I Can’t Die Twice
Major MA Jaleel | September 24, 1972, Weekly Holiday.
I can’t die twice, because I jumped into the fire of liberation, I embraced death, And if today I am a living soul, it’s mere the weakness of death that it has failed to reciprocate my gesture. My life is just a bonus and so are the dedicated lives of all the freedom fighters of Bangladesh who are now trudging along lifelessly experiencing the bitterness and curses of life. But dedication has a meaning. Dedication is a dynamic force, a force that can shatter and shackle, however strong that may be.
And we have seen that, how 90.000 well-trained heads of Yahya’s hordes bowed in front of the dedication of our young freedom fighters.
Bangladesh archived independence after tremendous splashing of blood, humiliation and sufferings with the greatest hope of the freedom fighters and the people of Bangladesh looked forward to breathing afresh; with cupped hands to god, on the ashes of their burnt out houses.
Where is the change? What is the change? Are the questions burning in every heart, for the taste of independence has been rather too sour? What meaning has this independence brought to our people when they have no security and other rights like freedom of speech, freedom of press and the certainly of justice?
The law and order situation in the country is such that even a child of yesterday can jump over it. Administrative organs of the government are ineffectual because it seems that the government has elected inefficient, in-effective and wrong people to manage the administrative machinery. They have almost been made impotent in the delivery of their goods to the needy public due to the constant irritable promptings and threats by certain M.C.A’s, ministers and other people of influence.
Panicky Queries
How long this way will the cart of Bangladesh government proceed and where to? These are the panicky queries made by the people who are now passing their days in complete agony, anxiety and uncertainty. The technocrats and intelligentsia are the most unfortunate and miserable lot today, because despite their best wishes to render services for the reconstruction of our devastated country they are kept away, for one reason or another.
Secondly, the rising prices of daily necessities in their turn are breeding bribery, robbery, murder and lawlessness with borders open, Bangladesh has metamorphosed into an earthen pot with a big hole in its bottom which can retain nothing despite regular flow of relief and food-grains. Answer to this problem is the strong desire of sealing off our borders, which must be
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implemented forthwith, or else there is every likelihood of entire Bangladesh being smuggled out!
If the soldiers of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) are not enough to check this smuggling, a people’s volunteer corps might be of help.
Thirdly, the collaborators who are now in captivity and under custody of the government must be tried speedily, so that only the real culprits are punished and the rest, some of whom are belived to be victims of old enmity, must be released immediately.
Fourthly, because the people have lost all faith and confidence in the MCAs, the Assembly should be dissolved and the cabinet be dismissed. In its place the government should form an Advisory council with people selected from all parties till the next election. However, the constitution, as promised earlier, should be delivered to the people as early as possible.
Freedom Fighters
Fifthly, I sincerely feel and have also realized during the liberation war that among the freedom fighters is lying a dormant gigantic force; a hidden treasure of wealth for war-torn Bangladesh. That dynamic force, if not harnessed in time and activated for the reconstruction of this country, may, in the near future, divert itself towards channels which will bring about disaster and complete anarchy. This force springs from the spirit of patriotism and the spirit of patriotism, if not honoured and utilized in time, turns into a devilish wrath for vengeance.
I can foresee an internal turmoil and I do fear it indeed for that shall only pollute our sense of glory and destroy mercilessly the fame that we earned by our liberation struggle. I would like to request the government to make an all-out effort to absorb the freedom fighters by formulating some plan immediately.
Freedom fighters are too willing, and forever ready, to serve and sacrifice their lives and belongings for the welfare, reconstruction and sovereignty of this land.
Freedom fighters have died once, and twice shall never come. Let us understand each other and live for a change with mutual respect. So far, my discussions with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury and Syed Nazrul Islam have centered on the problems written above, but unfortunately on these have had no progress as yet. The people of this democratic country have the right to demand to know as to where we are heading toward anarchism or socialism?
September 24, 1972, Weekly Holiday.
Source: মুজিব বাহিনী থেকে গন বাহিনী ইতিহাসের পুনর্পাঠ – আলতাফ পারভেজ