This is in reference to a letter in your daily of the 1st November written by Mr. Masud. Awami League bashing is the order of the day. It starts with so-called misrule of Sheikh Mujib and extends up to Sheikh Hasina. Though the virulence of this attack is becoming feebler with each advancing day of the miserable failure in governance of the present government I would, for the sake of putting the record straight, like to look back at the pages of our history. When Sheikh Mujib became the head of the Bangladesh government in 1972 it was perhaps the most trying time for the nation. The infrastructure in the fields of all those that are vital for the nation were shattered. The transportation system, the economy, the liquidity, the educational institutions, the law enforcing agencies had become inoperative after the protracted battle. What is more, the agents of the Pakistani occupation forces were still stalking the length and breath of the country; the US government of those days was hell bent upon de-capacitating the newborn country. Surprising though it may seem, the so-called Muslim Ummah had not even recognised Bangladesh and was prompt in doing so when Sheikh Mujib and the frontline leaders of the country were killed. Imagine a nation in such peril when you talk about that three and a half year of Sheikh Mujib's rule. One may also know or have read about the fact that a large number of arms used in the war against Pakistan had found their way into the hands of the extremists and they had created a reign of terror in the rural Bangladesh killing people on political or monetary considerations. In Bangladesh nine lawmakers have so far been killed. Of them seven were killed between 1972 and '75. It was against this backdrop that Sheikh Mujib had decided to opt for Rakkhi Bahini (RB). Be it as it may, I consider this an improper step. I think we would do better to think and talk. Coming down to the activities of Sheikh Hasina, I do not know if Mr. Masud remembers that she had allowed the press and the civil society to freely ask her questions in an open and live session in the BTV. Can we even imagine our present PM to replicate such a concession? As for looting of the state properties, I would request the letter writer to please carry out an exercise of comparison of the benefits from running a government between the functionaries of two governments. Though corruption in any measure and form is despicable, the power that is in the present government would beat the Awami League easily enough.
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