None has the right to belittle our struggle for freedom

Mohammad Ali Sattar

Once again the political pan has been put on the oven. This time the most sensitive issue involving the very nature of the 'conflict' of 1971 has been brought to the fore by Mr. Mujaheed, the Jamaat secretary-general. Showing audacity, he has, in full view of the press, denied the 'truth' of the existence of war criminals or anti-liberation forces in the country.
   Talking to the newsmen at the EC office, Mr.Mujaheed, at one pint denied the claim that there existed anti-liberation forces in the country. When asked about the role of Jamaat during 1971, he quite defiantly answered by saying, "You may find out".
   He however did not say anything about the nature of the war of 1971.
   A day after, an ex-government secretary came up with a new theory of the war of 1971. While participating in a TV talk show he said in clear terms that the armed struggle of 1971 was, in fact, a civil war. In defence of his belief, he defended many others who were opposed to our war of liberation.
   If we go by the literary definition of a civil war we find it is indeed poles apart from what we understand by the term and the conditions of 'liberation struggle or war of independence. His thoughts on our war of independence are clearly against the very spirit of our sacrifices to free the country from the clutches of the Pakistan army which unleashed genocide rape, arson and other crimes.
   Our journey on the same boat with Pakistan was always bumpy. It was bumpy all along. The political history from 1947 till 1971 is replete with instances of gross injustice on us. The message of separation of the then East Pakistan actually was aired in just five years after the birth of Pakistan in 1947, and that was through the language movement of 1952. Thereafter the 1954 elections, the decade of military rule (1958-68), and the movement of 1969 ­ all bear testimony of how the people of this wing were subjected to unremitting suppression of the Pak rulers. The economic exploitation of the East by the West was there everywhere. The discontent reached every nook and corner of this land.
   The two peoples had nothing in common except the religion.
   And then came the fateful night of March 25, 1971. With the firing of the first bullet on the hapless people of this wing the war of liberation had started. The mayhem carried by the Pak army from that night till December 14 could best be described as 'genocide'. The long nine-month war was between the forces of domination and people fighting for freedom.
   Senseless killings and primitive acts of rape and arson by the Pak forces aided by the locals under the garb of Islamic banner and names was witnessed by all. There was clearly a group who sided with the Pak rulers and they helped all out in identifying the 'enemies' of Pakistan in this land. Therefore, there can be no two thoughts about the events that took place during the nine months of 1971.
   I feel the remarks of both, Mujaheed and the ex-secretary about the non-existence of war criminals in the country and the very nature of the 1971 war, have brought forth the thoughts of the same group who for various reasons of their own, never accepted the division of Pakistan.
   One wonders how, after long 36 years of our independence, these observations could be made with total disregard to the sacrifices of the martyrs who died for the freedom of the land.
   Instead of repentance, arrogance still rules their heart and mind. This is a bad omen for the country and the people who take pride in their selfless sacrifice for the country.

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No bar on microcredit savings

Savings of the microcredit members and other issues related to microcredit NGOs were discussed in detail in a meeting between the NGO Federation of Bangladesh (FNB), CDF and INAFI, and the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) on 30 October at the MRA office, says a press release of the FNB. The NGO representatives explained the need for and importance of the savings of the poor group members for their future security. FNB Chair Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim said that the pro-poor programs with innovative culture of the NGOs developed over three decades should not be questioned in view of the activities of some new entrants in the field. He said, keeping in view of the different structures of the NGOs due to their diversity and uniqueness, their transparency and accountability must be ensured so that some elements in NGO garb with other motive cannot pollute microcredit programs and the NGO sector.
   The MRA Executive Vice-Chairman said that they are aware of the flexibility and innovative culture of the NGOs and gave assurance that these will not be affected by MRA rules. He said that the savings programme of the microcredit group members would, by no means, be hindered. But it would not be appropriate to permit savings from depositors of large amount with business motive, as such depositors do not belong to the poor target group of microcredit program. He assured that the draft rules of the MRA for the NGOs would be discussed with them before these are finalized.
   INAFI Executive Director Atiqun Nabi, CDF Executive Director Farid Uddin, FNB Director M. Tajul Islam and MRA Joint Directors Leela Rashid and Sajjad Hossain were, among others, present.
   
   FNB condemns heinous attempt to distort history
   In its reaction to the statement made by the Secretary General of the Jamat-e-Islami that "there is no anti-liberation element in Bangladesh, they were not in existence even before and such allegation is baseless and imaginary", the NGO Federation said that it was stunned as this was a complete denial of the Liberation War, the facts like the genocide, the war crimes and the like, which are known to all. This seems to be a heinous attempt to divert attention from the ongoing efforts of the country to establish good governance, healthy democratic practices, alleviation of poverty etc.
   In a statement released to the press on October 28, the Federation said, it is not unknown to the people of this country who played what role during the Liberation War. These are recorded with facts and preserved in different archives and memoirs including various national and international newspapers which can never be erased by distortion. The NGO Federation (FNB) strongly condemns such an audacious statement and urges upon the people to remain alert of such heinous attempt to distort history.

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The inaugural ceremony of National Reference Laboratory was held on October 29 at the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute in Savar.
   Dr C S Karim, adviser of the ministry of fisheries and livestock was present as chief guest while Syed Ataur Rahman, secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Danish ambassador Einar H Jensen and resident representative of JICA Nobuko Suzuki Kayshima were present guests among others.
   The session was chaired by Dr Jahangir Alam Khan, director general of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute.
   C S Karim said that the government believes in open and transparent policy and does not hide any information about the outbreak of Avian Influenza in Bangladesh.
   He added that the government has taken all sorts of preventive measures according to OIE and has saved the growing poultry industry in the country.

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Poet Gazi Sadeq passes away

Poet Gazi Sadeq, former Managing Director of Sonargaon Pan pacific Hotel and General Manager of Bangladesh Parjaton Corporation, expired on 26 Octoberat Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, says a press release. He left behind his wife, son, daughter-in-law, relatives and a host of friends and admirers to mourn his death. A Doa Mahfil was held to pray for the departed soul at his residence in Dhaka on 29th October.
   Poet Gazi Sadek was a sensitive thinker and his credo was liberal humanism. He wrote terse pithy poems in English that reflected exuberant sentiment. There was a lyricism in his mellow verses. Poet Gazi Sadek had two published collections of poems to his credit: Of Pains, Pleasures and Tears and Of Life, Love and Tears. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

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