Fallen dictator HM Ershad used the parliamentary majority of a mock election to change the constitution of Bangladesh and added Islam as the state religion in Bangladesh constitution.
In 2001, he formed an electoral alliance with half a dozen Islamic parties called Islamic Oikyo front and under this banner ran in the election.
Throughout his rule and political life he always maintained a relationship with shady characters and bigots like the peer Syedabadi, Chor Monai peer, Shorshina peer etc.
In his party’s 2008 election manifesto, their is a clear statement of complying with Shariah rules.
December 20, 2008 at 4:18 am
Today we heard another gem:
“I am watching a resurgence of popularity of “Dhaner Shish” and “Daripalla” everywhere. So if the 4 party alliance loses election it won’t be accepted.” – Khaleda Zia
I thought it was the voters who would decide the fate.
December 20, 2008 at 9:34 am
I think even after piggybacking BNP, Daripallla(Jamaat) will lose ground this year. Contrary to general perception, two ministers between 2001 to 2006 did rather hurt them. Anti Jamaat sentiment is highest in Bangladesh now than anytime in history. Specificly they have totally lost the urban educated youth class ( the class they want to attract more).
Great work being done in blogs about Jamaat. In addition to hundreds of Bangla bloggers at sachalayatan, somewhereinblog, jonmojudhdho, amar blog etc, english blogs by you (Rezwan), Mash, Unheardvoice, E-Bangladesh and almost 95% of other blogs are doing their job in sending the right message out about Jamaat. Yours truly has also done his part at times.
Totally misisng was a re-narration of the tale of Ershad. Youth of Bnagladesh do not know much about Ershad. What is being told here is pure history. These are truth. There is no reason get irritated by this narrations and change subject in discussion. As we ought to tell about Nizami, Azam, Mujahid et el; we can not turn a blind eye on Ershad only because he decided to piggyback Awami League this year. There is no guarantee that Ershad will not backstab after winning some seats with AL’s help.
Ershad is an evil evil man. This man does not have any ideology and his only focus is certain personal gains including young women, money and luxury living.
Being a part of the 1980 generation and being part of the 8 year long anti autocracy movement, I think it is part of my responsibility to let the future generation know of this evil mass murdering dictator.
December 20, 2008 at 10:14 am
I agree with you on Ershad. And you have my full support in your endeavor. We need to record these anomalies as in politics people seem to forget the past. We need to expose these chameleons who can be lethal.
December 21, 2008 at 8:04 am
Rumi Bhai,
Is this true: “Anti Jamaat sentiment is highest in Bangladesh now than anytime in history”?
This is a serious question, not rhetorical – is the anti Jamaat sentiment now more than in 1971?
December 21, 2008 at 6:08 pm
It is true, I am happy to assume Udayan. Post 71 anger was more directed locally to local razakars(Muslim leaguers, Nezam e islami etc.) and Biharis. Jamaat was apparently the most shrewd of all and successfully remained low profile. As a result BIharis and razakars faced the onslaught of all the war crimes that took place post 71 in the name of repurcussion and revenge. As per a recent documentary called Swapnobhumi tens to hundreds of thousands of so called Bihari’s were massacred. A sgnificant portion of their populaton ( 1 to 10% got eliminated in this process). Petty Razakars were killed brutally till mid 72. Jamaat’s ( Al Badr/ AL shams) bite came to limelight slowly. By the time the initial madness/ anger has disappeared. Rather Mujib govt started to become unpopular. Jamaat restaged its presence in BD in late 70s early 80s by organizing a public campaign demanding reinstitution of the citizenship of Golam Azam. It was Shahadat Chowdhury, editor of weekly Bichitra, who first started the awareness campaign against Jamaat. Col Nuruzzaman was also a leading campaigner against jamaat. Later Jahanara Imam formed Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee. The committe’s presence saw a nosedive after AL came to power in 1996.