From: dwright@metz.une.edu.au (Denis Wright)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: 21 Years of Bangladesh - Musings
Keywords: politics,BNP,awami league,jamaat,Ghulam Azam,students
Date: 30 Dec 92 18:26:38 GMT


December 31, 1992

Bangladesh After 21 Years
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Given that Bangladesh has now attained its majority (i.e.,
it has reached 21 years of age), I have been reflecting on
recent events and their links with the past.  The
circumstances behind much of what is below are well known to
scb readers, but I'd be interested to know if the
interpretations I make seem reasonable.

It is fairly long, but a change from the present diet
dished up for jaded scb readers.  Its sub-headings are as
follows (at least read the last section, on positive
features!)

Anniversary of Independence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Political Features - BNP and Jamaat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Awami League
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Babri Masjid
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Student Political Activity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Biharis
~~~~~~~
Negative features
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Successes for Bangladesh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RIGHT?  HERE WE GO....

==============================================================

Anniversary of Independence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   December is a month for powerful emotions to be expressed
   in Bangladesh.  Winter days are mild and physical
   mobility is at its greatest.  Some of the most dramatic
   events in its history have taken place at around this
   time of year.  Potent political forces are unleashed
   annually as the dramatic events of 1971 are re-lived by
   those who experienced the terrors of that period, and who
   pass that memory on to their children; an act of thanks
   to those who gave their lives for their country, and
   remembrance for those who suffered and died during those
   grim days.

Political Features - BNP and Jamaat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   It is not surprising, then, that what is happening now in
   Bangladesh cannot be divorced from the events of 1971.
   At that time, the Jamaat-i-Islami collaborated with the
   Pakistan Army in the repression and humiliation of the
   Bengali people, and its present leader, Ghulam Azam, was
   involved in those activities.  Ironically, the BNP
   Government of Begum Khalida Zia has, ever since the last
   election, depended for its parliamentary majority on that
   same party which helped to inflict so much suffering on
   Bengalis of all religions and from all walks of life.

   The effect of this is that the government has limited
   room to manoeuvre in its dealings with matters concerning
   the Jamaat.  Withdrawal of Jamaat support could have
   disastrous effects upon the fortunes of the BNP
   government, especially as its performance has not been
   very impressive so far, and it has failed to fulfil many
   of the hopes of its supporters.   Yet in a climate of
   popular opinion which is not well disposed towards the
   Jamaat, the government cannot win any support by
   protecting the Jamaat and some of its more enthusiastic
   supporters.

   Ghulam Azam
   ~~~~~~~~~~~
      The question of Ghulam Azam's trial is a vexing one.
      No-one denies his collaboration, though other terms are
      sometimes used to describe it.  Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's
      government gave pardons to alleged war criminals, giving
      the Jamaat leader the same legal rights as any other
      person.  The legal procedures which would be involved in
      reversing that decision are complex and it is doubtful
      whether a fair trial could ever be staged, given the
      political environment in which such a trial would be
      carried out.

The Awami League
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Sheikh Hasina has much to gain from the present attacks
   on the right wing political groups, especially the
   Jamaat.  If the Jamaat can be discredited, then there is
   a fair chance that the BNP government can be
   destabilised, perhaps leading to a breakdown in the
   coalition and the possibility of fresh elections in which
   the Awami League may fare better than it did last time.
   Part of her strategy is to maintain strong pressure on
   the government in favour of a trial for Ghulam Azam.
   Whether or not the trial actually goes ahead is not as
   important to the Awami League as the effect of political
   agitation on the fortunes of the government.  In any
   event, supporting the demand for Ghulam Azam's trial is a
   vote-winner, and in backing this demand, the Awami League
   has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Babri Masjid
~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Because of the homogenising effect of the strength of
   Bengali culture, Bengal has been relatively free of
   sectarian and communal disharmony.  Nevertheless, when
   communal passions are stirred elsewhere on the
   subcontinent, they are reflected inevitably in
   Bangladesh.  During the recent desecration of the Babri
   Masjid, the Muslim community in India was reminded
   starkly of its minority status.  When the anger generated
   by the event at Ayodhya spilled over into Bangladesh, the
   Hindu community of Bangladesh was placed in a similar
   position to that of the Muslims of India.  The
   constitutions of both India and Bangladesh guarantee
   equal rights for their minority communities, but as long
   as communal tensions are allowed free reign, no minority
   community can feel safe or protected.  Political tension
   between India and Bangladesh likewise is reflected in
   increased tension between the Muslim and Hindu
   communities.  There should be no nexus between these two,
   but inevitably, there is, and probably always will be.

Student Political Activity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Academic activity at Bangladesh's universities is
   seriously crippled by the violent nature of student
   activism.  It is virtually impossible to go to any campus
   in Bangladesh and not witness substantial demonstrations
   and disruptions to what is regarded elsewhere as normal
   university life.  Given the importance the major parties
   attach to their student wings, student politics is a
   deadly, vicious game where future national political
   leaders are blooded.  The BNP is as involved in these
   activities as every other party, which means that once
   again, the government's hands are tied and student
   political wrangling will inevitably continue to be a
   blight on the professional operations of the
   universities.  Rising Muslim consciousness within the
   universities has also sharpened the division between the
   supporters of some of the older ideologies which arose at
   the time of liberation, and the bearers of modern
   expressions of Islamic faith.

Biharis
~~~~~~~
   Another group to feel the heat of emotions generated by
   memories of 1971 are the Biharis.  Still unable to go to
   Pakistan, they have lived in limbo since the defeat of
   the Pakistan army in 1971.  Recently, scores of victims
   of the excesses of that year were unearthed at Mirpur.
   Bihari complicity in these massacres will never be
   forgiven by the majority of Bangladeshis, and as it is
   impossible to single out the perpetrators of the crimes,
   the Bihari community as a whole suffers the consequences
   of the collaboration.

Negative features
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Bangladesh at the beginning of 1993 faces the same
   problems it inherited in the year of its birth, except
   that they have been exacerbated by newly emerging forces
   and changing patterns, several of global or regional
   dimensions.  These include:

      relations with India
      ecological degradation
      relations with Burma
      Chakma insurgency
      overpopulation
      communal tensions
      failure of government to combat endemic national vices,
      including
         corruption
         nepotism
         political violence

Successes for Bangladesh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Nevertheless, there are positive features of Bangladesh's
   existence which should be mentioned.  Most importantly,
   it retains the ideals which brought it into existence,
   even if reality falls short of these ideals in many ways.
   It goes into 1993 as a democracy, with a government
   elected in a comparatively fair political campaign.  Its
   national identity has been strengthened after 21 years of
   diverse political experience, including a long period of
   military rule.

   While its relations with India and Burma are far from
   perfect, Bangladesh has not had to go to war with its
   neighbours at any time since its birth.  It has developed
   a fairly stable economic infrastructure, which, though
   unbalanced in many ways, allows for growth and diversity
   in the economy.  Its cultural life remains strong and
   vital and its growing sporting prowess in fields such as
   cricket and football are beginning to be recognised
   internationally.  It has faced disasters of horrendous
   magnitude and largely by the efforts of ordinary people,
   has recovered from them.  While it has not been
   successful in eradicating the popular western perception
   of Bangladesh as a land of doom, gloom and misfortune,
   the circumstances which have nurtured this perception are
   generally not of Bangladesh's making.

   Bangladesh has much to be proud of, and it is not at all
   surprising that its nationals who live abroad have the
   permanent ache of homesickness in their hearts, as they
   think of the flat green rice paddies, the high prowed
   boats that glide down the brown rivers, the taste and
   smell of real Bengali cuisine, and the haunting strains
   of a beautiful Tagore lyric, sung with gentle passion and
   without effort.

   I know that feeling....

   Joi Bangla!


'bye from Oz, my scb friends, for 1992 -

Denis Wright

( - who is on vacation from 2-16 January.  Think Cox's
Bazaar.  Think mangoes.  Think warm, warm sunshine, a
good surf and gentle breezes....)

See you in '93.