BNP at the eye of the storm

The ruling military regime launched their most naked  manipulation of our country’s political parties yet, when after creating severe pressure and with the help of threats and extortions , they convened some BNP members to the residence of Saifur Rahman, and announced that he would take over as acting chief of the BNP, and Major (ret.) Hafizuddin Ahmed would replace Khandokar Delwar Hossain as the Secretary General of the party.

We’ll delve into the sordid details of this incident shortly. But first, please take a look at this screenshot of the Bangladeshi news webpage, BDNews.

I think this newspage perfectly captures the brutality, disregard for law and norms, and the lust for power at any cost that this government exhibits. At top right, the young man surrounded by the police is Arafat Rahman, former prime minister Khaldea Zia’s youngest son. He is being dragged from his hospital bed to the court. He was put in the hospital, in the first place, because after arresting the same day as his mother, this government tortured Mr. Rahman till he collapsed. Fearing the negative publicity if he were to die while in security forces custody, he was sent to jail and later admitted to a hospital.

Witness the effect of interrogation on this young man. Can you then, imagine, what was done to our more aged political leaders like Abdul Jalil, or Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir?

Spare too, a thought for Khaleda Zia. She sits in prison, knowing that every day she refuses to bow to this military government’s pressure, her sons are being tortured. Knowing that all that she needed to do was just to say yes to the military government, and her sons would be given proper medical treatment, and their torture would be discontinued.

Spare a thought for this widowed mother of two children.

Now, the picture on the bottom left. When Khaleda Zia was arrested, denied bail, and sent to jail, she placed party veteran Khandokar Delwar Hossain as Secretary General, replacing the previous secretary general, Abdul Manna Bhuitan, who had joined hands with the military government. Hossain had stood firm so far against the enoromous pressure that the military government had brought to bear upon him. He had remained loyal to BNP and our democractic form of government, and refused to cooperate with the dictates of our ruling generals. Thus, he had to be removed. Major (ret.) Akhteruzzaman, a former MP, described how men from the military intelligence had come and told Delwar Hossain bluntly that he must resign from his post within twenty-four hours. To set the stage for this, he was dragged into the BIRDEM hospital, so that the military government could pretend that he had resigned because of his health problems.

Some interesting excerpts from the story:

[Major Akhteruzzaman], whom the BNP expelled for his outspoken criticism of party leadership, also alleged that the intelligence agents had threatened to kill Delwar unless he complied with the order.

The officials went to Delwar’s home Sunday, he said.

Delwar, last seen in BIRDEM hospital Monday evening, could not be reached immediately for his version of events.

“They not only threatened the secretary general but aimed verbal abuse at me. If necessary, they will even kill me for helping Delwar,” he said.

Akhteruzzaman told bdnews24.com by phone that he was not present when the officials arrived at Delwar’s NAM flat on city’s Manik Miah Avenue, but that his statement was based on what Delwar said to him.

The officials allegedly told Delwar that “Begum Khaleda Zia will not be allowed anymore to do politics on the soil of Bangladesh”, the statement said.

And now, unfortunately, we come to the part that deals with the collaborators, the men who have betrayed the faith placed on them by their partymen and their countrymen.

The Election Commission will be sending a letter to BNP on November 7th. This letter will be sent, by tradition, to BNP’s Secretary General. It was thus vital for the military government that the letter be sent to someone who was willing to do the junta’s bidding. BNP leaders who have been subverted by this current government like Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain brought some of their followers to the residence of Saifur Rahman. Other BNP senior leaders were also brought to his house under guard. Here, apparently staging a BNP standing committee meeting, an announcement has been given that Saifur Rahman shall take over as BNP Chairperson and Major (ret.) Hafizuddin, one of the key collaborators with the military regime, shall act as Secretary General. This excellent post explains the sinister significance of these developments very lucidly.

These appointments have no validity by BNP’s own party constitution. Only the chairperson is allowed to make changes to the post of secrety general, and as Khaleda Zia remains the chairperson, no other party body has the auhority to carry out these changes.

We are entering the next stage of the military government’s life-cycle, when it will attempt, as best as it can, to shape our political, pro-democracy forces according to their own interests. The extent to which they can be resisted will go a long way in determining when we shall finally be rid of them.

Update: Khondokar Delwar Hossain, BNP’s lawful Secretary General, is facing intimidation and torture from the military authorities. Here is what we know so far.