August 15 is probably the most disgraceful day in the calendar meant for the Bangalees owing to the fact that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally murdered along with most of his family members on this very day in 1975 by some pro-Pakistan disgruntled army members with intent to push the country back into uncertainty and turn it into a replica of Pakistan.
On that day, our incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina escaped the multicide because she along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana was accompanying her husband, nuclear scientist Dr Wazed Miah, during a visit to Germany. Later, the two sisters went to India at the behest of the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi.
In a rare gesture Indira Gandhi arranged accommodation for them to stay in Delhi under tight security. Realising the risk, Sheikh Hasina returned to the country in 1981 to take helm of the party.
Now the question comes --- which civilians or conspirators were complicit in the crime along with the army officers? Names of the anti-independence elements, including Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmad and the then Deputy Army Chief Ziaur Rahman, are to be mentioned first. Have you ever wondered whether Bangabandhu's cabinet minister Mushtaque was asleep or awake when he was assassinated? He was awake.
There was a deep conspiracy to erase Bangabandhu’s name from
our history. The situation reached such an extent in our country
that at some point media outlets were barred from uttering
Bangabandhu's name. Meanwhile, his contribution was
downplayed in many ways, even denied on some occasions.
But all their attempts went in vain in the long run as it is
impossible to wipe out Bangabandhu’s name from the hearts
of the people.
He was one of the masterminds behind the conspiracy because after the assassination he went to the radio station and announced the formation of the government. That means he was ready for this task. If he had such preparation, he must have known what was going to happen and what he was supposed to do next.
If someone observes his activities throughout the day on 15 August, it becomes clear that Mustaque had acted on that plan. He was sure that he would take the responsibility after the massacre. Mustaque had always been a follower of Pakistan. He was pretending to be Bangabandhu's companion and waiting for the opportunity to take advantage.
Mustaque went to India in 1971 during the War of Liberation. However, due to his mysterious role in the Liberation War, India's intelligence warned the government in exile about him. Mustaque became the foreign minister of the Mujibnagar government and set out to form a confederation with Pakistan. Did Mustaque gang's initiative feed the confederacy to US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger?
Mustaque's accomplices were Taheruddin Tagore, Mahbub Alam Chashi and Kamal Siddiqui. Their role was similar to the conspiracy to assassinate Bangabandhu. Although the role of Mahbub Alam Chashi has been widely discussed, Kamal Siddiqui has remained out of any discussion. He was later the principal secretary to the Prime Minister during Khaleda Zia's regime.
After the assassination of Bangabandhu, self-proclaimed President General Ziaur Rahman, Army Chief Hussain Muhammad Ershad and the then BNP leader Khaleda Zia came to power one after another. However, to protect the killers of Bangabandhu from trial, Khandaker Mustaque Ahmad promulgated an Indemnity Ordinance and later his successor General Zia made it an act. Zia also restored the citizenship of anti-independence Jamaat leader Ghulam Azam. Ershad, who succeeded Zia, too was silent on the issue.
The assassination of such a great leader and his family members is a scandalous event not only in Bangladesh but in the history of the world. The assassins had so many motives.
One of their major goals was to move the country away from the path of prosperity that was paved through the liberation of Bangladesh. They wanted to undermine the contribution of Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the War of Liberation, and destroy the non-communal spirit of Bangladesh.
Again there was a deep conspiracy to erase Bangabandhu’s name from our history. The situation reached such an extent in our country that at some point media outlets were barred from uttering Bangabandhu's name. Meanwhile, false statements were circulated about him in various ways. His contribution was downplayed in many ways, even denied on some occasions. But all their attempts went in vain in the long run as it is impossible to wipe out Bangabandhu’s name from the hearts of the people.
There is no denying that Bangabandhu loved the country unconditionally and the people of the country loved him in return. So, all the conspiracies, attempts and activities of the murderers, assassins and their patrons to demean him have ultimately failed. And after years of long wait the murderers have been sentenced.
However, there are still a few killers evading justice by hiding in different countries. They must be brought back to the country very soon and duly punished. In the meantime, it gives us pleasure that the Awami League government led by his worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working towards realizing Bangabandhu's dream.
To conclude, Bangabandhu dreamt of building a golden Bengal. So, the best way to pay homage to him will be to do our bits for materializing that dream. Only then the nation will get a chance to get rid of the disgrace that we inherited owing to the assassination of Bangabandhu.
Sukumar Sarkar is the Executive Editor of Ajker Bangladesh Post.
