Bhasani's Ethics in Politics and the 1972-75 AL Rule
(Adapted from Abid Bahar's book, Searching for Bhasani, Citizen of the World, 2010)
Bhasani wrote in a pamphlet in January 1974:
I have said several times to the Prime Minister and his ministers through the newspapers that most of you are my former associates. Neutral observers will be compelled to say that what is happening in today's Bangladesh, with Mujib Bahini,(Mujib's paramilitary force) Rakhi Bahini(the paramilitary defense force), Volunteer Bahini (the volunteer force), M. P.'s, party leaders, there is much more oppression, injustice, corruption, nepotism, and anti-state and anti-social activities than in the former governments of Pakistan. Those who preached honesty in politics are now practicing the opposite. You are absorbed in making money and abusing power. …[2]
Bhasani organized a public meeting on April 14th 1974 at the Polton ground. At the meeting he said with a sad voice:
I do not wish to live anymore. Most of my friends and colleagues have passed away. I am alive to see the suffering of human beings, Ashraful Mominin (the best creature of God). Now I want to see that Bengali Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian will have happiness. …[4]
Bhasani was referring to the famine and the continuous suffering it caused. He was sad at the suffering of human beings, the creations of God. Bhasani recommended to Mujib that:
It is not possible for you alone to face …the problem we have in front of us, Mujib, release all the political prisoners. Withdraw all the warrants. Sit with the leaders of the opposition. Put all your energy into saving human beings….[5]
Bhasani with his rubúbiyah vision seem to be progressive in his thinking to preach the welfare of all people. He was ready to sit with the government to find a solution to the famine problem. Maksud says that, unlike the other famines in Bengal, this was not the result of a food shortage. There was plenty of food in stock. [6] Steve Ramer of National Geographic reported that even during the time of the famine in Bangladesh there was 40 hundred thousand tons of rice in store which was one third of a year's requirement.[7]
It is important to note that within three years of Bangladesh's independence, it had received aid valued at two hundred crores from foreign countries, but Bangladeshis died of starvation. The government characterized it as a temporary problem. As soon as foreign aid arrived it was smuggled out to interested quarters. This was blamed on widespread smuggling and hoarding by AL leaders and their host Indian merchant class.[8] Government tried to take some measures. It opened 5,662 temporary kitchens to help the poor. They did not solve the problem and the unrest continued. [9] Mujib cadres were sinning against the nation's most sacred possession, honesty in politics, the source of the Bangladesh nation's vitality.
[1] Syed Abul Maksud, Mawlana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, op. cit., p. 483.
[2] Ibid., pp. 472-473.
[3] Ibid., pp. 464-467. (Emphasis added)
[4] Ibid., p. 473.
[5] Ibid, p. 473. (Emphasis added)
[6] Stave Ramer, "Bangladesh reports" in the National Geographic, July 1975.
[7] Maksud, Mawlana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, op. cit., p. 473.
[8] Maksud, Mawlana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, op. cit., pp. 464-467.
[9] Ibid.
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