The Unfinished Autobiography is indeed written by Bangabandhu

Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque. Renowned essayist in the Bangla language, social analyst, literary critic and political thinker. He is currently serving as the President of the Bangla Academy. This former professor of the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University spoke to Views Bangladesh on several recent issues. The interview was conducted by Views Bangladesh Editorial Assistant Shahadat Hossen Towhid.

Views Bangladesh: In politics one side says the Awami League will not be able to return easily; on the other hand the Awami League claims they will return soon, their reasoning being that the Awami League is the party of this country’s birth and roots – how do you explain this?

Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq: It will depend on how the Awami League functions whether it will return or not. It is true that the Awami League has fallen into a very bad state. A party cannot be sustained with leaders over 60 years of age. If those between 30 and 50 years come into leadership then their position will gradually be established.

Views Bangladesh: After the defeat of the Awami League on 5 August, debates have begun about the Liberation War – what will you say on this?

Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq: What is being seen in reality is like that. The rules and regulations that the Yunus government has issued about the Liberation War are in many cases not appropriate. However, However, the anti-Liberation War stance that the interim government seems to have will not remain.

Views Bangladesh: Are the Awami League and the Liberation War complementary to each other?

Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq: They should indeed be considered complementary. At the same time, others who did not oppose the establishment of Bangladesh or who later felt that they were wrong are also in favour of the Liberation War. By invoking the Liberation War the Awami League wins elections, and freedom fighters also receive facilities, which they do not get from BNP, Jamaat or many other parties.

Views Bangladesh: Many have commented that within the interim government there is a force against Bangladesh, what is your statement on this?

Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq: Sheikh Hasina in her statements has called them (the interim government) anti-Bangladesh, razakar, those are not acceptable. But I think this government is anti-Awami League. A few days ago I saw that in diplomatic missions or government offices the picture of Bangabandhu cannot be hung. This government’s decisions are made by combining their own ideas with America’s. 

Views Bangladesh: That means there is American influence in this government?  

Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq: What does influence mean? It is America that has brought in this government. No one will be able to prove it. One has to understand by observing different events. Badiul Alam Majumdar, he is a man of the American line. No one who knows and understands this can deny it. Where does Badiul Alam get his money from? He takes huge sums of money from civil society organisations. I do not know, maybe he takes it from the World Bank or from the IMF.

A few days before the fall Sheikh Hasina had said that this movement was the work of Jamaat-BNP. They wanted to overthrow the government; but before resigning she said again that Jamaat-BNP had not carried out this movement, I was wrong. In fact, it is the United States that wants to oust our government. She said this courageously and understood it. This Rehman Sobhan, they have drawn up a policy of work with America for this government. In it there are interests for both America and Bangladesh.

Where do NGOs and civil society organisations get their money from? From these things America’s activities can be understood. The Advisory Council of this Mr Yunus does not retain all the power for important decisions; it keeps some. The United States ensures that what it wants from this government is followed. The United States does not only wage war. It keeps countries under its control.

Views Bangladesh: Is it true that The Unfinished Autobiography was not written by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman?

Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq: Around 1983-84, under the name of Bangabandhu Chair a professor was appointed. I cannot recall the name. He was appointed for two years. Later he stayed another four to five years. His task was to correct any errors in The Unfinished Autobiography, to maintain, refine and edit it. He prepared the text centrally in discussion with Sheikh Hasina. The Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan, some intellectuals of the Awami League revised it. I myself bought it and after reading felt that it is indeed Sheikh Sahib’s writing. There may have been some spelling mistakes, which they might have corrected; but I think it is indeed written by Bangabandhu.

That "The Unfinished Autobiography" was not written by Bangabandhu does not seem at all believable to me. Amar Dekha Naya Chin or Karagarer Rojnamcha are also his writings. I think Sheikh Sahib understood Bangla very well; but as he did not have the habit of writing, mistakes in sentence and spelling might have been there. It was published through various refinements.

Views Bangladesh: Is there any uncertainty about the 13th National Parliamentary Election being held?

Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq: It seems the election will be held. I now think the election will be in February or March; but Dr Yunus is not saying it in advance. He is speaking of elections under pressure of circumstances. I do not think he will not hold the election at all.