Marauding economy has led to our moral decline

Advocate Fazlur Rahman, a veteran politician and a valiant freedom fighter, is known as a "charan kobi" (wandering poet) of politics. He is a former Member of Parliament for Kishoreganj-3 and was the chief of the Mujib Bahini in Kishoreganj district during the Liberation War. He has always been a vocal figure against any distortion of history and remains unwavering in his stance on Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty, and the Liberation War. Born in the village of Karansi in Joysiddhi Union, Itna Thana, Kishoreganj district, he is currently an advisor to the BNP Chairperson. Recently, this esteemed politician sat down with Views Bangladesh for an interview, where he spoke about the Liberation War, pre-independence Bangladesh, politics, the 1969 mass uprising, and contemporary issues. This is the first part of a three-part interview.

Interview by Shahadat Hossain Towhid, Editorial Assistant, Views Bangladesh

Views Bangladesh: Fifty-three years have passed since the great Liberation War. What have we gained, and what have we lost?

Fazlur Rahman: It would be unfair to say that nothing has happened in these fifty-three years. That would be an extreme ingratitude. Many good and bad things have happened. We have achieved things we never had before.

I remember my childhood. I was in the fifth grade, and my father, a village leader, was an Awami League supporter. When martial law was imposed in 1958, he had to go into hiding. I used to ask my mother where he had gone, and she would say, “He has gone to your grandfather’s house.” Later, I realized he was hiding from Ayub Khan’s martial law because he was an Awami League worker.

Back in 1958, even owning a single shirt was difficult for most people. When a groom visited his in-laws’ house, he would borrow a pair of shoes from someone in the village and only wear them upon arrival. This was our rural reality. We were under rule and exploitation.

When Ayub Khan took power, I witnessed firsthand how the Bengalis were trapped in a9 rigid system of control, and a racial suppression began. The first voice of protest against Ayub’s rule came from the students. In 1962, I was in ninth grade and a school monitor. I often heard names like Shah Moazzem, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, Rashed Khan Menon, Ayub Reza Chowdhury, Badruddoza Boro Laskar, and Enayetur Rahman. In 1964, the student movement intensified. I heard names like Sirajul Alam Khan, Obaidur Rahman, Abdur Razzaq, Matia Chowdhury, and Saifuddin Manik. I was in college then. People like Babul and Wajihullah became martyrs.

Views Bangladesh: Fascinating insights! Please continue.

Fazlur Rahman: Then came the Six-Point Movement in 1966. Many people, including Manu Miah, were martyred. In Tejgaon alone, sixty people were killed in one day. On June 7, 1966, Ayub Khan’s forces opened fire and killed a hundred people in a single day. This gradually led to the realization among Bengalis that Pakistan was exploiting us.

By 1966, new slogans emerged: "Tumi ke? Ami ke? Bangali Bangali" (Who are you? Who am I? Bengali, Bengali). This slogan continued for two years. When the Agartala Conspiracy Case was filed against Bangabandhu, the Eleven-Point Movement began, and a new slogan emerged: "Tomar Amar Thikana, Padma Meghna Jamuna" (Our home is where the rivers Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna flow).

This was one of the greatest slogans in the world. No other nation has ever used the names of rivers in their nationalist movements.

Then came 1969, 1970, and finally 1971. The sun rose in blood, and the brave Bengalis awakened. The slogan became: "Bir Bangali, astro dhoro, Bangladesh shadhin koro" (Brave Bengalis, take up arms and free Bangladesh).

At that time, what did we have? Just one shirt and one pair of pants. We were poor students who could barely afford to eat. There were no Bengali millionaires—except for two: A.K. Khan from Chittagong and Jahurul Islam from Mymensingh. It was said they each had five crore (50 million) taka.

Views Bangladesh: What happened after independence?

Fazlur Rahman: We fought a war, and the country became independent. But there was looting—banks were plundered, money was smuggled abroad, and 22 families fled. Had Pakistan remained, we would have still seen only the elite ruling class with their wealth.

But now, it is at least our own people who are driving expensive cars, even if they are corrupt. Our banks, though looted, are owned by Bengalis. In 1972, the national budget was only 750 crore taka. The budget that Tajuddin Ahmed presented as finance minister was just 450 crore taka. Today, the budget exceeds 7.5 lakh crore taka. So, saying that independence brought us nothing is incorrect.

In the Pakistan era, no Bengali could rise above the rank of Colonel. Major General Osmani, a world-class officer and a war hero from the British Army, was never promoted beyond that because he was a Bengali. But today, we have numerous Bengali generals.

Back then, we had only 19 districts, and 9 of them were governed by non-Bengali Deputy Commissioners (DCs). Most bureaucrats were from Pakistan. Today, 100% of our administrators are Bengalis. Independence has given us this transformation.

Previously, getting a passport required going to Lahore or Islamabad. Today, one crore Bengalis live and work around the world, sending billions of dollars home. Can we truly say independence gave us nothing? Yes, we haven't achieved as much as we should have. Our education system has declined, our research output is insufficient, and we haven’t advanced in science and technology as we should have.

Views Bangladesh: Why did honesty and patriotism decline?

Fazlur Rahman: During the Pakistan era, despite being poor, we had integrity. That integrity was lost due to what I call a "lumpen economy"—an economy built on plunder. We are all chasing wealth; some succeed, some fail. Those who fail hide in shame, while those who succeed build luxurious homes abroad. Greed has eroded patriotism. But in 20-30 years, this phase will pass. The economy will stabilize, and true Bengali entrepreneurs will emerge. I am optimistic.

Views Bangladesh: Political honesty has also disappeared, hasn’t it?

Fazlur Rahman: Yes, globally, leadership quality has declined. Once, we had great leaders like Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, Gandhi, Nasser, Suharto, and Nehru. Today, politics is about gaining power for economic benefits. That’s why corruption is rampant.

Views Bangladesh: What led to the massive public uprising against the Awami League?

Fazlur Rahman: People felt cheated in elections for 15 years. In 2014, 153 MPs were elected without voting. In 2018, elections were rigged overnight. In 2024, it was another sham election. People saw corrupt leaders amassing wealth while they struggled for food and jobs. Eventually, the anger exploded, and Sheikh Hasina had to step down.

Views Bangladesh: What is the true number of martyrs in the Liberation War—3 million or 300,000?

Fazlur Rahman: The number is symbolic, like in World War II, where 30 million deaths were estimated. This number represents the enormity of our struggle.

Views Bangladesh: Did only the Awami League fight for independence?

Fazlur Rahman: No, while the Awami League led the movement, the entire nation, including many from other political backgrounds, supported and participated in the war.

(To be continue)