I Shall Never Sing Joi Bangla Banglar Joi Again Shazzad Khan

Awami League has signed a 5-point agreement with Khelafat Majlish

I Shall Never Sing Joi Bangla Banglar Joi Again

Shazzad Khan

With utter surprise and agony I am writing this note to share with the readers and wish it would relieve my heartache to some degree. I simply canï¿½t believe that it has happened! I wish it would be a dream and when I shall wake up I would see that the Awami League I saw in 1971 is still the same.

In todayï¿½s paper (24 December) I have come to know that Awami League has signed a 5-point agreement with Khelafat Majlish and giving them a number concessions which are totally against secularism and democracy. What a surprise! Awami League is promoting Fatwa, Awami League is embracing the people of Koumi Madrasa, Awami League wants to gag the throats of those who would criticise anything of Islam, Awami League will demolish the Ahmadiats and above all, Awami League have hugged those who were against our liberation and supported Pakistan! Had these were done by BNP, which it has done a lot already, I would have no repercussion within. I would have taken it as simply normal. But when much worse than what BNP has done, has been done by Awami League, how can we believe this as the pro-liberation and secular freethinkers. As Bengalis our great pride is our liberation war which was imbued by the spirit of secularism, liberty and equal rights. When we fought the war of liberation in 1971 we used to sing Joi Bangla Banglar Joi. What a spirit that was which still pulsates us everyday when we reminisce our liberation struggle. So long I have the conviction that those who are in Awami League pulsate the same way and would never compromise with the spirit and values of our liberation war that it held that time. Isnï¿½t it very natural to bear that conviction? It was because of the fact that it was the Awami League who drew us amidst that spirit and values and showed us the dream of Sonar Bangla imbued by secularism, dignity, liberty, freedom of speech and economic socialism. But what Awami League has done last night is just astounding ï¿½ religion has become more coveted than humanity! Even until yesterday we simply couldnï¿½t think that Awami League could do anything that would trample the honour of our liberation. But today we have come to realise that even Awami League can do such thing that may be even worse than what BNP and Jamat can do.

Now we realise that Awami League has become famish and crazy for grabbing power of the state only, and for that reason it can make itself naked if necessary before the worst. As Awami League has signed the agreement with Khelafat Majlish we do not need to bear any conviction that Awami League is the guarantor of our liberation any more. If need be, it can even sell this county to Pakistan, only for assuming power. I am totally sure that Awami League has lost their head and thatï¿½s why it is behaving so crazily.

Hadnï¿½t it thought for a moment that the party it has signed the agreement with is nothing in terms of those thousands of people who believe that Awami League is the founder and guarantor of liberation of Bangladesh and they should vote for Awami League even though they donï¿½t support the party so blindly? That means the promise it had made in the past that it would return to the 1972-constitution is nothing but a stark bluff. Grabbing power through murky politics has become more craving for Awami League than to safeguard our liberation. What difference would it make if Awami League would not go to election but continue to safeguard our liberation and Bangladesh? We despise Awami League for such heinous act of allying with Khelafat Majlish and are taking away our support to it. Eventually we have lost the battle to see that Awami League and BNP are two sides of a same coin.

In fine I would request Awami League to give a second thought and admit publicly that it has made a mistake and beg unconditional apology to those who fought for our liberation. Otherwise, this party would be thrown into the dust for ever by those thousands who have so far been behind it.

From today (24 December) I shall stop singing the great song Joi Bangla Banglar Joi because it has been shrouded by Awami League itself. It is because of Awami League, Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu that we blared for our victory in the liberation war would be a distant memory and a matter to forget for ever.

[Shazzad Khan is a development worker. Email [email protected]]