discussing the two major characters let us look at the vehicle they have chosen to ride. The ‘civil society.’

  If an iota of the dictionary meaning of civil society had existed in our society then definitely we would not have such decay and anarchy accumulated over the years what the nation is facing now within every sector of the society at every level. All human values would not have been killed and a stinking malignant rot would not have engulfed the entire society. Terrorists, looters, dishonest and corrupt people in public and private sectors, thugs, goons and extortionists would not have reigned the country as their haven. Whatever noise that are being heard are being chanted to safeguard the interest of all these people who form very much a part of the so called civil society in a different tune. It is not that the champions do not know that not even 1% of the 14 crores population care to listen or believe in what they say but still they are out in the field counting on their foreign peers, ill-gotten wealth and muscle power. They want to intimidate the masses taking advantage of their poverty. The local and international media having mutual interest tends to be on their side. However, as the masses have awakened all the humdrum and fury are most likely not to yield the desired result as Abraham Lincoln once said,” You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." For the leeches time is running out fast. Soon that saying might become a dreadful reality for them. The symptoms are already on the horizon.

  The back of the silent majority at present is against the wall due to unabated exploitation and misrule for      over 35 years. Today they are more conscientious about the naked loot and plunder of national resources by a handful few. They remained quite for so long hoping against hope for a change. All their hope and aspiration has turned out to be a mirage. They now understand to have any change through these leeches is nothing but an illusion. So the hate and anger towards this ruling coterie is burning like charcoal in the heart of each of the deprived majorities and that is why the current situation in the country is explosive. The days are not far when the enraged mob will flood the country at their own and those hidden charcoal will create a prairie fire. The coteries of leeches will then be dragged from the seat of power and thrown in that fire. That fire will burn to ashes all the present socially malignant equations. With that cleansing there shall emerge a genuine alternative force that will produce a new breed of leadership worthy to present the nation a prosperous and progressive Bangladesh to the present and future generations. Only that kind of leadership with people’s participation would be able to create a civil society on the moral, ethical and religious values. Majorities would then have a chance to breath afresh in peace with a prospect to lead a better life in future.    

THE END