Political death of Khaleda and Hasina

The media campaign against the two leading ladies of Bangladesh’s politics seems targeted at ending their political careers for once and for all

by BADIUL ALAM

A ‘media trial’ has finally begun. Failing to force the two ladies to go abroad or to retire from politics, forces behind 1/11 episode have decided to start a media campaign in a bid to discredit the politicians, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina in particular.

Some influential members of the 1/11 government are of the opinion that it would be hard to punish the allegedly corrupt politicians under the existing laws, so a paper trial would be the best form of action to end their political careers and to isolate them from the people and society.

The second phase of arrests and remands have started to attain the objective of the paper trial, which has brought some initial success. Audio cassettes containing the statements of Abdul Jalil, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Lutfozzaman Babar, Mosaddek Ali Falu and others, which they gave to the investigating team of the joint forces, have reached the print media and the media, ignoring basic ethics of journalism, have been publishing the same with great enthusiasm.

The question arises, who supplied the audio cassettes to the media? The Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) conducted the enquiry, as I understand, by maintaining highest security. There is no scope for leakage from the JIC as the men involved with the JIC enquiry team are suppose to maintain highest form of integrity and I personally believe there is no reason to question their integrity.

Under the circumstances, are the stories published in the print media quoting statements of remanded people all true? The BNP and the Awami League have already questioned about the authenticity of the paper reports vilifying the characters of different leaders, especially Khaleda and Hasina. It seems, the objective of the media campaign is not to raise the public voice against corruption and corrupt practices, but to implement the famous ‘minus two policy’ which has been identified as the major task after the installation of the army-backed 1/11 government.

Initially a crude process had been applied to implement the ‘minus two policy’. Pressure and different kinds repression had been mounted on both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina to leave the country. Hasina fell into the trap by accepting a suggestion of invisible forces to undertake a visit to the USA to see her son, daughter and grandchildren.

Khaleda Zia had some misgivings about the forces, which had been campaigning for the ‘minus two policy’. She maintained that she and her late husband did everything possible to give a strong foundation to these forces. She was shocked when she saw her so-called own people taking a strong position against her. She still tried to resist the pressure, but at one stage she had also succumb when her elder son was picked up and put behind bars and she was put an undeclared house arrest.

The stage had been set to send Khaleda Zia in exile but suddenly the situation changed with the refusal of the Saudi Government to issue her a visa. It was said that a South Asian country sensed that the move of the forced exile of Khaleda Zia was an Indian backed game and they stepped into a diplomatic move to pursue the Saudi government and other Middle Eastern countries not to be party to this move.

On the other hand, the move to block Sheikh Hasina’s return was also foiled due to international pressure. Sheikh Hasina was allowed to enter the country. Of course she is planning to leave the country again but the question still remains as to whether she will actually be allowed to leave the country.

All such developments have forced the concerned authorities to change their tactics. They have opted to put internal pressure on the two ladies to abandon the politics. Initial success has been achieved in this regard. Distinct reform groups have developed within the BNP and the Awami League. Reformists of both the parties have received tacit blessings. Their past records have not been questioned as yet. However loud the reformist voice may be, it is obvious that it would be difficult for the reformists to survive with both Khaleda and Hasina alive in the political arena. So the political lives of Khaleda and Hasina have to be ruined at any cost. This is the basic motive of the current media campaign.

The 1/11 government headed by Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed, as claimed, is a non-political government. They have no political ambitions or political agenda and they are suppose to be not involved in any politically motivated campaign. In this situation, it is the responsibility of the government to explain the authenticity of the published statements of the political personalities who are now behind bars. If the political personalities divulged any information to the JIC investigating team, that should be used to frame charges against those who were involved in the different types of corruption. How it could be published in the media before starting the judicial process? If the government remains silent on this issue, than their non-political entity would be questioned and in future they would have to face public enquiry.

If anyone assesses the prevailing situation, it can be concluded that the political future of both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina is not very bright. It seems, long associates of Khaleda and Hasina are all set to abandon them. In this situation, what will they do? Both the ladies are passing through a crucial stage of their political lives. Despite attempts to deny their being corrupt, their personal integrity has been questioned. Already a story had been published in a daily attacking the personal integrity of Khaleda Zia.

Politicians are to face odds boldly. Would Khaleda and Hasina be able to face the current situation keeping their backbones strong, or are they to succumb to the vilification campaign which would lead to their political death? Sources say, the answers to all these queries might be available within the next six months.