After a two-year hiatus, Bangladesh went to the polls on 29 December 2008 in which the Awami League-led 14 party alliance won by a thumping majority. The AL alone bagged a clear 230 seats out of 300. Its allies won another 32, making a total of 262. Six were won by independents, leaving the erstwhile ruling BNP's 4-party alliance with a meager 32 seats. The AL president Sheikh Hasina was sworn into office as the Prime Minister for the second time on 6 January, 2009.
Immediately upon assuming office, the Hasina government was severely jolted by the bloody mutiny of the lower ranks in the Bangladesh Rifles. However, she managed to keep her composure and the situation was brought under control.
Hasina picked up the thread from where she had left it during her first term, redoing what her father had done and undoing the acts of Gen. Ziaur Rahman, the deceased husband of her arch political rival Khaleda Zia as far as practicable. For example, though she had revoked the amnesty granted by Ziaur Rahman to Sheikh Mujib's killers in her earlier stint, but their case was pushed to the backburner under Khaleda Zia. Now it was revived with full vigor and the accused were awarded death sentence, which has since been confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Another feather in Hasina's cap was the judgment by the Supreme Court that it was her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who issued the Declaration of Independence on March 25, 1971, and not late Brig. Ziaur Rahman. The learned judges imbued with nationalistic ardor went on even to empower the government gratuitously to punish whoever dares to disagree with her father's above role, for the crime of distorting history.
But the fact remains that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested from his Dhanmondi home on the night of 25 March 1971, by the Pakistan army and flown to West Pakistan. He had not issued any Declaration of Independence (DOI) till then. Nor was any such proclamation broadcast or telecast on the electronic media, though they were under the control of the Awami League at the time. He could have given a written DOI to his close aides, including Tajuddin, to make the announcement, before they escaped to India. A serious anomaly that the learned judges failed to address was that the Independence of Bangladesh is observed on March 26, by which date Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was in Mianwali Jail. If he was the father of the DOI then the Independence Day should have been observed on March 25.
Actually it was Brig. Ziaur Rahman who, in the wee hours of March 26, 1971, proclaimed an Independent Bangladesh and gave a call to arms to the people, from a clandestine radio station in Chittagong, which syncs with the Independence Day. Yet another watershed event was the verdict of the Supreme Court banning the use of religion in politics. "Islam" and "Islamic" will, therefore, be taboo words henceforth for any political party's identity. The constitution stands restored to its original state based on the four basic principles of secularity, nationalism, democracy and socialism as given by her father.
Gen. Ziaur Rahman had, through the Fifth Amendment, allowed religion-based politics in 1979. He substituted secularity with "Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah shall be the basis of all actions." He also introduced Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim in the preamble of the constitution.
In 2005, the High Court quashed the "innovations" introduced by Zia's Fifth Amendment. The Supreme Court issued a stay order, perhaps out of deference for Gen. Zia' s widow, Khaleda Zia, who was prime minister at the time. But, now that Sheikh Mujib's daughter is at the helm, the Supreme Court has felt free to revoke the stay order. Nevertheless, it was careful to leave Bismillah and the reference to Almighty Allah intact.
However, perhaps because the BNP government had been notorious for corruption and proliferation of religious extremists, Hasina's advent seems to have wrought a welcome change. One indication of this is the restoration of investor confidence. During the current fiscal ending 30 June, "Bangladesh's economy is on track to achieve six percent growth ...despite the global downturn," said central bank governor Atiur Rahman in early January. Finance Minister, A.M.A Muhith agreed, saying that Bangladesh is "almost out of the impact of the global economic recession."
Hasina rounded off her first year in office with a visit to India, where she was received with the usual warmth as Indira Gandhi's protégé. She received Indira Gandhi Peace Award from President Pratibha Patil.
At the parleys with her counterpart, Manmohan Singh, both sides agreed to build a "forward looking relationship," reiterating their "commitment to working together to solve all issues through cooperation and mutual understanding."
Manmohan Singh reassured his guest that his government would not take any step with regard to the Tipaimukh dam project that might adversely impact Bangladesh. On the issue of water-sharing of common rivers they agreed on expeditious conclusion of the dialogue. India will also provide dredgers to Bangladesh to help dredge its rivers. The maritime border dispute was also to be resolved amicably through mutually agreed demarcation.
But, perhaps, the most ticklish issue was the revival of "the spirit of the Land Boundary Agreement of 1974." That agreement was signed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with Indira Gandhi. Bangladesh implemented it with all sincerity, but India backed away. It remains therefore to be seen how Manmohan would succeed where Indira Gandhi failed. It was also agreed that Bangladesh would allow India to use its Mongla and Chittagong seaports for movement of goods to and from India through road and rail. In return India would allow transit facility to Bangladesh for trade with Nepal and Bhutan through its territory.
Security issue received high priority stressing the need for both countries "to actively cooperate on security issues." Neither country would allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to the other or for "training, sanctuary and other operations by domestic or foreign terrorist/militant and insurgent organizations and their operatives." Perhaps, mindful of the clash between the border security forces of the two countries during Sheikh Hasina's earlier government, this time both sides agreed that their border guarding forces will exercise restraint.
Hasina was visibly satisfied with her visit to India. She described it as successful. But if the history of Indo-Bangladesh relations, even during the Awami League governments, is any guide, it would be advisable to be cautious and watch how both sides implement the agreements. As the saying goes, the taste of the pudding is in the eating.
However, Hasina has reason to be proud of her first year's performance. Now, that she has consolidated her position, perhaps, she will attend to other vital issues like poverty alleviation and combating corruption.
In 2005, the High Court quashed the "innovations" introduced by Zia's Fifth Amendment. The Supreme Court issued a stay order, perhaps out of deference for Gen. Zia' s widow, Khaleda Zia, who was prime minister at the time. But, now that Sheikh Mujib's daughter is at the helm, the Supreme Court has felt free to revoke the stay order. Nevertheless, it was careful to leave Bismillah and the reference to Almighty Allah intact.
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