Liberation War and development of Bangladesh
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
ATM Shawkat Hossain
BANGLADESH achieved its independence from Pakistan on December 16, 1971. The people of Bangladesh observe the Victory Day on this day every year spontaneously from the core of their heart. The political parties also observe this joyous occasion with due solemnity through street rallies and holding of seminars. The Victory Day wears a festive look through rallies, seminars, discussion and patriotic songs, art competition, screening of documentary films etc.
Pakistan which earned independence in 1947 did not follow the principle of brotherhood, equal policy and equal treatment towards the then East Pakistan and it rather perpetrated a strategy of exploitation, deprivation and oppression. This unethical strategy created a feeling of distrust, hatred towards the Pakistani rulers who remained under the shadow of martial law regime, instead of democratic government. This also inflamed a spirit of protest by mass-demonstration by the political parties. The Pakistani rulers did not accept spontaneous electoral verdict given by the overwhelming majority of voters in favour of Awami League (AL) in the general election of 1970 but instead began to strengthen its military power in the then East Pakistan in disguise of continuation of so-called dialogue with the elected majority leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At dead of night, the military junta general Yahia left Dhaka, ordering a military crackdown on the innocent civilians, police, BDR and Bangalee soldiers on March 25, 1971.
The valiant freedom fighters who include the police and BDR personnel and soldiers under the command of Col. MAG Osmani in cooperation with the Indian army liberated our mother land from Pakistani occupation forces on December 16, 1971. Bangladesh came into existence on the world map as an independent state under the leadership of its undisputed leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Pakistani occupation forces could not protect the sovereignty of Pakistan, despite mass killing of innocent people, raping of innocent women and destruction of dwelling houses and shops.
The spontaneous sacrifice of the valiant freedom fighters and the undisputed leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman can not be erased out from the history of Bangladesh. We should remember and respect their sacrifice with honour, bowing down our heads. But it is painful when we see thousands of freedom fighters are unemployed passing their life in financial crisis and dying without treatment. The government should not limit its welfare activities to payment of monthly honourarium and providing jobs under freedom fighters quota to sons/daughters of freedom fighters. It should reserve some seats at low fees for admission to universities, medical colleges and engineering universities and even private universities for future generation of our freedom fighters. Free-journey or at minimum fare by railway, steamer, launch and bus can be arranged for next generation of freedom fighters and so also about free medical or at minimum cost treatment at government medical hospitals and private hospitals can be rendered to the future generation of our freedom fighters. The government may adopt and execute policy of imparting training and financing various projects in small of medium enterprise (SME) sector to the future generation of freedom fighters. It may also think about imparting training to the next generation of freedom fighters on different trades in order to send them to the overseas countries at minimum costs.
The objective of liberation of Bangladesh was not merely the geographical separation from Pakistan but also to establish a democratic government, for ending exploitation and social injustice. But these objectives are yet to be materialised. In the present political, economic and social contexts in Bangladesh, the nation needs understanding and spontaneous co-operation among the political leaders, businessmen, professionals and members of the civil society on certain important issues of national interest. We really need a national consensus to devise a new policy for allround and rapid development of our country with the same spirit and philosophy of liberation war.
Such a policy should be based on the following principles:
1) To establish good governance ensuring accountability and transparency which will control and abolish misuse of power and corruption;
2) To establish understanding and good relationship among the political leaders and develop a feeling of tolerance and respect for each other and help forge a strong consensus among political leaders and also to train honourable MPs on parliamentary rules and constitution and other matters of national interest and moral obligation;
3) To ensure security to all citizens of Bangladesh, irrespective of cast and religion for reducing and uprooting criminal activities;
4) To strengthen rules and regulations to protect human rights;
5) To stop physical torture, rape, acid throwing, human trafficking and dowry system to protect women;
6) To frame and implement a modern scientific education system creating an equal opportunity for admission into universities, medical colleges, engineering universities and colleges, private universities from all educational institutions including religious institutions and also to introduce science in the curricula of religious institutions to bring the latter to the level of schools/colleges.
7) To set up training centres for training of youths (educated and completion of primary school level) in various trades like information technology (IT), farming, diary farming, poultry farming, health education, forestation and effects on climate change, cottage industry, horticulture etc. for increasing production as well as for creating jobs at home and abroad;
8) To encourage and expand the network and volume of SME industry by reducing rate of interest, developing industrial parks, facilities of one-stop service, delivery of requisite technology and information about market;
9) To provide farmers with subsidised manures, pesticides, seeds, water supply and loans at low rate of interest in proper time to increase food and non-food production and build up security for food;
10) To develop and patronise import substitute industries in our country to save hard earned foreign currency and to give incentives to export oriented industries and remove barriers and bottlenecks to export through discussions with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
11) To open special export processing zones exclusively for each highly developed industrialised countries like Japan, Korea, China Thailand, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia. Turkey, the UK, the USA, Germany, France Italy and the Middle East countries in different regions of the country to ensure equal development and to help enhance exports;
12) To expand cooperation among SAARC countries in respect of education, culture, trade, communication and security;
13) To enable judicial system to act independently;
14) To bring desirable reforms in the administration of National Board of Revenue (NBR) to collect a huge amount of tax, value added tax (VAT) and customs duty by stopping evasion of the same and bringing more able and solvent people under the network of tax, VAT and customs;
15) To regulate and encourage state-owned commercial banks, specialised banks, private banks and leasing institutions and stock exchanges by Bangladesh Bank and the Securities Exchange Commission, as the case may be, to help channel deposits and funds to industrial, agricultural and service sectors to boast production for export; and
16) To explore gas oil and coal in our country and to develop facilities thereof by the government through public-private programme (PPP).
(The writer is an ex-DGM of Sonali Bank Ltd.)
BANGLADESH achieved its independence from Pakistan on December 16, 1971. The people of Bangladesh observe the Victory Day on this day every year spontaneously from the core of their heart. The political parties also observe this joyous occasion with due solemnity through street rallies and holding of seminars. The Victory Day wears a festive look through rallies, seminars, discussion and patriotic songs, art competition, screening of documentary films etc.
Pakistan which earned independence in 1947 did not follow the principle of brotherhood, equal policy and equal treatment towards the then East Pakistan and it rather perpetrated a strategy of exploitation, deprivation and oppression. This unethical strategy created a feeling of distrust, hatred towards the Pakistani rulers who remained under the shadow of martial law regime, instead of democratic government. This also inflamed a spirit of protest by mass-demonstration by the political parties. The Pakistani rulers did not accept spontaneous electoral verdict given by the overwhelming majority of voters in favour of Awami League (AL) in the general election of 1970 but instead began to strengthen its military power in the then East Pakistan in disguise of continuation of so-called dialogue with the elected majority leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At dead of night, the military junta general Yahia left Dhaka, ordering a military crackdown on the innocent civilians, police, BDR and Bangalee soldiers on March 25, 1971.
The valiant freedom fighters who include the police and BDR personnel and soldiers under the command of Col. MAG Osmani in cooperation with the Indian army liberated our mother land from Pakistani occupation forces on December 16, 1971. Bangladesh came into existence on the world map as an independent state under the leadership of its undisputed leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Pakistani occupation forces could not protect the sovereignty of Pakistan, despite mass killing of innocent people, raping of innocent women and destruction of dwelling houses and shops.
The spontaneous sacrifice of the valiant freedom fighters and the undisputed leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman can not be erased out from the history of Bangladesh. We should remember and respect their sacrifice with honour, bowing down our heads. But it is painful when we see thousands of freedom fighters are unemployed passing their life in financial crisis and dying without treatment. The government should not limit its welfare activities to payment of monthly honourarium and providing jobs under freedom fighters quota to sons/daughters of freedom fighters. It should reserve some seats at low fees for admission to universities, medical colleges and engineering universities and even private universities for future generation of our freedom fighters. Free-journey or at minimum fare by railway, steamer, launch and bus can be arranged for next generation of freedom fighters and so also about free medical or at minimum cost treatment at government medical hospitals and private hospitals can be rendered to the future generation of our freedom fighters. The government may adopt and execute policy of imparting training and financing various projects in small of medium enterprise (SME) sector to the future generation of freedom fighters. It may also think about imparting training to the next generation of freedom fighters on different trades in order to send them to the overseas countries at minimum costs.
The objective of liberation of Bangladesh was not merely the geographical separation from Pakistan but also to establish a democratic government, for ending exploitation and social injustice. But these objectives are yet to be materialised. In the present political, economic and social contexts in Bangladesh, the nation needs understanding and spontaneous co-operation among the political leaders, businessmen, professionals and members of the civil society on certain important issues of national interest. We really need a national consensus to devise a new policy for allround and rapid development of our country with the same spirit and philosophy of liberation war.
Such a policy should be based on the following principles:
1) To establish good governance ensuring accountability and transparency which will control and abolish misuse of power and corruption;
2) To establish understanding and good relationship among the political leaders and develop a feeling of tolerance and respect for each other and help forge a strong consensus among political leaders and also to train honourable MPs on parliamentary rules and constitution and other matters of national interest and moral obligation;
3) To ensure security to all citizens of Bangladesh, irrespective of cast and religion for reducing and uprooting criminal activities;
4) To strengthen rules and regulations to protect human rights;
5) To stop physical torture, rape, acid throwing, human trafficking and dowry system to protect women;
6) To frame and implement a modern scientific education system creating an equal opportunity for admission into universities, medical colleges, engineering universities and colleges, private universities from all educational institutions including religious institutions and also to introduce science in the curricula of religious institutions to bring the latter to the level of schools/colleges.
7) To set up training centres for training of youths (educated and completion of primary school level) in various trades like information technology (IT), farming, diary farming, poultry farming, health education, forestation and effects on climate change, cottage industry, horticulture etc. for increasing production as well as for creating jobs at home and abroad;
8) To encourage and expand the network and volume of SME industry by reducing rate of interest, developing industrial parks, facilities of one-stop service, delivery of requisite technology and information about market;
9) To provide farmers with subsidised manures, pesticides, seeds, water supply and loans at low rate of interest in proper time to increase food and non-food production and build up security for food;
10) To develop and patronise import substitute industries in our country to save hard earned foreign currency and to give incentives to export oriented industries and remove barriers and bottlenecks to export through discussions with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
11) To open special export processing zones exclusively for each highly developed industrialised countries like Japan, Korea, China Thailand, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia. Turkey, the UK, the USA, Germany, France Italy and the Middle East countries in different regions of the country to ensure equal development and to help enhance exports;
12) To expand cooperation among SAARC countries in respect of education, culture, trade, communication and security;
13) To enable judicial system to act independently;
14) To bring desirable reforms in the administration of National Board of Revenue (NBR) to collect a huge amount of tax, value added tax (VAT) and customs duty by stopping evasion of the same and bringing more able and solvent people under the network of tax, VAT and customs;
15) To regulate and encourage state-owned commercial banks, specialised banks, private banks and leasing institutions and stock exchanges by Bangladesh Bank and the Securities Exchange Commission, as the case may be, to help channel deposits and funds to industrial, agricultural and service sectors to boast production for export; and
16) To explore gas oil and coal in our country and to develop facilities thereof by the government through public-private programme (PPP).
(The writer is an ex-DGM of Sonali Bank Ltd.)