DHAKA: After AK Khandakar’s ‘controversial’ book, another piece has struck the bookstands, many believe will create much of debates in and outside the BNP, the party going through its worst time in Bangladesh’s politics.
None but BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed is writer of the book “Bangladesh: Emergency and the Aftermath: 2007-2008”.
This is the book of which publication ceremony was followed by assault of pro-BNP intellectual Prof Mahbubullah outside the Supreme Court Bar Association Auditorium Saturday. Mahbubullah joined the ceremony.
However, it was not clear if there was any link between the attack on him and content of the book that heavily came down against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her two sons.
Referring to the post 1/11 takeover by a military-back caretaker administration, Barrister Moudud in his book mentioned that the fate of Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko was most important to Khaleda Zia at that time.
He mentioned that Begum Zia was not willing to go for any discussion without assurance of release of her two sons.
Barrister Moudud wrote in his latest book that Khaleda Zia as a mother at that time was more concerned about her two sons than acting as a leader of mass people and Chairperson of BNP or as a politician.
He wrote the book during his prison life following the 1/11 emergency. It has been published by country’s leading publishing house, UPL.
The book contains the activities of the interim government, drive against political leaders, activities of army officers in the name of anti-corruption drive, condition of Anti Corruption Commission and judiciary, political compromise, role of General Moin U Ahmed and the 2008 general elections.
Barrister Moudud in one side criticized his own party and praised the Awami League to some extents. He even called the 2008 election result a silent revolution.
For Sheikh Hasina’s success in the election, Moudud Ahmed identified some reasons including her strong position in favour of secularism, strong position against extremism and call for a change towards a digital Bangladesh.
All these features attracted 1.5 crore young voters, he mentioned.
Also, the elderly politician of the country who enjoyed power during almost all the governments in various capacities, said that the rural voters were attracted following election pledges including Tk 10 per KG rice, free supply of fertilizer and one job for every family.
Apart from these positive sides, he thinks that the voters negative to BNP also ensured massive victory for Awami League.
Describing that why people withdrew their supports from BNP, Barrister Modud referred to misrule of BNP, allegations of massive corruptions against BNP leaders, friendship with Jamaat which is accused of war crimes, rise of extremism under patronization by some BNP ministers, power-influence-corruption by Hawa Bhaban in the name of family members of the then Prime Minister and failure to resolve the crisis over caretaker issue and making Iazuddin Ahmed the head of the caretaker government in 2006.
However, he did not have only praiseworthy words for Awami League. He said that the people want to see the trial of those who had illegally captured power.
Moudud in the publication ceremony said that he had not written the book out of any political vengeance, rather he wrote it to uphold the truths of history so that people do not forget the past.
Present in the publication ceremony with having praises for Moudud included former Dhaka University VC Prof. Dr. Emajuddin Ahmed, the daily News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, pro-BNP journalists’ federation President Shakat Mahmud, business leader-turned-BNP leader Abdul Awal Mintoo an UPL’s owner Mohiuddin Ahmed.
BDST: 1316 HRS, SEP 14, 2014
