Your Highness General Moeen U Ahmed
I will not start by thanking you as you are being thanked by a lot of people everyday in Bangladesh. I hardly see any newspaper who will dare write anything about you but some glaring words of adulation for all your great deeds since the day you helped impose a state of emergency in Bangladesh.
Honorable Chief of Army Staff
Lately I hear you lecturing the nation on the misdeeds of our politicians and hear you talking all the popular talks about how much money being funneled out of the country and how we discovered the mine of relief CI sheets. Sir, while you make all these political talks, the people you are talking against are gagged, incarcerated without any opportunities of self defense and any chance for bail. You talk about restoring civility and a rule of law. But what kind of rule of law is it where you can make advance judgments on cases yet to be prosecuted by the legal system, without letting us hear any view from the opposite site or see any exhibit in favor of your judgment?
Your Excellency
That day you bragged that once you ordered the IG police, all the violence in our garments industry has stopped. In Bangladesh rule of precedence are you supposed to command the IG of Police? Or you simply can do that as the forces under your command carry heavier weapons than the forces under the command of the IGP? Mr. General have you ever thought why your forces are stronger than the forces under the IGP? In case you didn’t know, it is because, the people of Bangladesh spends thousands of times more money to feed, clothe, equip your forces. While a police constable, on a duty at a violent Dhaka spot, waits in hungry stomach for hours for one of his only two cheap –inadequate meals a day, your forces are very well fed. While the kids of Bangladesh don’t get to drink milk, we feed your forces milk, egg and other good healthy stuff with ridiculously subsidized price. Dear General, would it be wrong to assume that if we spent a part of the budget we spent on your forces, any other force would be as good as your force is deemed to be?
Honorable General Moeen
The changes you believed to have orchestrated on 1/11 have unprecedented public support. There is no doubt about that. But let me remind you sir, there is also no doubt that this support you are now enjoying is not an endorsement of your positive activity, rather it is an outburst of public anger against previous government and the prevailing political system and situation in Bangladesh. So the honeymoon period will persist as long as the memory of the political mayhem remains fresh in public mind. But people in Bangladesh tend to be very forgetful, and you do not have the luxury to enjoy the negativity towards politicians for too long. You have to show something positive very soon. The most positive thing Bangladesh can expect from you is your abstinence from political process, civil society debates and day to day function of Bangladesh. Bangladesh people have very bitter experience with generals messing with our political system.
Respected Lt General Moeen
We have to keep in mind that you are still a government servant, like any secretary, police chief, election commissioner etc. A secretary can not come out and lecture the nation about politics, and so you should not too. Please don’t tell us that you are smart, your idea is great. There are many more smart people in bureaucracy too. Remember Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Mr. HT Imam, Mofazzal Karim or Inam Ahmed Chow? They were all govt employees and they all are capable of giving a better sermon than you did about democracy. But they did not do that while in govt job as they respect the rule of law. On what logic you preach honesty, rule of law while you yourself are breaking the law?
Honorable Sir
Now a day it is difficult not to see your ISPR supplied decorated portrait in our daily newspapers. Whatever you say, wherever it may be, it will be published in font page with your quarter page portrait. While we see your glowing face, we do not see the mutilated body of Cholesh Risil. What else the media can do? And almost all of the most read newspapers are now somehow intimidated by you. See Daily Janakantha, the editor is in jail, so are the owners of Jugantor, Shamokal, Dinkal, Amardesh, or in hiding are the editors/owners of Ittefaq, Shongram, Jaijaidin, Noya Diganta, and Korotoa etc.
Honorable General
You and your companions tell us all the good nice words against corruption. While you speak of this nice stuff, in retaliation of their two killed comrades, your forces revenge kill 6 men without any proper investigation or judgment.
Respected Sir
You proposed of a new local brand of political system for Bangladesh. You did it when nobody is allowed to talk politics even inside their homes. Bravo general Moeen, These must be Godly words, absolutely one way. Nobody is allowed to respond to it, criticize it! Sir, may I remind you that you are not the first general to lecture the nation about a new brand of democracy? A lot of generals have done the same, and I hope I do not have to remind what the outcome was.
Our Dear General
We have a technocrat civilian run government and a very capable advisory committee. Please let the chief Advisor and the other advisors do an open dialogue with the nation about our political future. You should not infringe yourself into an area where you do not belong to. Remember your official job now is “To support and cooperate with the government”.
April 10, 2007 at 2:33 am
Bravo! Bravo! I cngratulate you for your super job of timely protest.
I’m so happy today, for 3 reasons.
First, it’s so awesome how timely protest is. God bless for your courage and charisma.
Secondly, you eventually realized the hypocrisy and ignominious role of Daily Star and its editor gentle man Mr. Mahfuz Anam.
Thirdly, Someone filed a 3-Crore-takas- Extortion Case against former prime minister Sheik Hasina. Even if the case is not proven finally, I believe, she is the meanest of all means, most corrupt of all corrupts in the country. I would be so happy, should Tariq Zia and his dearest aunt stay sometime in the same correction facility and talk to each other!.
Thanks.
April 10, 2007 at 2:47 am
Hi,
I’m just curious, why was this removed from the DP website?
[DP is trying to avoid sensitive and provocative political issues which may harm the activities of DP in Bangladesh. DP has a social commitment in Bangladesh. At this moment this backtrack may sound like a compromise, however DP is willing to do this compromise for the safety of the activists on the ground. ___ RA]
April 10, 2007 at 3:58 am
Bitter Boy I think You don’t have any difference with the guy who filed the case. It is bit funny that you can’t prove still you will cry. are you private
investigator or astrologer. If u want to live with your such funny assumption,
just keep it with you only.
WeLL Rumi Bhai It is a real timely comment .But Asif Just for an Interest
why this column is not in regular DP thread.Just please don’t take it as offense. I think on the state of emergency while print media is scared to
publish the truth and justice , I think It is the responsibility of every NRB to reflect the opinion.I think DP has done on aplomb.
see I have no Idea abut the complete policy of DP,
But if possible reply this.
April 10, 2007 at 8:59 am
Well Logic of the admin is absolutely practical enough. But If this is the
real picture of Bangladesh I am sorry to say I don’t want to see this Bangladesh.
I was always speaking about Frankestine’s monster . I think we have already
seen the birth of it.
If Human right workers are having problem to work in root level what sorts
of anti corruption we are going to build up?
Then how can we say Bangladesh is ur passion?
April 10, 2007 at 3:01 pm
As much as I like the current state of “corruption free” Bangladesh where much needed political reform is taking place, I do wonder about any possible political ambition of the army leader. I wonder about it even more these days when we hear more and more from the army leader in the media. Perfect timing to bring up your concerns which I am sure are concerns of many others. We have seen examples like this from previous army leaders in Bangladesh and elsewhere and even though I would like to think this is different and this will create a path for better Bangladesh but I need transparent answers.
April 10, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Just because she is Bangabondhu’s daughter she should not be considered above the law. There is only court in Bangladesh and that is headed by the Supreme Court of the country.
The problem with Bangladesh is that the political system is so corrupt. Unless you have 100 million to shed over an election (that you may or may not win) you cannot be even in the run. People have no choice but to vote for incompetence.
We are muslims we don’t worship humans. We respect people for their accomplishments and their intellect. The two ladies should wrap up and leave the people alone. Bangladeshi’s are known for their intelligence, honesty, and cultural values we are smart people we want to support leaders who we can genuinly respect, whom our kids can aspire to become.
Do you want your children to grow up to be Hasina or Khaleda? India did the right thing by bringing in Manmohan, a Cambridge educated economist. Their finance minister is from Harvard Business School. And we are still sitting idle with these two Booas.
What qualification does Hasina have to the leader of the country? If she was not Bangabandhus daughter would you keep him as a servant at home? Don’t think she is even qualified for that role either.
April 11, 2007 at 2:26 am
Rehan Ashan , you know what you yourself is qualified enough to get
so called “two Booas.” Your such comments indicate how much intellectually
developed you are despite if you have lots of degrees.
Admin Please take care of such offensive personal attacks. Are we loosing
our senity?
May 4, 2007 at 8:55 am
Dear Mr. Rumi
thanks for your letter to General Moeen. But I am a bit concerned from which tangaible angel that you are coming from. It’s a thought. The generals of bangladesh are very much part of the country’s mechanics and its citizen too. I am sure Moeen has a better career impacabale one than that of the others who you have mentioned and for moeen to say something about democracy and politics is not an offence, I guess he has the expertise/knowledge and much clean sheet than those who claim to be.
I am behind moeen but not sure how he is going to combine the niche’ force and the peoples’ verdict together.
Secondly, Bear in mind, bangladesh is a country of impromptu doctrine of nessecity kind of a country, hence, we ought to find a permanent soultion than a temporary DIY qucikfix. I am not sure we are going to sweep the slate clean.
You are actching pual to make peter escape and there are a lot of High profile corrupt people who are not touched at all.
thanks
May 17, 2007 at 4:54 am
yes!! i totally agree with Imran. Bangladesh will never change. It will swing back to normal. All those hypes will die down soon. and this time round the political leaders will be more aggressive in corruption. That guy ACC chief- he talks all rubbish. Lets build our nation kind of slogans are useless in Bangladesh. All futile exercise. Army and its forces(the joint forces) are confused and angry. So, the drive of eradication of corruption is a non starter in our country.
October 10, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Thanks for your letter to General Moeen U Ahmed………….
Actually,Bangladesh need this change………
& if possible,he should countinue………
October 20, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Mr Rumi, well written. i also wander, why the army chief is giving such political statements. it appears to me that he is “chief chief advisor”. i have witnessed the interview with VOA. why he had to respond to the allegation raised aginst him regarding taking loan from Trust Bank. his own brother is sitting there as MD of the bank. you can also investigate about his doings as goc of chittagong. supply depot of chittagong cantonment supplied each and every food items free of cost during the marriage ceremony of his daughter. in return, OIC, supply depot was rewarded an UN mission in Liberia. M U A is basically a ill-behaved and vindictive minded officer in the army. can u also investigate what he did in HAWAII, USA when he was attending a seminar as a brigadier. audio and video records of bedroom activities are available with DGFI office in dhaka. above all, M U A is not a personality to be the chief of army. all these are the blessings of BNP govt and his ex-coursemate major retd sayed eskander. the nation was surprised not to see the name of sayed eskander in the list of eighties.
November 4, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Mr Rumi…I am shocked at reading your this letter and the comments under it. You certainly seem courageous for writing a letter like this and i appreciate it very much. But I am afraid all the comments about general Moeen would prove to be wrong. Yes I agree that the information about him are correct though. But the comments u made doesn’t are absolutely bogus. “Mind It”…General Moeen is a graduate from Harvard University which is currently the no.1 school in the world. At first get to his level of education and talents, and then talk shit about him. I am also saying that to all the people who left bullshit comments.
November 4, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Ibrahim, I hate to burst your bubble with things as inconvenient as facts. But I regret to inform you that General Moeen is not a graduate of Harvard University. General Moeen attended executive education program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 2002. The executive programs run from a few days to about a month. They are meant for people who are already professionals in their field who want to further their professional skills. Although I comment General Moeen for taking a course to enhance his professional development, it unfortunately is the case that one is not a graduate (alumnus/alumna) of Harvard University after completing a course in the executive program.
By the way, how do you know the level of education of Rumi or any of the other commenters here. For all you know, many here could hold PhD’s from leading universities, including Harvard. Many could even be actual Harvard graduates
December 2, 2007 at 9:47 am
Huh! Mr. Ibrahim is idiotic enough not to be able to distinguish between a graduate and a person who underwent some executive programs.
Anyway, Mr. Ibrahim, for the time being, let me assume that the Gen. is a ‘Harvard Graduate’, but on this basis, is he supposed to talk in the manner he’s doing now? After all, he’s a servant of the republic.
January 2, 2008 at 9:56 am
GUYS
WAKE UP.!!!!
THIS GENTLEMAN IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF BANGLADESH
PRESIDENT MOEEN UUUUU AHMED.
February 24, 2008 at 11:06 pm
DEAR ALL.
BLACK CAN NEVER CHANGE IT’S COLOUR, SO, IS MOEEN. he has not or shall i say could not come out of his short comings and limitations. As far as i know his military records and his personal conducts are very contradictory. He is one hell of a vindintive officers who carry his old anguish encounters with him and make junior officers penalised with depriving them with promotions. His conduct during a UN mission and his tour(undeclared) to hospital to warn that officer was very unbecoming of an officer.
Well, what can I possibly say, he will also go down the drain of the history like others, the other one very army officer who keeps an eye on the army told me that, since 1975 Gen Moeen is the most UNPOPULR CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF OF BANGLADESH ARMY.
you would be surprised the number of officers are waiting to resign due to moeen and to express a token of protest.
April 6, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Not the best of open-letters I have to say. In particular I did not like the point about the armed forces being ‘overfed’ while there are hungry children in the streets. It is stupid to think cutting the budget allocation to the army is the way to end poverty. Pointing your finger at the armed forces and what they have done over the years for the country (or for the UN) simply because they have a power-hungry front bench from time to time is, in my opinion, not justified. I take pride in the armed forces of my country and will continue to do so notwithstanding Moeen Ahmed’s coup, his extra-legal ways of reform and rather ambitious plans of devising new styles of democracy.
On a different note, it is completely irrelevent whether Moeen Ahmed is a Harvard graduate or not, or whether he is a university graduate at all. He has unofficially assumed the leadership of the country and for that matter is by principle open to any criticism regarding anything that goes wrong in the country. Mr Ibrahim is the typical example of a Bangali who looks up to people and does not dare question them merely because they have money, higher education or are in some position of power. A useful idiot of the current regime, I must say.
July 20, 2008 at 3:14 am
As far as the question of illegality of Gen Moeens venture in to our nation’s Political life is concerned I fully agree with the Letter’s content. The likes of him will find their ways in to dustbin of history sooner or latter.
But I want to remind fellow readers here, that our Army is one fine organization we all should support. The occassional userpers of the position of CAS is not a burden of guilt of the Army but it is the result of our collective guilt as a nation. As long as our future National leadership does stop promoting unworthy lots in to important positions for petty partizan priorities, we will continue to see such unprofessional Generals coming and going.
Army needs to be funded, armed to the teeth and trained to do their constitutionally mandated job. Any adventurism in to political affairs by Army generals must be made explicitly illegal within the constitutional provissions. So that in future anybody trespassing that red line can be straightway tried for high treason.
July 20, 2008 at 6:22 pm
#17 and #18,
This letter has no grudge against Bangladesh armed forces. Neither it questions the need for a smart, professional armed forces in Bangladesh, nor it faults the forces for being a strong institute in Bangladesh context. One point this letter tries to focus on, rather positively, is that, if we can build a strong institute like the armed forces with proper funding, we have no reason to give up. We also can build a stronger/professional police forces, educator-teacher forces, physician forces, provided we can afford to provide them with the necessary logistics.
July 21, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Response to # 18
Did the like of Mush and Ershad find their ways in dustbin yet? Or was Yahia ever court martial for his complicity on breaking PAK up? And what difference does it make when less funded BD Military hunts its politicians and fat generals of PAKI army let their territory to be bombed, although they are well funded? Furhtermore, what guarantees us that armed to teeth’s military wouldn’t lose its consciousness and target us with those arms?
Judging from last 10 year’s track record, it could be predicted that no drunk, lastful and power hungry general of Muslim army would lead
us victory in any battle field. So, what are they worth for?
IMHO, if we need an army then it’s scripture has to be totally different from the current one. The norm of martial rule has to coincide with the people’s aspiration. They can’t stay isolated in barrack for long to be brain-washed, black-mailed and their interaction with masses have to be freequent, thus constitutional illigality of power hungerness would prevail, especially since might already portrayed constitution as piece of papers. Otherwise, people’s army filled by conscious patriots and properly educated are more feasible in our case.
July 22, 2008 at 1:00 am
#20,
Are you talking about a Forhad Mozhar inspired Religious redicalism soaked military?
July 23, 2008 at 5:52 am
Rumi,
Whatever ways someone trys to redicule or mock Jihadists, the fact remains that the U.S army gets inspiration from Bible( Please watch Career in PBS to vouch my claim), Israeli army uses Rabbi to read Torah during its warring time ( Please watch the video clip of recent Hezbullah-Israel war) and Indian army’s war cry happens to be Bande Matarm.
Having said all these, I want to point out that these associations help only up to an extent; Where fire power, smart weapons, strategists and tacticians don’t show their highest potential. For eaxmple Kashmiri and Iraqi Mujahideens have been fighting against well-armed, well funded armies without tangible success. Do they have lack of passion or commitment than Afghans of 80s? Answer is absolutely not. Then why can’t they drive invadors away like afghan did? Answer is disparity of power between them and 80s afghan. So, whether it is a million man’s popular army to conduct assymetric war or a skilled, conscious force; One must need weapons to have parity of power. If Forhad Mozhar suggests that then why not accept his recipe to have a powerful force than GMUA’s one?