Opinion
The US-Israeli war against Iran has plunged the world into a deep state of instability. Its effects are now becoming apparent in Bangladesh, where the new government is clearly at a loss to deal with the consequences of the conflict.
Fuel prices have risen, and long lines are seen at petrol pumps in various parts of the country. On the roads of the capital Dhaka and other cities, car owners are trying their best to save fuel—many are not using their cars unless necessary.
As a result, the roads are naturally largely empty. Due to the Iran crisis, the country’s educational institutions—schools, colleges, and universities—have shifted to online classes. Parents are reluctant to spend on fuel, as there is no guarantee that it will be replenished once it runs out.
On the other hand, the prices of essential commodities, which increased during the just-ended month of Ramadan, show no signs of decreasing.
All these concerns have gripped the people of the country. But these are not the only problems. There is another important reason behind this. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, which returned to power through controversial elections, has once again started trying to shape the country’s history to suit its own interests, as in the past.
In other words, recent events suggest that BNP is once again on the path of distorting history.
President Mohammad Shahabuddin, who was elected by the previous parliament with a majority of Awami League members, is playing a role beyond the limits the constitution places on him.
In line with the BNP’s political stance, he is citing the Prime Minister’s father, Ziaur Rahman, as the main inspiration for the 1971 Liberation War.
As a result, historical truth is being completely ignored. The trend of distortion of history that began after the violent political changes of August-November 1975 and continued for twenty-one years—until the return of the Awami League to power under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina in 1996—has returned with renewed vigor.
This is worrying. Because, after two decades out of power, the citizens expected the BNP to become a liberal and historically recognized political party. But in reality, it seems that new wine in old bottles—that is, the old trend has returned in a new guise.
It is not that the Bengali people are accepting this new—or old—narrative. But the government’s inability and unwillingness to initiate a new trend in politics is failing to re-establish the divisions in national history. There is a risk of dividing society once again through false propaganda.
This trend of distorting history is active again. The government has publicly stated that those responsible for the anarchy created during the Yunus era—whom it refers to as the ‘July Warriors’—will be granted unconditional impunity for their actions.
Such a decision will deepen the country’s crisis, because the killings of hundreds of policemen and thousands of Awami League workers, and the destruction of nationally important structures like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house at Dhanmondi 32 and the Mujibnagar Memorial in Meherpur will not come under the scope of investigation.
In other words, the rule of law is being deliberately weakened. It seems that no one remembers that the impunity law, which was introduced in September 1975 during the Mushtaq government to protect Bangabandhu’s killers from prosecution and was included in the constitution through the Fifth Amendment of the Zia government in 1979, was repealed by Sheikh Hasina’s government in 1996.
Meanwhile, no action has been taken to release many people arrested during the one and a half year rule of the Yunus government. Prominent figures like Shahriar Kabir and Asaduzzaman Noor are still in prison.
In addition, at least eighteen journalists are still in prison and many more are burdened with false cases. Citizens had hoped that the new government would come to power and dismantle the repressive structures of the Yunus government.
But that expectation was not fulfilled. Rather, the question arises, has the new government become hostage to Jamaat-e-Islami and other forces in the opposition seats in parliament?
The government urgently needs a clear strategy that will reassure citizens that it is ready to connect with all segments of society.
The recent statements by the ruling party leaders—where they are talking about keeping the Awami League away from the political center—indicate a major political mistake. Because public support for the former ruling party is gradually increasing. Despite the desire to keep Sheikh Hasina and her colleagues away from politics, the influence of the Awami League is becoming increasingly clear.
Outside Bangladesh, various individuals and organizations are organizing seminars, discussions, and drawing the attention of Western lawmakers to the deterioration of the rule of law in the country, with the aim of re-establishing secular democracy in the country.
Sadly, Bangladesh currently lacks visionary leadership. The economy is in decline, foreign policy has yet to show any firm stance, and the education system is still confined to the narrow framework of the unstable regime led by Yunus.
There is still no light at the end of the dark tunnel into which the people of Bangladesh were pushed in August 2024. And this does not bode well for the future of the country.
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