News Kashmir Magazine

Turbulence in Bangladesh: A Critical Analysis

Shabir Ahmad Paswal

Historical Context

The political landscape of Bangladesh has long been marred by a legacy of hereditary rule and military intervention. Since the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s founding father, in 1975, his daughter, Sheikh Hasina Wajid, and her political adversary, Khaleda Zia, have dominated Bangladeshi politics. Sheikh Hasina leads the Awami League, while Khaleda Zia heads the Bangladesh National Party (BNP). The rivalry between these two leaders has significantly shaped the country’s political dynamics.

A Legacy of Political Turmoil

Khaleda Zia’s last tenure as Prime Minister ended abruptly in 2007 when a military-backed caretaker government took control, citing widespread corruption and political instability. This interim government imposed martial law and organized elections in 2009, resulting in a victory for Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. Since then, Sheikh Hasina has maintained a tight grip on power, and Khaleda Zia has faced numerous legal challenges, culminating in her conviction on corruption charges. Although sentenced to seventeen years in prison, Khaleda Zia has been under house arrest since 2019 due to health concerns, a term extended multiple times.

The Military’s Pervasive Influence

The military has played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s political history, having imposed martial law three times (1975, 1982, and 2007) and attempting to overthrow elected governments on several occasions. Sheikh Hasina has managed to keep the military in check by economically strengthening the state and rewarding military officials with various privileges. Additionally, the salaries of government employees have been significantly increased under her administration, making government jobs highly coveted.

Quotas and Corruption: Catalysts for Unrest

Despite economic improvements, the allocation of government jobs has been a persistent source of public discontent. Approximately one-third of these positions are reserved for certain groups, including military families and the descendants of independence war heroes. This quota system has sparked widespread resentment, particularly among students and young professionals who view it as discriminatory and antithetical to meritocracy.

The Spark: Student Protests and Government Crackdown

Fifteen days ago, student organizations began protesting against the quota system, presenting a list of nine demands. The government’s initial response was forceful, with police using batons and tear gas, resulting in several fatalities. The situation escalated when Sheikh Hasina made a controversial televised statement, comparing the protesting students to collaborators with the Pakistani army during the 1971 independence war, labelling them as state enemies. This incendiary rhetoric further inflamed the situation, leading to nationwide protests.

Escalation and Military Intervention

The government’s subsequent crackdown on the protests involved nationwide curfews, and internet blackouts, and aggressive military intervention, which resulted in the deaths of three hundred students and thousands of injuries. Amidst this chaos, the organization of retired military officers publicly called for active-duty soldiers to refrain from acting against the students, expressing their support for the protesters’ demands.

The Fall of Sheikh Hasina

Faced with mounting pressure, the military forced Sheikh Hasina to resign. She was flown to India, where she is currently a guest of the state. Martial law has once again been imposed in Bangladesh, leaving the future of its democracy uncertain. The public’s storming of the Prime Minister’s House and the toppling of Sheikh Mujib’s statue underscore the deep-seated frustration and desperation among the populace.

Uncertain Future

The immediate future of Bangladesh remains unclear. Whether the military will establish a new form of governance, form an interim government, or eventually hold elections is yet to be seen. The student organizations have welcomed the military’s intervention, but whether their demands will be met remains uncertain. This critical juncture in Bangladesh’s history highlights the profound challenges facing the nation as it grapples with issues of governance, military influence, and public discontent.

The events in Bangladesh over the past twenty days have brought to the forefront the longstanding issues of political instability, military intervention, and public dissatisfaction. The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and the imposition of martial law mark a significant turning point in the nation’s history. As Bangladesh navigates this turbulent period, the resilience and demands of its citizens will play a crucial role in shaping its future. The unfolding situation serves as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of democracy in the face of deep-rooted systemic challenges.

          Dr. Zakia  Shumi Shetu’s Poetic and Musical Passion

                                              Dr.Ratan Bhattacharjee

Dr. Zakia Shumi Shetu is a versatile personality. She is academician . She is a poet, She writes stories and non fiction.  Her name Zakjia literally  means what she in her real life is  ‘The Virtuous’ and she writes on religion. She is basically from  Bangladesh though she currently resides in Australia with  her  family. Every one who watches Bangladesh television and listens to Bangladesh Betar knows that   Dr. Zakia  Shumi  Shetu  is  a well known name today in the global literary world. .She was a child prodigy  and started  to  compose rhymes at the age of nine. Nature was her inspiration and she felt super excited to write about the vast sky across nature, the swarm of butterflies in the flowers and the red tip of the dawn, the golden illusion of the sun like the golden ball of the sunset, before the world understood the world. Her  poem was first published in  Daily Ittefake published from Bangladesh.  The title of the poem was “Kashter Mahasamrat”.  She was a ninth grader that time. After that, her golden pen did not cease to continue.If she wrote  poetry from class six and stories, novels, plays, stage plays, essays, songwriting and composing music began  from class eight.  Currently she is a listed singer of Bangladesh Betarar.  Five of her poetry books, two novels, one non fiction  and one religious book show her dynamic versatility. During her student life, she participated in a poetry evening program which was discussed in various newspapers including Daily New Nation, Ittefaq, Dainik Bangla. Her literary works are regularly published in popular daily newspapers of Bangladesh and her research works are published in various research journals including various universities.

She spent some time of her youth  in Nazirabad, Pakistan because of her  father’s employment in State Bank of Pakistan.  After returning, first school life in Bangladesh soil from Motijheel Ideal High School, Matric Motijheel Model High School, Intermediate Badrunnessa Government College.  Finally, she completed M.A. in Bengali from Dhaka University, MPhil, Ph.D. from Jahangirnagar University.  She spent childhood and adolescence in Paribagh Wapda Officers Colony.  Her father was then Controller of Accounts and Finance of Bangladesh Power Development Board.  Dr.  Zalkia in the deep of her heart is an academician.  She has started her first job as a teacher in a government college.and then  in a private university.  Currently she is  working as a teacher in an institution under the control of Bangladesh Army (BSISC).  She is a very favorite teacher of students.  Students listen to her lectures like mesmerized. But she loves her family very much.  Spends a lot of time especially for children.  She voluntarily gave up his job several times so that her children would grow up to be a proper and successful person in the future.  Moreover, thinking about the suffering of the family’s sick person specially parents, she also left many attractive jobs.  Humanity is the most valuable asset of her life.

As an artist she arranged to produce several package dramas, children’s dramas have been aired from Bangladesh Television. She participated in various programs on Bangladesh Television. She has recited her own poem these programs.Participated in discussion programs including interviews and talk shows on national special day programs.  She is the famous television and radio artist of Bangladesh. Various artists including Sujit Mostafa, Champa Banik are performing songs written by her from Bangladesh Betar.  This song written about archeology sung by Sujit Mustafa is a completely new song broadcast from Bangladesh Betar.  This song is played at various functions of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Currently this song is associated with a dream of the government scheme.  Dr.  Zakia Shumi Shetu herself is well versed in music.  Nazrul learned music from Bulbul Lalitkala Academy in Dhaka.   She studied classical music and all types of music under the famous musician Ustad Abdul Aziz Khan. She has been praised for presenting, reciting poems, composing her own songs and performing them on stage. She  was later interviewed by Ahmed Salim, editor of a popular Pakistani newspaper, which was published in a documentary book by Ishtera Publications, Lahore, Pakistan.  The name of the book is “The Frontier post”.  Bangladesh Ansar VDP Force Ladies Club Secretary for ten years with reputation and respect.  From there, she received an official award for good work.  Received an official award as a commentator on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s national program at the parade ground.

Without inspiration, no human life’s intellectual-contemplative work develops.  Individuals become self-aware with proper motivation.  Her parents were the biggest inspirations in her life. Setu’s husband and wise reader are her great inspiration too  Her parents were the first readers of writings.  There is also an inspiration room, which contains innumerable books. Dr. Zakia Shumi Setu’s parents had a huge library, which was his source of inspiration.  In this room, many writers are obsessed with Setu’s Manojagat.  Notable are Kalidasa’s Meghdoot, Charyapad, Sri Krishna Kirtan, Rabindranath, Nazrul, Advaita Mallavarman, Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats, The Bible, The Gita, and the Holy  Koran  This is indeed a wide range. The first book of poetry was published during the first year of college.  The title  of the book is Shravan Samshyam.  Her other publications: include  Srabon Sondhai(poetry), Order jochonai Ishshor(poetry), Tomake dekhini Valobasa Onek Bochor (poetry, Pakhir Buke Nil Patar Ghor (poetry), Amora Valentine (lyrics) Ajhor Brishtite Eka(novel), Bashpata Ronger Meye(novel),  Al-Qubbatuz-Zarqa (Religious Book), Adhunik Bangla kabbo ( non fiction) .. In borh poetry and prose she is equally innovative . Her creative mind operates on multi- level. She thinks that there is no difference between men and women.  All the clouds of sorrow between men and women are the flow of time.  Every human being will be a priceless diamond-emerald if he or she values time and is a little bit humane.  But eternal spring throughout the world of women.  A woman is forever the sky of the world with the passion of countless flowers.  If woman can be a tree of knowledge with self-efficacy and genuine love of human sense then nature, sky will also be indebted to woman. That is why it is necessary to be an honest, humane person, to be patient, and to sacrifice self-respect in any need with a smile. She also thinks that woman is the mother of great life like the earth. Just as the earth is eternal as power, so is woman the invincible power of the people of the earth throughout the world.  Dr. Zakia is engaged deeply in her research simultaneously while she kept herself busy in creativity and fine arts.   She is engaged in some government grant research work in Bangladesh while she is conducting her  research work on Bangabandhu, the father of the nation of Bangladesh. At the same time she is  working for the heroic women and war affected  children of the great liberation war of Bangladesh.

Dr. Zakia’s hobbies include  reading and writing books and talking to nature.  She loves spending time with the women of his own organization “A sweet union of sounds” – sharing happiness and sorrow with them. She likes to read all kinds of books and to respect to all writers.But favorite authors include Rabindranath Tagore, Vibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Jeebananda Das, Samaresh Majumder, Buddhadev Bose. But she does not confine herself in lhe ivory tower like Lady Shallot.  She  is a social person.  Loves to be next to people in danger.   She  is very fond of counseling to solve personal, social or psychological problems by discussing and interviewing any problem of people.  She poured her life into civic service, humanitarian service effortlessly.

She is happy with her family. She has two children.  The son is studying honors in artificial intelligence at the university and the daughter is also studying engineering at the university in Australia.   Her husband is a senior official of the Bangladesh government who has received national medals.  He is currently working as a joint secretary in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

As a human being Dr. Zakia Shumi Shetu can impress anyone at the first meeting by her down to earth personality . She won her ego by her sweet disposition. She loves mankind irrespective of their wealth . She believes in the largeness of mind  .All these are reflected in her poems and fiction.  Music is the shorthand of emotions, said Leo Tolstoy. Her love for music is deep and this musical passion is woven in the tapestry of her poetic niche.   It made her aware of the harmony that pervades the universe. Therein lies her greatness as a poet. Her poetry is the worship of truth and beauty that are associated with poetry  Every poet should have musical ears for words and rhythms. Dr. Zaki Shumi Shetu is a born poet and her musical talent permeates her heart and subconscious mind which moulds her thoughts of life and society .

Dr.Ratan Bhattacharjee is International Visiting Professor USA and a multil9ngual poet cum columnist . He may be reached at profratanbhattacharjee@gmail.com