Martin Bormanns are not dead
Khalilur Rahman | Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Khalilur Rahman
Martin Bormann was a powerful civil bureaucrat who, as a private secretary to Adolf Hitler, Dictator of German Reich had wielded enormous authority on the administration during the whole period of Second World War. He could do it because of his tremendous personal influence on the Fuehrer. Authentic historical records say that Martin Bormann had even issued orders in the name of Adolf Hitler to high military officers and German army field commanders for one and a half years towards the end of the war till the Fuehrer's suicide at a Berlin bunker along with his mistress, Eva Braun. There is evidence that Hitler had suffered from nervous break-down when reports of German defeats from many fronts began to pour in and on many occasions the Dictator was found unable to guide the military operations from his war headquarters. Bormann assumed command secretly and had sent orders to the army commanders purported to have been issued by Hitler. Important and top secret files were submitted to the Fuehrer by him personally irrespective of the departments or ministries from which they were sent for Hitler's direct attention at the concluding months of the war. Bormann, as one of the most loyal officials of Adolf Hitler, carried out his leader's last wish to bum his and Eva Braun's bodies by gasoline with the help of some other personal staff of the leader on the bunker premises. Then Bormann left the place and despite frantic efforts by the invading allied and Soviet forces he could not be traced out, dead or alive. Many historians have accused Bormann of committing wrongs and mischiefs in taking actions by using the name of the Fuehrer. But as a bureaucrat he was so cunning and tactful that none could challenge his authority. During the last days of war, records suggest, Bormann was like a shadow of Adolf Hitler. He was extremely publicity-shy and could manage to avoid being photographed in official meetings or other social gatherings. Therefore, his photograph is hardly available. In short, Bormann was a typical bureaucrat who knew the art of winning his master's heart and share state power to an unimaginable extent which even formidable persons in the administration could hardly accomplish. Another bureaucrat, Antonio Pulli Bey who is still remembered with his master, the playboy King of Egypt, late Faruq. He had also followed the King like a shadow and all the secrets of Faruk's private life were known to Bey. There is enough evidence to the effect that Pulli Bey guided the emotional King to commit many misdeeds which, at times, had caused public resentment and undermined the monarchy. In another episode, after the death of Indian Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi there was a controversy over the role played by Mr Dhawan, secretary to the slain Prime Minister. Dhawan continued to retain his position even when late Rajiv Gandhi took over power as Prime Minister after his mother's assassination. Dhawan was removed from his position after some of his actions relating to change of armed guards inducting some Sikh personnel in Indira Gandhi's security who shot her dead had come under heavy criticism in Lok Shava. Although Dhawan exercised too much of authority beyond his official jurisdiction he could manage to maintain a low profile and was rarely photographed in official or other functions like Martin Bormann. In India, press reports say, the bureaucracy is still so powerful that it often flouts government decisions with impunity. In international deals, Indian bureaucracy, in some particular cases, is responsible for delays in their implementation depending on its likings despite government's sincere intention to honour the inter-country agreements. We have narrated the episodes of those three officials on the basis of information drawn from dependable records to remind all that the ghosts of these typical bureaucrats still exist in the state administrations in many countries who make the governments function as per their wishes that often result in needless crises to the detriment of people's welfare. A tactful government can quickly detect such elements and save the administration from their evil influence. In Bangladesh, the civil bureaucracy, by and large, functions according to the dictates of party in power. But our bureaucracy is often blamed for its failure to perform at the desired speed. We may cite one example in this connection. In a recent development, the communications ministry, press reports, say, was asked to prepare reports on spending on repairing roads during last ten years by the Prime Minister (PM) more than three months ago. The PM's directive came after a meeting with the communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and the senior officials of the ministry. The report is yet to be prepared by the officials. The High Court also issued an order on August 17 last asking the government to submit a detailed report on the steps taken during the last five years to repair roads and highways, prevent road mishaps and ensure safety on roads across the country. The High Court also asked the government to report on allocation of money for roads and highways, how it was spent and the measures taken for the development of roads and highways during that period. The High Court directed the government to submit the report by October 17 last. The communications ministry could not submit the report as per High Court directive till November 30 last, the press report added. This is how a section of the government officials carry out their assigned duties at a pace slower than movement of snails.
Martin Bormann was a powerful civil bureaucrat who, as a private secretary to Adolf Hitler, Dictator of German Reich had wielded enormous authority on the administration during the whole period of Second World War. He could do it because of his tremendous personal influence on the Fuehrer. Authentic historical records say that Martin Bormann had even issued orders in the name of Adolf Hitler to high military officers and German army field commanders for one and a half years towards the end of the war till the Fuehrer's suicide at a Berlin bunker along with his mistress, Eva Braun. There is evidence that Hitler had suffered from nervous break-down when reports of German defeats from many fronts began to pour in and on many occasions the Dictator was found unable to guide the military operations from his war headquarters. Bormann assumed command secretly and had sent orders to the army commanders purported to have been issued by Hitler. Important and top secret files were submitted to the Fuehrer by him personally irrespective of the departments or ministries from which they were sent for Hitler's direct attention at the concluding months of the war. Bormann, as one of the most loyal officials of Adolf Hitler, carried out his leader's last wish to bum his and Eva Braun's bodies by gasoline with the help of some other personal staff of the leader on the bunker premises. Then Bormann left the place and despite frantic efforts by the invading allied and Soviet forces he could not be traced out, dead or alive. Many historians have accused Bormann of committing wrongs and mischiefs in taking actions by using the name of the Fuehrer. But as a bureaucrat he was so cunning and tactful that none could challenge his authority. During the last days of war, records suggest, Bormann was like a shadow of Adolf Hitler. He was extremely publicity-shy and could manage to avoid being photographed in official meetings or other social gatherings. Therefore, his photograph is hardly available. In short, Bormann was a typical bureaucrat who knew the art of winning his master's heart and share state power to an unimaginable extent which even formidable persons in the administration could hardly accomplish. Another bureaucrat, Antonio Pulli Bey who is still remembered with his master, the playboy King of Egypt, late Faruq. He had also followed the King like a shadow and all the secrets of Faruk's private life were known to Bey. There is enough evidence to the effect that Pulli Bey guided the emotional King to commit many misdeeds which, at times, had caused public resentment and undermined the monarchy. In another episode, after the death of Indian Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi there was a controversy over the role played by Mr Dhawan, secretary to the slain Prime Minister. Dhawan continued to retain his position even when late Rajiv Gandhi took over power as Prime Minister after his mother's assassination. Dhawan was removed from his position after some of his actions relating to change of armed guards inducting some Sikh personnel in Indira Gandhi's security who shot her dead had come under heavy criticism in Lok Shava. Although Dhawan exercised too much of authority beyond his official jurisdiction he could manage to maintain a low profile and was rarely photographed in official or other functions like Martin Bormann. In India, press reports say, the bureaucracy is still so powerful that it often flouts government decisions with impunity. In international deals, Indian bureaucracy, in some particular cases, is responsible for delays in their implementation depending on its likings despite government's sincere intention to honour the inter-country agreements. We have narrated the episodes of those three officials on the basis of information drawn from dependable records to remind all that the ghosts of these typical bureaucrats still exist in the state administrations in many countries who make the governments function as per their wishes that often result in needless crises to the detriment of people's welfare. A tactful government can quickly detect such elements and save the administration from their evil influence. In Bangladesh, the civil bureaucracy, by and large, functions according to the dictates of party in power. But our bureaucracy is often blamed for its failure to perform at the desired speed. We may cite one example in this connection. In a recent development, the communications ministry, press reports, say, was asked to prepare reports on spending on repairing roads during last ten years by the Prime Minister (PM) more than three months ago. The PM's directive came after a meeting with the communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and the senior officials of the ministry. The report is yet to be prepared by the officials. The High Court also issued an order on August 17 last asking the government to submit a detailed report on the steps taken during the last five years to repair roads and highways, prevent road mishaps and ensure safety on roads across the country. The High Court also asked the government to report on allocation of money for roads and highways, how it was spent and the measures taken for the development of roads and highways during that period. The High Court directed the government to submit the report by October 17 last. The communications ministry could not submit the report as per High Court directive till November 30 last, the press report added. This is how a section of the government officials carry out their assigned duties at a pace slower than movement of snails.