Sat 26 Jul 2008
Our highly polarised partisan supporters agree on very few things. But probably even the most partisan of AL/BNP supporters would agree that the President of our People’s Republic, His Excellency Prof Dr YesIajYesuddin Ahmed bears a large responsiblity for the sorry mess we find ourselves today. Of course they’d think so for different reasons. BNP partisans would argue that not only did Prof Dr Ahmed fail to tackle Awami-led andolon anarchy, he failed to see that a conspiracy was brewing in the cantonment, and he betrayed the party (and the people they’d claim) on 11 Jan 2007. The Awami partisans would say that it was Yesuddin’s yes-madam actions to rig the election in BNP’s favour that made the coup possible in the first place.
Tiktiki is not a party hack. Nor is he privy to any inside information. But his observation of politics tells him that not only is this man one of the worst tenant of Bangabhaban (and previous tenants include characters like Khondoker Mushtaq Ahmed or Dr Abdul Malik - East Pakistan’s last governor), the Prof Dr is the single most responsible individual for 1/11 and its aftermath. If he had shown an ounce of integrity and resolve, we would have had an election participated by everyone on 22 Jan 2007. And regardless of the result - Grand Alliance landslide, hung parliament, or a BNP-JI re-election -we would probably have been better off than we are today.
So, dear reader, Tiktiki is no fan of this sorry excuse of an educator. But whatever his sins, Dr Yesuddin remains the only constitutionally elected person in our republic. The question is, for how long?
For the past few years, we have heard a lot of stories of the high and mighty engaged in corruption, nepotism, and other abuse of power. No doubt some, perhaps most, of these are true. But then, the allegedly corrupt and fabulously wealthy individuals are getting dozens of years in jail for some flim flam bank account trivialities. And then others are getting bails mysteriously. And Tiktiki, like many others, wonders whether to believe none of what he hears and only half of what he sees?
Tiktiki wonders what to make of all these allegations against Dr Yesuddin’s wife? After all, Prothom Alo ran a front page story on this. Prothom Alo wouldn’t lie to us, would it? And given his track record, the good Prof Dr probably just couldn’t say no to the second most important woman in his life.
But then Tiktiki saw these pieces in Amader Shomoy.
http://www.amadershomoy.com/online/content/2008/07/25/news0896.htm
http://www.amadershomoy.com/online/content/2008/07/25/news0897.htm
Prothom Alo may be the epitome of journalistic integrity, but everyone knows that this দুই টাকার পত্রিকা is closely alligned with the powers-that-be behind the our ভদ্রলোক বিপ্লব.
So, Tiktiki is wondering what is going on. Is the ground being prepared for Dr Yesuddin’s next act? After all, in this current era of দূর্নীতির বিরুদ্ধে জেহাদ, can a corrupt man like the Prof Dr remain the head of state? Isn’t that against the ’spirit of 1/11′? Are we about to see Dr Yesuddin ’setting an example’ by admitting his wife’s misdeeds and resiging from Bangabhaban?
Think about the aftermaths of such an act. The next in line to presidency is Zamiruddin Sarkar, the speaker of parliament. Wait a minute, isn’t there some grave corruption charge against him or his family? If Yesuddin has to go, then how can we have someone like Zamiruddin? So the search will be on for the symbol of honesty. And I’m sure there will be many constitutional experts with the doctrine of necessity telling us why it is necessary to have an Honest Uddin in Bangabhaban. Meanwhile, Tiktiki will look forward to ফাটাফাটি editorials and op-eds from ‘you know whos’ urging other leaders (that means you, দুই নেত্রী) to follow in Yesuddin’s footstep.
July 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
You missed Sirkar, our elected speaker of the house, next in line for presidency according to the constitution! I mean he is still an elected person left at the top level of Bangladesh administration. If prof Dr “resigns”, then he would be the next president! But you’re right that we’ll have even the “typist” (thukku, the writer) of the constitution come out and praise the doctrine of necessity! So you may be right that we’re sort of observing the end of the Dr pair in Bangabhaban. I wonder this for many years now….may be it’s the water in that building?….or may be the aircondtioning system needs a “new” filter? How does everybody who goes into that building with head held high and all the best intentions and …..well, we know what happens! I think we need to do some CSI type work in that building or may be make it a law that the president no longer resides in that building. Rather we pay him house-rent with his salary!!
July 26th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I think Dr. Iajuddin’s days are numbered as well. But let’s look at this situation in its context. After Dr. B. Chowdhuy’s resignation, the powers-that-be went out of their way to find the most compliant and resolveless person they could find and make him the President. People like Dr. Maniruzzaman Mian were passed up for Dr. Iajuddin, just so that he would not have a single independent thought of his own. And for the next four years, every single decision he took was carefully orchestrated. How, then, could we expect him to suddenly change his pattern of behavior all of a sudden on October 2006?
Alongside the formation of the RAB, the sin of Dr. Iajuddin’s appointment is now being repented in great leisure, and great thoroughness. Anyone who knew how to show initiative, and had even the slightest knowledge of political procedures in our country, could have made sure that we had the elections in Jan 22nd with all the parties participating.
Yes, Dr. Iajuddin’s days are probably numbered. But the identity of the next president does not interest me as much as much as the efforts to bring “balance between the power of the president and the prime minister,” which I take to mean giving the president the power to dissolve the parliament, a la Pakistan.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
But I wonder how Mr. President got into this while all the PHDs and other shusils are on guard, including Prothom Alo. What anti corruption would do now, how supreme court would handle any probable indictment. Doese it matter who goes there? Is it the building, really!
You may not be a ‘hack’ of BNP/AL, but your line of thinking, perhaps, PA’s kind of story line.
Please call me a BNP/AL, with their corrected attitude and descipline this country should be ruled only, not by the kind of PHD uddins. The main question is how to tame these parties and the institutions.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Tacit, I know that Iajuddin was chosen because among he was the most spinelss person the Hawa Bhaban could find. But I still thought he would behave differently after October 2006. Why? Because by doing so, he would put himself in the history book in the same place as people like Justice Shahabuddin - you know, cometh the hour, cometh the men and all that. Our current advisors don’t have much choice but to follow the diktats of men with guns. Iajuddin could have done differently.
Anyhow, no point thinking about what could have been. I do share your worry about the imperial presidency. We’ve written about it here before. Asif and Jalal Alamgir have written about it in Forum:
http://www.thedailystar.net/forum/2008/may/check.htm
The question though is, how can the regime amend the constitution to get an imperial president? As long as the opposition parties have at least 101 MPs, they cannot amend the constitution. And do they seriously think that AL and BNP will together have less than 101 seats? (I’m assuming that these parties won’t be suicidal enough to sign up to a constitutional amendment).
The only way they can get a constitutional amendment is through a 1988 or Feb 1996 style parliament. And this is where I think the identity of the next president comes in.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
[...] President Iajuddin steps down under a shroud of corruption allegation (see here). The Speaker then declines to take up the presidency. All of a sudden there is a [...]
August 4th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
The Awami League is heading for landslide victory in the mayoral and local body elections.The Barisal candidate Hiron is likely to be defeated through election engineering by the EC and the army to give some respect to their former mentor the BNP.Masive rigging and terrorrism has taken place against the AL cadidate Hiron.
Even two of Awami League’s unlawfully imprisoned leaders have been elected by the voters in protest against the inhumane, uncivilised treatment they got from an unelected, undemocratic government that was supposed to hold elections in 90 days. The massive turnout should send warning signs to the fascist aspirations of the illegal power-grabbers to hold the parliamentary election as soon as possible to escape the wrath of the teeming masses against this illegitimate army and donor backed govt that is selling off our national interests to their masters abroad.
Eajuddin and most of the members of this failed setup are beneficiaries of the immediate past BNP-Jamaat government. If they had any self-esteem or principle they would have never agreed to take on people who once had sustained and nurtured there.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Gen. Moeen paid another visit to this Dr. Yesuddin on 08/05/08 (BDT. Perhaps, another change is imminent.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
# Jahan Zaman Says:
August 4th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
The Awami League is heading for landslide victory in the mayoral and local body elections.The Barisal candidate Hiron is likely to be defeated through election engineering by the EC and the army to give some respect to their former mentor the BNP.Masive rigging and terrorrism has taken place against the AL cadidate Hiron.
Even two of Awami League’s unlawfully imprisoned leaders have been elected by the voters in protest against the inhumane, uncivilised treatment they got from an unelected, undemocratic government that was supposed to hold elections in 90 days. The massive turnout should send warning signs to the fascist aspirations of the illegal power-grabbers to hold the parliamentary election as soon as possible to escape the wrath of the teeming masses against this illegitimate army and donor backed govt that is selling off our national interests to their masters abroad.
Eajuddin and most of the members of this failed setup are beneficiaries of the immediate past BNP-Jamaat government. If they had any self-esteem or principle they would have never agreed to take on people who once had sustained and nurtured there.
Ohh. my goddd. you guys are such hypocrete. After winning in such clear and fair election, which never happened in the history of bangladesh, you are still blaiming illegal army ? You are not ready to give them shred of credit for all the good work they have done against your staunch opposition.
They are exactly doing, what they have always been telling.
You guys are interpreting new things in every new day and only swallowing your misguided notions, still no shame and spouting bullshit keeping your head high.
No shame.
Disgrace to you people.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:38 am
#8 Credit where credit is due.
People arrested, then freed at whim.
People tortured, and killed.
Journalists beaten, imprisoned.
Families devastated, military officers becoming millionaires.
Yes, we are thankful.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
#8 Credit where credit is due.
People arrested, then freed at whim.
People tortured, and killed.
Journalists beaten, imprisoned.
Families devastated, military officers becoming millionaires.
Yes, we are thankful.
Are you favorite supposing previous governments, who looter and plundered the country did better than them ?
Or you still think, RAB is the arch nemesis of all the welfare of the country. Some people act they were just born two at 11 january.
Is your hate for militar so strong that you can’t even accept if they are doing something good for the country ?
Had this election been under BNP do you know, what you would have seen ? people dying in the street in after election fighting.
Thanks god your brother or sister will never be them.
Then you would learnt to appriciate the good this MILITARY government is bringing to the country.
Shame to you people, who are so blind to their fundamentalist political viewpoint that they can’t accept good for their country people.
Shame once again.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:12 am
in local election, if you count the total vote in terms of political ideology, I wonder! the number of total votes of BNP’s candidates are relatively more than AW.
I guess, its not a good signal for the govt. So, they are going to change their strategy to reach their self achievement.
Both BNP & AW will not participate the general election under EPR, if so, then there will be no election, army will take the power!
Or, If AW will like to participate again under EPR, then AW will form the govt, and country will be unrest again (= almost all diplomats want an instable Bangladesh to exercise their hand )
August 7th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
The election of two imprisoned political workers clearly spells out the frustration and disgust people feel at the mutant, self-imposed caretaker setup put in place by donors and international agencies.
People are so fed up that they turned out in huge numbers, in some cases, above 85%. This was a thunderous slap on the face of anybody conspiring to destroy democracy in Bangladesh.
Wherever and whenever the army has interfered in politics it has brought about devastating results. Pakistan`s dismemberment is a case for serious study.
Much of Pakistan`s maladies began with the army`s anti-democratic stand in Pakistan following it’s independence. Who else but the US was acting from behind the scene to bolster time and again failed generals including Musharraf.