February 7th, 2010

Sona Bengla : the golden hue in sight

Published in Opinion and Editorials

Bangladesh has visibly crossed several crossroads. After thirty five years of the dastardly
assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by army rebels guided by plotters like
Khondakar Mushtaque Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman justice has been meted out to five killers. They
were hanged on January 28, 2010. The remaining seven killers are hiding abroad. Irrespective of
their humanitarian considerations and aversion for death sentence these countries including
Canada should repatriate the national criminals of Bangladesh. Only then, the cycle of justice
would be completed. The hangings have sent a message to the butchers of democracy that
Bangladesh was created by the visionaries who wanted separate cultural identity for the Bengali
speaking people of Pakistan. Unfortunately, in Pakistan the killers of Z. A. Bhutto (judicial
hanging) and Benazir Bhutto are yet to be brought to the books. Pakistan has emerged as a
country where human lives are cheaper than foul and goat hawked in the market. A nation cannot
maintain its entity if the killers, coup leaders and usurpers are not brought to justice.

Earlier in January 2009 dramatic changes took place in the political scenario of the struggling
nation. Political developments during last decade had brought into sharp focus on the quantum of
ideological chasm between the forces headed by pro-liberation and secular combine headed by
Sheikh Hasina Wazed and the post-Mujib political usurpers, pro-Pakistani and Islamist
conglomerate headed by Begum Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). If Ziaur
Rahman was a part of the plot to kill Sheikh Mujib, how can his wife remain ignorant about that?
She should be made to speak and disclose the truth and crimes committed against the people of
Bangladesh.

Bangladesh was born out of the aspirations of the Bengali speaking people to achieve political,
economic, and cultural freedom from the overwhelming alien ethnic forces represented by
Punjabi dominated political, bureaucratic and military hegemony. The movements also aimed at
restoration of the unique secular tradition of the Bengali speaking people-on either side of the
geopolitical fence.

Violent changes imposed on the people of Bangladesh by the conspiratorial forces of Pakistan,
USA; represented by the ISI and the CIA and the fundamentalist Jamait-e-Islami had tried to
virtually negate the achievements of the liberation war. Mujib’s death and ultimate capture of
power by Ziaur Rahman marked the stark dividing line between the forces of liberation,
establishment of secular democratic forces represented by the Awami League and the pro-
Pakistan, pro-Islamist non-secular forces represented by the BNP. The BNP was not only a
political face of the military regime; it emerged as the umbrella for all non-secular Islamist anti-
Indian forces and an echo pillar for the Pakistani conspirators. Common sensible people in
Bangladesh call the BNP as Bangla Name Pakistan (Pakistan in the garb of Bangla political
front).
This was proved beyond doubt when Ziaur Rahman allowed the Jamait chief to return to
Bangladesh and reopen the fundamentalist shop. Zia’s open collaboration with the CIA and the
ISI resulted in recruitment of over 15, 000 Bangladeshis and Rohingyas for undergoing training
in ISI, Al Qaeda and Afghan mujahideen camps and fighting against the USSR. Nearly 2000
Bangla jihadis were deputed to Bosnia, Chechnya and other theatres of jihad directly or
indirectly sponsored by the USA, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Al Qaeda. Zia was responsible for
Islamization of secular Bangladesh and dragging it closer to Pakistan.

After conclusion of the Afghan jihad 8000 odd jihadis returned to Bangladesh, who opened new
jihadi outfits to Islamicise Bangladesh and remove the last vestiges of the secular identity of the
Bangladeshi people. Since then the Jamait and the jihadi forces did not have to look back.
Islamization process, proliferation in activities of the jihadi groups and stranglehold of Pakistan
and pumping in of Arab world fund for strengthening Islamic resurgence were given priority by
the BNP and Jamait coalition government. Between 1993 and 2003 over 36 jihadi tanzeems
rooted in the country and over 8000 afghan war veterans opened new jihad accelerating bodies,
started over 65 new madrasas and proclaimed that their objective was establishing Nizam-e-
Mustafa in Bangladesh. The BNP/Jamait government did everything possible to bury the name
of Bangabandhu, arranged attempt on Sheikh Hasina’s life and closed eyes on the activities of
Jamait-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (HuJI), Bangla Bhai, Hizbut
Tehrir, Ahl-e-Hadith and Allahar Dal etc armed terrorist movements. Pakistani jihadi tanjeems
like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad etc also opened shop in Bangladesh and the ISI, in
collaboration with the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) accelerated terrorist
activities in India. It is needless to say that the pro-Pakistani tools of governance in Bangladesh
were treated as the most trusted allies by the Indian ethnic insurgent groups.

However, oxidization of the golden hue dream of Sonar Bangla was abruptly checkmated with
the landslide win of the Awami League headed by Sheikh Hasina in the last election and
marginalization of BNP, Jamait-e-Islami and other fanatic forces. The people of Bangladesh
voted overwhelmingly for Sheikh Hasina to restore freedom of the country that was earned with
blood of millions of Bangla citizens. However, this new earned freedom faced immediate threat
in the form of bloodied revolt by the Bangladesh Rifles, a paramilitary force. Within two months
of installation of the new government of liberation the Bangladesh Rifle officers and jawans
staged a revolt in Dhaka and other detachment headquarters. The bloodied revolt, ostensively
staged on certain grievances, there were informed opinions that political opponents and sections
of the armed forces and the military intelligence, the DGFI, had motivated the revolt to get pro-
democracy Army Chief General Moeen removed and bring about a army coup by dismissing the
newly elected government. There were reports that BNP and Jamait leaders were the main
motivators. However, Sheikh Hasina tackled the national crisis with firm grit and determination
and pragmatic approach.

It can be said that Hasina has succeeded to a great extent in defanging the DGFI and has
established reasonable control on the armed forces by pushing aside the prominent BNP and
Jamait leaning senior army officers. To General Moeen goes the credit of helping the secular and
democratic government.

After completion of one year in January 2010 , despite several internal shortcomings, Hasina
government has maintained reasonably high level of popularity. According to a study carried out
recently by Daily Star newspaper of Bangladesh, the new government has suffered some erosion
in popularity on certain fronts. But it maintained considerable popular support. In an
impoverished country like Bangladesh it is not possible for any government to maintain 80%
popularity. Drought, flood, cyclones and shortage of food, shelter and lack of employment
opportunities obviously maintain high level of disapproval of any government in a struggling
country like Bangladesh. Bangladesh depends heavily on manpower export to Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia, Libya and the Gulf countries. After the global recession thousands of
labour force working abroad returned home, putting pressure on the employment front. The
youths are restive and they want the Dhaka government to negotiate with other countries to
facilitate their job opportunities in foreign markets; mostly in semi-skilled labour sectors.

Government actions to ban jihadi entities like Ahl-e-Hadith, Jamait-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh,

HuJI, Allahar Dal and hanging of three JMB criminals for serial bombings obviously irritated
good number of fanatics, which constitute nearly 15%-20% population of the state. Large
numbers of jihadi activists were arrested and are being tried. The discovery of huge arms and
ammunition manufacturing facility at Bhola, an island, which was being run by a British national
of Bangladesh origin, Faisal Mustafa under cover of Green Crescent madrasa, highlighted the
determination of Hasina government to deal firmly with all terror breeding organizations.

The government also relentlessly pursued the illegal import of 10 trucks full of sophisticated
weapons by the ULFA in collaboration with the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the
DGFI. The arms were imported by ULFA chief Paresh Barua in 2004. The BNP government
winked at the induction of 10 trucks full of weapons for carrying out depredations in Assam and
other places in northeast India. Only after the new government came to power several senior
officers of the NSI and the DGFI and other accused persons related to BNP were arrested and
brought up for trial.

These steps, coupled with the government decision to modernize madrasa education and
streamlining religious education in co0nformity with the education policy of the country has
angered the Maulvis and other streams of religious teachers. This class is not happy with
government decision to overhaul rural primary education and to root out organized armed gangs
dominating several educational institutions in the country.

Devastation caused by Cyclone Sidr in November 2005 and Cyclone Aila in May 2009 left
hundreds of villages in ruins. The rural poor in the southern districts were most hard hit. Despite
mobilization of internal and international help the government has not been able to restore
normalcy. Economic recession accompanied by shortage of funds and other amenities have left
thousands of families still uprooted and unsettled.
The government of Sheikh Hasina struggled to cope with natural disasters, challenges from the
Islamist terrorists, pro-Pakistani political conspirators and global recession. In a politically
volatile country economic depression and price rise and inflation add to restlessness and such
opportunities are exploited by diversionary political elements like the BNP, Jamait-e-Islami and
their cohorts. In the midst of such chaotic ambience Hasina completed her one year in power and
the survey taken up by Daily Star indicate that despite several factors of dissatisfaction Hasina
has maintained high degree of popularity.

Source: Daily Star, January 8, 2010.

There are few other reasons of dissatisfaction in several segments of the populace. Though
violence was injected into the political and social souls of Bangladesh by the killers of Mujib and
later military dictators, the people of Bangladesh have not succumbed to the culture of violence,
as imbued by the Pakistani society, where religious banditry is passed as Islam. However, in
Bangladesh the student’s movement has become the violent fringes of political ideology.

The student wing of Awami League, Chattra League, is a powerful institution. The League has
firm stranglehold in most educational institutions and they are also known for interfering in local
administration. Bangladesh politics is crucially dominated by students unions, mainly Chattra
League (AL), Chattra Dal (BNP), Islamic Chattra Shibir (Jamait-e- Islami), Islamic Student
Movement of Bangladesh (want Khilafa), and Revolutionary Students Unity of Bangladesh
(Left) etc. These students unions, aligned on political lines, often clash in the Universities and
other educational institutions. They try to capture the university hostels and dictate terms on the
authorities. During BNP/Jamait rule the Chattra Dal and Chattra Shibir along with Islamic
Student Movement of Bangladesh dominated the political scene, tender grabbing for government
works, killing and maiming Chattra League activists and maiming the local administration.

Now that Awami League is in power the Chattra League is flexing muscles. Grabbing tenders for
government works has become an issue of serious concern. There are frequent violent clashes
between Chattra League, Chattra Dal and Islamic Chattra Shibir. In recent months there have
been serious efforts by Chattra Dal and Shibir to capture political grassroots in different districts
by violently dislodging the Chattra League. In January 2010 a combined group of Shibir and
Chattra Dal carried out violent armed attack on a Dhaka university college.

Such clashes often result in killing of students and members of the faculty. Sheikh Hasina has
several times tried to discipline the Chattra League leaders and party leaders who exercise
control on CL in different districts. General public opinion is against such activism by the
student unions of the political parties. However, there has been some qualitative difference this
time. A number of Chattra League leaders have been booked under the law for criminal
activities.

The government does not want to come down heavily fearing upsurge of student unions owing
allegiance to the opposition parties. Hasina has some tight rope warning ahead. She has to
convert the dynamism of the students and youths to constructive activities for fighting
fundamentalism, promote secularism and get them imbued with spirit of sacrifices committed by
the leading freedom fighters. Mukti Juddha (freedom struggle) is still a vibrant dream in the
minds of majority of Bangladeshi people. The students can help Hasina by harnessing these
sentiments.

The other issue that agitates public minds is Cross Firing by Rapid Action Battalions (RAB). In
Bangladesh Cross Fire means faked encounter. During BNP/Jamait rule there were over 500
Cross Fire killings of criminals, political opponents and Marxist-Leninist and Maoist leaders and
workers. In the western districts of Bangladesh the revolutionary Maoist left movement is quite
strong. During last one year about 100 people have died in Cross Fire. This legacy of killing the
people in the ruse of encounter allegedly helps the administration to avoid going through the
encumbered hassles of legal prosecution. Only recently Hasina government has issued some
directives to examine each and every case of Cross Fire death. Bangladesh Human Rights
activists are also agitating against this legacy of the military rule and reckless rule by
BNP/Jamait.

The issue of security of the minorities (Hindu, Buddhists, Christians and peripheral Hindu
tribals) is a burning issue. With the return of Sheikh Hasina the minorities had heaved a sigh of
relief that they would no more be subjected to rioting, forcible eviction from their lands and
homes, their women would be protected and their religious places would not be destroyed by the
BNP, Jamait and Jihadi groups. According available statistics during the BNP/Jamait rule over
1500 homes of the minorities were forcibly occupied, about 1500 acres of land grabbed, 370
minority women were raped and about the same umber kidnapped, converted and married to
Muslims. Besides such atrocities plundering of Hindu business establishments and killing of
businessmen had become a common feature. The minority segments of the people, especially the
huge tribal population of Chittagong Hill Tracts still feel insecure. Hasina government has taken
some steps to ensure security of the minorities, but in a wild riverine country dictates of the law
are often hijacked by the Islamists and minority baiters. Being the head of a secular and
democratic government Sheikh Hasina has to perform better and bring in new legislation for
constitutional protection of the minorities as prevalent in India. Bangladesh requires
constitutional guarantees for their rights. This action would be the acid test of Bangladeshi
secularism.

Bangladesh government has been cautioned against promulgating a law that would encourage
land grabbers to illegally seize properties belonging to minority Hindus, accelerating a process
that has been on since India’s partition in 1947. Human rights activists, lawyers and NGOs urged
the government to scrap the proposed ‘Vested Property Verification, Selection and Settlement
Ordinance, 2008′. They are of the view that ‘Vested Property Return Act 2001’ is good enough
to resolve the land issue of the minority community (Hindu). This replaced a Pakistan era law
enacted to deal with the ownership rights over the ‘enemy property’, left behind by millions of
minority Hindus who migrated to India. It was either left to the care of relatives who chose to
stay behind, or was grabbed, generating legal disputes. Studies have shown that this process
continued after the emergence of Bangladesh in 1971 and land-grabbing has been condoned by
all political parties. The Awami League government was keen to introduce the new proposed law
in the Parliament. However, under pressure from different lobbies the government has deferred
the move. Some modifications have been suggested. This historic issue should be settled to the
satisfaction of the minorities, otherwise Hasina government would lose popularity amongst the
minority population. Surprisingly enough the government of India had not brought up this
subject for bilateral discussion with the Bangladesh Prime Minister during her recent visit to
Delhi. Sheikh Hasina must gather support to bring about a new law that would protect land, lives
and dignity of the minorities, setting up a standard for all other Muslim majority countries.

Corruption and price rise in Bangladesh is rampant as in India and various parts of South Asia
and South East Asia. Poverty is more acute in Bangladesh, particularly in the rural areas. High
rise in consumer commodity prices during last one year has caused severe distress amongst the
poor segments of the people. Observers opined that Hasina government is either unwilling or in
collusion with the corrupt hoarders, speculators and price manipulators. This allegation is wild.
She is personally honest, but it is not possible to inject honesty serum in all politicians and
bureaucrats. India has miserably failed. Why bait Bangladesh alone?

Fish, a staple daily diet has become scarce. Bangladesh has to import fish from India though
certain categories of fish are allowed to be exported to earn foreign exchange. Obviously,
Bangladesh is heavily dependent on India for edible oils, pulses, condiments, sugar and other
items of daily needs. Closure of legal or illegal trade with India for more than 15 days would
create severe scarcity in Bangladesh, which is capable of provoking critical political crisis. With
the improvement of bilateral relations border trading and regular export and import situation
should improve. Hasina’s government has marginally succeeded in bringing down prices of
essential commodities to some extent and the country gained bumper production in the wake of
giving subsidy to agriculture inputs.

While the above narrated issues are responsible for dwindling popularity of Hasina government
within a year of her thundering return to power she deserves applause on certain other scores.
There cannot be exclusive black and white situation.

Her government has displayed that it is determined to root out jihadism and terrorism in any
form. The interim government as well as the new elected government has started taking firm
action against the major and minor Islamist, terrorist and jihadi organisations. The Ahl-e-Hadith
Bangladesh, Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami, Jamait-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, Hizbut Tehrir and
Allhar Dal etc virulently violent organisations have been banned. Several JMB activists, bomb
specialists have been arrested and prosecuted. JMB is regarded as the affiliate of Taliban in
Bangladesh, Its connectivity with al Qaeda is well proved. A special Bangladesh court sentenced
three members of militant Islamic groups to death on in February2008 for involvement in a
suicide bombing more than two years ago in which eight people were killed. Besides this the
JMB was responsible for 49 serial bombing on a single day. Prime Minister Hasina made it clear
in public speeches that Bangladesh would not be allowed to become a playground of jihadis and
terrorists like Pakistan. Pakistan’s policy of creating and playing with terror groups has backfired
on it. It is reeling under self-grown jihadist attacks.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh upheld a 2005 ruling by the High Court throwing out the fifth
amendment of the constitution, which had allowed religion-based politics to flourish in the
country during the last three decades. But Begum Zia government did not implement it.
Following the apex court order, dozens of Islamic political parties must drop Islam from their
name and stop using religion during their election campaigns. Religion based politics was added
to the constitution by the Fifth Amendment carried out during late president Ziaur Rahman’s
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government in 1979.This had allowed the religion-based
political parties to play freely and added the Arabic “Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim” or in the
name of God, the most merciful, benevolent in the preamble in the constitution. Some
interpreters commented that the words “Bismillahir Rahman ar Rahim” in the preamble of the
constitution would remain intact as the High Court verdict did not say anything about the words
and those were part of the constitution’s preamble, not of the “main body”. The word
“secularism” would automatically be restored in the constitution once the Court verdict is
implemented. The latest order of Bangladesh Supreme Court confirming earlier order of the High
Court that the regimes in Bangladesh after Mujib assassination to 1979 ascendance of usurper
Ziaur Rahman has finally invalidated the 5th amendment to the Constitution. This is a big victory
for the Bangladeshi freedom fighters. Perhaps Hasina government can now proceed to nullify
various other orders perpetuated by Zia and his successor government for making Bangladesh an
Islamic fundamentalist nation.

The fundamentalist and reactionary leaders of Jamait-e-Islami, Islamic Chattra Shibir, Islamic
Oikyo Jot, Khilafat Movement of Bangladesh and Ulema Council of Bangladesh had organized a
gathering in front of Dhaka’s National Press Club and voiced protest against the Supreme Court
verdict. These groups and other resurgent Islamic organisations are likely to link up with BNP
and whip up protest in the ruse of Sheikh Hasina signing several agreements with India allegedly
jeopardizing Bangladesh’s sovereignty and security. The pro-Pakistani and Islamist lobbies are
on the verge of whipping up unrest to regain political toe hold after their humiliating defeat in
last Parliamentary and local body elections. These pro-Pakistani forces, as a last resort, pick up
the anti-India broom to clean up their own dirty homes.

Cracking down on organized crime, identifying and prosecuting corrupt politicians and
bureaucrats, improving general law & order situation are some of other achievements of Hasina
government. The U.S. government has dropped Bangladesh from its watch list following the
improvement in the human rights scenario.

Despite global economic recession, the Bangladeshi economy did not suffer the way as feared by
many economists and experts. The stimulus package announced by the government for
vulnerable sectors helped a lot to keep the economy going. The country’s foreign exchange
reserve exceeded 10 billion U.S. dollars, and inflation was pulled down to 4.69 percent in August
2009 from 10.11 percent when she formed the government on Jan. 6 last year. The flow of
remittances has increased 22.4 percent from the previous year. The scenario of rural employment
has improved significantly.

Another golden hue was added to the history of Bangladesh when the Bangla Supreme Court
handed down death sentence on five former army officers for assassination of Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman and his other colleagues in and death warrant was issued against Lt. Col. Syed Farooq
Rahman, Lt. Col. Sultan Sahriar Rashid Khan, Major Bazlul Huda, Maj. A. K. M. Mohiuddin
Ahmed and Lt. Col Mohiuddin Ahmed. The process of prosecution had started in 1996. It took
13 years to conclude the proceedings of the most unfortunate crime committed by former army
officers. The killers had enjoyed indemnity under Khondakar, Ziaur and Ershad regime. The
development has, on the one hand buoyed up moral of the secular forces and on the other has set
up an example to the erring army officers and pro-Pakistani forces. Several documents and
evidences pointing finger at Ziaur Rahman being one of the background plotters of assassination
of Mujib has embarrassed the BNP and lowered its image in public eye.

Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit to Delhi has resulted in mutually beneficial agreements. Several
contentious issues have been sorted out. In the 50 point historic communiqué issued after the
summit meeting at Hyderabad House, PM Hasina and PM Manmohon had pledged commitment
to working positively for solving all issues with the spirit of mutual respect, understanding and
cooperation. The Indian government has categorically committed that nothing that harms
Bangladesh will be done at Tipaimukh hydro project. The PMs also vowed to work positively to
reach an agreement regarding sharing of Teesta River water. The Joint River Commission (JRC)
meeting is likely to meet soon to expedite this and also on issues related to Feni, Muhuri,
Khowai, Dharala and Dudkumar rivers will be held at a convenient time in the current quarter of
2010. Actions on dredging of Ichamati River and protection of Mahananda, Karotoa, Nagar,
Kulik, Atrai, Dharala and Feni rivers were also agreed to be worked out. India appreciated the
urgency of Bangladesh government to regenerate required water flow in all rivers and agreed to
support Bangladesh initiatives to dredge rivers for flood control, navigation and access to ports.
India agreed to provide dredgers on urgent basis.

The two PMs also agreed to resolve maritime boundary disputes through mutual discussions.
They acknowledged the initiation of proceedings under Annex VII of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and in that context India welcomed a visit of a
Bangladesh delegation. Issues related to land boundary disputes were agreed to be resolved
keeping in view the spirit of 1974 Land Boundary agreement. It was agreed to convene Joint
Boundary Working Group to address this issue.

Bangladesh agreed to let India, Nepal and Bhutan use Mongla and Chittagong port by rail and
road for trading. It was also agreed that Rohanpur-Singabad broad gauge railway link will be
available for Bangladesh for transit to Nepal. Bangladesh informed India of its intention to
convert Radhikapur- Birol railway line into broad gauge and requested railway transit link to
Bhutan as well. To facilitate smooth trading of goods, it was agreed that trucks from Bhutan and
Nepal would be allowed to enter about 200 meters into the zero point at Banglabandha at
Banglabandha-Phulbari land customs station. Necessary arrangements will be mutually agreed
upon and put in place by both countries.

Countries agreed to jointly combat organized terrorism, insurgency and criminal activities.
Countries earlier signed to exchange convicted criminals. PMs assured each other that the
territory of either will not be allowed for activities inimical to the other, and resolved not to
allow their respective territories to be used for training, sanctuary and other operations by
domestic or foreign terrorist/militant and insurgent organisations and their operatives. Both
prime ministers agreed that the respective border guarding forces will exercise restraint, and
underscored the importance of regular meetings between the two border security forces to curtail
illegal cross border activities, and to prevent loss of lives.

Apart from above Bangladesh and India earlier signed three agreements and two MOUs.
Bangladesh under power trading agreement will import about 250MW power from Indian
eastern grid. The actions required for Grid connectivity will be completed soon. Power trading
agreement is the stepping stone to set up regional power grid and energy ring.

Besides these agreements Bangladesh has shown goodwill by arresting and handing over to India
important leaders of ULFA, NLFT and NDFB organizations. Paresh Barua the military
commander of ULFA has now taken shelter in China. With the improved relationship India and
Bangladesh can perhaps establish a common economic zone that would benefit both the
countries. In case the present trend is sustained and Sheikh Hasina’s government gets a longer
lease of life Bangladesh can make enormous progress and it can invite investment by foreign
countries including India for rapid economic progress and improvement of its natural resources.
Several Indian investors have expressed intention to invest in power, oil exploration and other
industries in Bangladesh. Hopefully, at the bilateral level some positive structures can be worked
out.

It may be recalled that India and Bangladesh now jointly stand as buffer between Islamist
jihadism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Southern Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. If this
buffer is allowed to strengthen, both the countries can become islands of democracy and
secularism in South and South East Asia. As it appears, India is ready to walk alongside
Bangladesh in this mission.

The people of Bangladesh has finally proved that despite hijacking of the polity and policies of
secular Bangladesh by pro-Pakistani forces and attempted Islamisation of the country from1976
to 2006, the Bengali identity, cultural values, traditions of secularism and love for freedom and
liberty remain the main building blocks of the nation. The dream of Mujib’s Sonar Bangla may
not materialize but the present developments present a golden hue. However, the dark clouds of
machinations by pro-Pakistani BNP and Islamsit Jamait-e-Islami jihadist forces are just
hibernating. They have the capability of striking against the forces of secularism and freedom
movement in collaboration with their foreign mentors and moneybags.
Courtesy: Maloy Krishna Dhar

http://frontierindia.net/wa/sonar-bangla-the-golden-hue-in-sight/593/