January 10, 1972. Day dawned in Dhaka. The great leader of the Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is coming back home. The ocean of people passed the night sleepless. They thronged to the Racecourse and Tejgaon Airport to have a better place to sand on and have a glimpse of their beloved great leader from a better angle. What a awaiting it was! The national dailies pen pictured their eagerness as quoted hereunder.

Bangabandhu

The Daily Ittefaq in its first lead wrote ‘The Great man is coming and all are thrilled in every direction, today is the day we have waited for long. The father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is coming to the sweet lap of his motherland in the midst overwhelming love and confidence embedded in sacrifice after a prolonged span of nine months. The jail of the Pakistani military killers was not strong enough to keep him inside.

Every daily newspaper depicted emotion-choked stories and editorials. The Daly Ittefaq in its first page editorial went to say under the headline ‘Esho Banglar Swapnik Swagatam’ (come the dreamer of the Bengal, welcome) while the Dainik Bangla in its editorial said under the caption ‘Beere Sonitey Tomay Baran Kari’ (we receive you in the pool of blood shed by our heroes).

The Daily Sangbad: The whole city is awaiting the Bangabandhu, by this time Dhaka has become a city of celebration. With the arrival of the leader coming closer people of all walks of life– peasants, labourers, students and members of the women folk are getting more prepared. The Ittefaq in another story under the deadline “Aami Sarbagre grihini” (First of all I am a housewife): Begum Mjibru Rahman while talking to a group of journalists yesterday said, first of all I am a house wife, I am to shoulder the responsibility of running a big family”.

The Daily Azad presented the historical scenario— “Bangabandhu, when came down from the plane, was visibly very moved and overwhelmed. He could not believe apparently— yes, this is the land of my beloved motherland. In a very feeble sound he started saying—I am in Dhaka. I have come to my people again.

It took 130 minutes to reach the Racecourse from the Tejgaon Airport. The Dainik Bangla reports the people were on footpaths, traffic island, trees, balconies, wall lamp-posts, roof-tops and where not. Nobody viewed it hither-to, but how disciplined it was! Unbelievable! They were lost in emotion but firm in order.

Bangabandhu entered into the Race course amidst tumultuous welcome and slogans from the people thronged in lacks where a free Mujib on his free motherland expressed with utmost firmness – we have freed the country and we will remain free (The Daink Bangla).

The Daily Ittefaq reports: “The Bajrakantha (thunderous voice) of the Bangabandhu was emotion-choked. He said Bangladesh is free and there is no one in this planet to snatch the freedom from us – My dream has transformed into reality now. The Bangalees this time shall be cheerful. They will in joy and merry. There will be on dearth of bread. Otherwise, the freedom will be meaningless”.

The Sangbad reports: Bangabandhu with his unique ‘Bajrakantha’ expressed a note of caution—‘Be alert! Conspiracy is still going on.

Under ‘Janatar Sagarey jageche urmee’, Sangbad gave vivid description to the Race course public meeting- the diplomats only.

The Azad reports on the public meeting on the following day under the caption Bangabandhur Bajarakantha’ (The Thunderous voice of the Bangabandhu) — If there were no food and clothing the freedom will be futile. Yet, there is conspiracy against the freedom of my country.

The Azad in its front page editorial says— the freedom of the country is now complete as the great leader has come back to Bangladesh after being freed from the imprisonment,

The Daily Ittefaq reports on the re-union of the gamily, the emotion studded scenario is not only a single family, but it is common to every family of the country. On 11 January issue the Daily reports:

The day we passed yesterday was yet a day of wiping out the sorrows of poor mother, the mother Bengal. It was a day of the highest degree of our joy. It was not a day of celebration for a person of a class or a group; it was the joy of the whole country and the nation’.

At the end of his speech, the Bangabandhu conducted a prayer for the salvation and eternal peace of those who helplessly succumbed and embraced martyrdom in the hands of military junta and their local accomplices, the ‘Rajaakars’. Thereafter, the weary Bangabandhu returned home at Dhanmondi. But no feeling of exhaustion could confine him within the four walls of the residence. Well, this is the day, the country had witnessed on January 10, 1972.

Author : Kamrun Nahar

Evidence ‘CIA involved in 1975 Bangla military coup’

Lawrence Lifschultz’s findings about assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are being published in Dhaka’s Daily Star and Prothom Alo newspapers.

An American journalist’s disclosure that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was involved in the 1975 military coup and the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding father, has added a new dimension to the shameful episode that many here recall with dismay, disgust and hatred.

Lawrence Lifschultz, who was present here during the coup, as a correspondent for Hong Kong’s Far Eastern Economic Review, has investigated the events for the last 30 years. Dhaka’s Daily Star and Prothom Alo newspapers are serialising his findings.

“What (the) USA started during the Liberation War in 1971 with attempt to split the Awami League using Khandaker Moshtaque and his accomplices continued after the independence following a direct US instigation, resulting in the carnage on August 15, 1975,” the Daily Star writes in an introductory note to Lifschultz’s pieces.

An impression was given to the people that the coup and the murders were the result of a conspiracy by a few hostile leaders within the Awami League party who joined hands with disgruntled military officers. Some believed that there was a foreign hand involved. None was sure about the role of any country in particular.

“In India, Indira Gandhi, speaking of the tragedy of Mujib’s death, spoke of the sure hand of foreign involvement,” Lifschultz writes. “As usual, Mrs Gandhi was graphically lacking in details or specifics. However, the pro-Moscow Communist party of India (CPI) were more explicit: “the CIA,” said the CPI, “was behind the coup.”

“I dismissed this as propaganda based on no specific evidence.” Sheikh Hasina, Mujib’s one of the two surviving daughters, who became Bangladesh’s prime minister in 1996, also believed that her father fell victim to an international conspiracy. Lifschultz’s findings have confirmed their beliefs.

US Secretary of State

Former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger also figures prominently in Lifschultz’s writings. In his opinion, along with Salvador Allende of Chile and Taiyoo of Vietnam, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was in Kissinger’s political vendetta. Newly born Bangladesh could not save itself from Kissinger’s wrath.

The US government is yet to comment on CIA’s involvement in the 1975 coup and the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 15 others. A spokesman of the US Embassy in Dhaka said, “No comment,” to the UNB news agency after the first installment of the articles appeared on Monday. According to Lifschultz, Eugene Booster, then US Ambassador to Bangladesh repeatedly objected to the conspiracy and even issued written instruction in this regard, but then CIA Station Chief, Philip Cherry would not listen to him.

Khandaker Moshtaque Ahmad, a minister in Mujib’s Cabinet, played the leading role. Coup leaders made him the country’s president, but a counter-coup overthrew him three months later.

‘Execute case verdict’

Lifschultz’s writings are being published at a time when there is a nation-wide demand for the execution of the Mujib Murder Case verdict and bring home seven convicted killers who are absconding abroad.

After the High Court confirmed death sentences of 12 people and acquitted three others, the case is now pending in the appellate division of the Supreme Court.

The hearing is being delayed due to shortage of judges. Lawyers say if no new judges are appointed, the case would not come up for hearing before 2007. Of the 12 convicted killers, four are already in jail here.

Incidentally, the Opposition Awami League observed August 15 as the national mourning day, describing it as the ‘blackest day’ in Bangladesh’s national life. The nation paid rich tributes to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the 30th anniversary of his death on Monday, though governing BNP cancelled the government holiday and celebrated Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s 61st birthday.

Whether the CIA was involved or not in the 1975 coup is a debatable question. The writings have certainly evoked mixed reactions. The US Government’s admission or denial will not matter much to those who are aware of CIA’s global activities. They will probably believe what Lifschultz has said.

There is another section which will give a benefit of doubt. A third group that is opposed to Awami League and is critical of the Mujib era (1972-1975) will give a damn.

One thing is, however, clear that those managing statecraft-— present and future — will be more cautious in their dealings with the United States. Whether the government agrees with Lifschultz or not is not important. Its immediate task is to ensure speedy hearing of the case by appointing more judges. By doing so, it can prove its neutrality.

Or else, the proverb ‘justice delayed, justice denied’ may come true. At the same time, efforts should also be made to bring the convicted absconders to Bangladesh.

Author : Hassan Shahriar, DH News Service Dhaka