Md. Nurul Haque

Despite having a long, glorious history and significant contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh and overall building towering structures with immense propagation of so-called development, an iron lady with the mighty hand of suppression and oppression, Sheikh Hasina had to flee the country with a deplorable ending that left her cohorts in a dire state of distress and helplessness.

Now, unquenchable and insatiable questions that peep into our minds, “Did she really have to flee?” “Were there not any other alternatives?” “What would happen if she did not leave this country?” To get these answers, we have to dive into the history of the Awami League and its auspicious and notorious contribution to the upbringing of this country.

The Awami League was established in 1949, a time when the resilient and determined Bengalis, living under Pakistan's suppressive rule, were beginning to assert their rights. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly known as Bangabandhu, led the party with his charismatic leadership, transforming it into a formidable force defending the rights and autonomy of East Pakistan. The tumultuous events of 1971 resulted from the Bengalis' unwavering demand for total independence, articulated in Bangabandhu's historic Six-Point Movement.

The War of Liberation was a defining moment for the Awami League and the entire nation. During the arduous months of battle and sacrifice, Bangabandhu led from the front, providing leadership and inspiration to millions. The sacrifices made during this time are a testament to the resilience and determination of the Bengali people. The victory on December 16, 1971, was a moment of immense pride, heralding a period of promise and opportunity.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman embarked on the massive job of reconstructing a nation severely damaged by war after gaining independence. His vision of a 'Sonar Bangla' (Golden Bengal) was a goal and a beacon of hope for a prosperous, inclusive, and self-sufficient nation. However, his aspiration and ambition to rebuild the country into a hunger-free welfare state turned into a mirage as his vicious circles of cohorts were involved in innumerable crimes of oppression, suppression, extortion, and deprivation of freedom of speech.

Corruption, embezzlement of money, and even looting the banks in broad daylight were so rampant that every compatriot knew but had to swallow those indigestible incidents without any utterance. Sheikh Mujib himself confessed to all those in a public speech. To control the rebellious people, Mujib had to form Bakshal or Rokkhi Bahini, who used to choke the voice of humanity with their mafia activities. No human dignity, respect, or security existed for women’s virtue in cities or villages. All these heinous and devilish maladministration prevailed in the country due to the mismanagement of the Mujib Government, as he was a first-class orator but a third-class administrator. Finally, Mujib had to change the constitution of 1972 from a multiparty democracy to a one-party autocracy.

Therefore, on August 15, 1975, his own cherished, nourished and confided associates murdered him and the majority of his family members, abruptly ending this obnoxious phase of the giant regime. Since Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana were away, they managed to survive. It was said that people rejoiced and distributed sweets on hearing the message of the killing of Mujib. After this, the Awami League had to struggle for the ascension to the throne of power for 25 years of the ups and downs of a democratic journey.

But who knew that history would repeat itself? Nobody takes lessons from the naked truth and reality of history. His daughter, Sheik Hasina, apparently genetically inherited all those evil destinations by doing the same as her father. After serving three consecutive terms as the leader of a well-established political party, she was forced to flee the country.

The party collapsed due to her lack of communication with grassroots people and her reliance on the police and notorious Student League, as her father did on Bakshal. Though her party's ascent was heralded in the 2008 election, controversy and deception dogged the subsequent elections. Discontent among those who felt cut off increased as confidence in her ability to lead waned. With her government unable to win over most voters, she grew apathetic toward public opinion. Her party responded to the crowds with violence and desperation.

She reorganized government agencies to execute her agenda, encouraging a climate of corruption, nepotism, and self-interest. When it came to their obligation to the state, public employees seemed more in line with her political ambitions. The resulting climate of "haves" and "have-nots," evoking memories of past class wars, widened the chasm between her ruling class and the populace. Along with creating division in all spheres of society, she also polarized the country by setting pro- and anti-independence groups against one another.

She became even more unpopular because she suppressed opposing voices through extortion, forced disappearances, and restrictions on the freedom of expression. Mass discontent resulted from the suppression of the media and the intense annoyance and bitterness that market monopolies instilled in the people’s minds.

So when the quota reform movement turned into a mass uprising after a lot of bloodshed and injuries on August 5, 2024, people from all walks of life came out like an unending precession from all four corners of Dhaka and made an aggressive way to Gonovobon, she had no alternatives but to flee as our patriotic army refuge to shoot on agitating people.

If she had not fled, there would have been massacres between the army, police, and mass people, or she would have been beaten to death by the mob. However, her fleeing saved her life but killed the party forever. Now, Gen Z has witnessed the real face of Hasina and her party, and their ordeals and sacrifices to dethrone her will remain fresh in their minds. This generation will lead the country for 25 years or more as most of them are 25 or less. So, they will never allow the Awami League to return to power. The generation will rewrite the history of this victory and disseminate the history to the next generation, so it would not be too easy for BAL to go back to politics again. But yet, as politics is an unpredictable game, who knows who will bowl whom out?

The writer is an assistant professor of English at IUBAT and a PhD candidate at Universiti Putra Malaysia.