It is better to die fighting for freedom than to live life in chains.

Dear People of Bangladesh

We expatriate and indigenous citizen of Bangladesh extend our warmest gratitude to you for your brave voice in support of Bangladeshi peoples democratic rights, and in support of preservation of our independence. Like yourself, we too have realized that Bangladesh as a Nation has lost its independence to decide our economic and foreign policy to Indian dictates, and hegemony. It is a great concern to us that under Sheikh Hasna’s government, we have become a political and economic prisoner to Indian authority, and we long to free our nation from Indian domination.

you are surely aware, when the war of independence was mounted in 1971, and no way to escape from the occupation, the late Prime Minister of India, Indhira Ghandi, chained Bangladesh with a secret treaty signed by provisional President Sayed Nazrul Islam in return for their military assistance. The treaty was called the 7 point secret treaty signed in October 1971 in Delhi. The main 7 points of the treaty was as follows:

1) After the establishment of Bangladesh, the administrative officers who actively participated in the war of liberation would remain in their posts. The rest would be terminated and vacant posts would be filled up by the Indian administrative officers.
2) After the liberation of Bangladesh the required number of soldiers would remain in Bangladesh (No time limit was laid down).
3) Bangladesh would not form and maintain any formal regular Armed Forces.
4) To maintain internal security and law and order a militia would be formed comprising of the freedom fighters.
5) The Chief of Staff of the Indian Armed Forces would lead the probable war with Pakistan. The Mukti Bahini (Freedom Fighters) would work under the command of Indian Armed forces.
6) Trade Transactions between the two countries would be free and open. The volume of trade would be calculated once in a year and the price would be paid in pound sterling’s.
7) The Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh would maintain a close liaison with the External Affairs Ministry of India and the latter would assist the former as per as possible.

Although, after independence, this treaty was not followed, but Sheikh Mujib re-negotiated another treaty for 25 years, called the ‘Treaty of friendship’ in 1972, which also had unfair and objectionable terms and conditions. In 2010, following the foot step of 25 years treaty, Mujibs daughter Sheikh Hasina signed another treaty for an indefinite period. She may have signed many other secret deals with India, hidden from people’s knowledge. India, from the onset of Bangladesh creation have taken advantage of our political weakness, and have freely interfered from  drafting and approving our first constitution in 1972 to vetting and approving the first five years of government economic plans for the country from Delhi. Our common rivers that follow from India to Bay of Bengal have been illegally hindered by various dams to dry Bangladesh water ways during the winter season and intentionally often opens barriers during the rainy season to the detriment of Bangladeshi agriculture. Furthermore, in 1974, on the pretext of experimental testing for a limited period, India built Farakka dam, and to this day it is still running violating international norms.

During the last 40 years, India has shown its aggression towards Bangladesh in various ways. They have tried to break up Bangladesh by giving weapons to the secessionist in Chittagong Hill tract, freely helped to facilitate smugglers to push their product that are harmful to Bangladesh people and economy, including flooding Bangladesh with illegal drugs produced in India to destroy our youths in to becoming addicts. They also have committed cultural aggression, and often stirred sectarian violence against one another with the help of their agent and proxy Sheikh Hasina.

 It is well-known that India helped to create Bangladesh for its own geo-political interest as opposed to genuinely helping the people of Bangladesh to realize our independence. India wanted to make Bangladesh a subservient state like Bhutan and Sikkim through the secret agreement signed in 1971. Having failed to materialize their dream, they colluded and schemed with various forces to bring the present Awami government in power back in 2008. Knowing fully well that slavish Sheikh Hasina would do anything to stay in power, Indian government took advantage of political divisions, and walloped deals to facilitate corridor through Bangladesh Rivers and ports. If Sheikh Hasina comes to power again by state hegemony by conducting a one sided election, and keeping away the opposition, needlessly to say, Sheikh Hasina would agree to give corridor through Bangladesh to Indian Seven Sisters, in effect, opening up trade, and movement of arms, and Indian Military troops to its seven sisters in the East of Bangladesh. This will inevitably lead to compromising our security as well as destabilizing bordering states of China. In this way, Bangladesh is increasingly losing its independence to decide it’s economic and foreign policy, and is being caged by Indian domination. We are at mercy of India to the extent of deciding who rules our country. They have nakedly made clear at various times that they want to see Awami government in power again. To that end, they have commissioned their intelligence agency with money and men to realize their dream of bringing slavish Awami government in to power again. Although, 90 % of the population demands a caretaker government, Sheikh Hasina is disrespecting popular demand, and is going for a one-sided election. The former Indian Army Chief General Shankar Ray has stated that Bangladesh will never be allowed to go outside their radar. This remark further strengthens our belief that if Sheikh Hasina comes to power again, Bangladesh will remain a country in name only without any real power.

Indian domination will not only be a menace for people of Bangladesh, but also will impact on the wider interest of Asia and China.

In this critical historical moment of Bangladesh history, the opposition voice, zeal and determination to free our country and to this objective, the support of 160 million people of Bangladesh has become paramount. No patriotic people whether in civil administration, police, navy or the Army could remain silent. It is our collective duty to save our country from the personal whims of one person, one family of traitors. Freedom of Bangladesh is much bigger than Awamileague or Sheikh Hasina.

And a final thought; if anyone is hoping for USA intervention, then you must discard this dream. USA has illusionist policy in the sense that it will show alliance and friendliness with all party, and each party would think that USA is their best friend. In fact, they are only friend to themselves. Dan Mozina gave a few threats to Hasina to seal the TICFA deal, and now they have their big prize, so they will play along with whoever wins. Remember one thing, for geo-political and economic reasons; America will never dare openly upset India. So it is up to the people of Bangladesh to fight for our rights, even if it means taking the hell out of the government of Sheikh Hasina.

Possible political scenario in Bangladesh in the context of recent formation of so called all party government.

The opposition are now much clear after the Prime Ministers speech in the parliament. She is adamant to run the next election under her premiership. In this scenario, the opposition option for an all party election time government has faded away. Unless a dramatic turn of heart takes place, which is unlikely, the current system of government will continue until election. 18 party alliance has the option to concede a defeat to their demand for a caretaker government and join as it is, which will be political suicide, as Awamileague has no intention of giving opposition alliance a win, as they perceive a BNP win will mean ramification for Awamileague leaders that misruled Bangladesh for the last five years with an iron fists, so a thought of a defeat means a lot of their leaders maybe going to jail or be abducted and killed. It is also foolish to think that even if the Opposition is given the entire important ministry including civil administration, or what was called ministry of establishment, the election will be fair since the constitution stipulates that the Prime Minster has the final say on any decision by the ministry secretary. So for instance, if the minister for civil administration gives an order to reshuffle secretaries or appoint and promote new secretaries to ensure a fair election, the Prime Minister can over rule the decisions. One of the complain of the opposition is the politicisation of civil administration which plays an important role in the general election; which Sheikh Hasina during the last five years has blatantly politicised both the judiciary, police and civil administration that it is impossible to have a fair election under the current set up.

If we assume that the opposition will not participate in this current set up, which is in all fairness an Awamileague alliance interim government renamed as all party government, the opposition will have to go for strong agitation on the street to home in their demands. The effectiveness of this agitation mostly depends on how good they could organize an inclusive mass agitation involving various parties, civic society and the people at large in a unified movement for a common goal to establish a caretaker government. In this regard Madam Zia must take the responsibility to unite all other smaller parties for the sake of the country in a common platform. I can understand some reservation by the smaller party’s not to participate where Jamati Islam is in the team, but it is the responsibility of Begum Zia to convince them that the common issue is not about forming a government with Jamat, but the issue is about caretaker government which is a demand by 90 percent of the population. Although, the smaller party has very little men power, but they are well known figure head of Bangladesh, and their inclusiveness will appeal greatly to the secular society of the country. Dr Kamal Hussain, Bongo Vir Kader Siddique, ASM Abdur Rab, and former President Bodrudduza Chowdhury, civic society, Mahmudur Rahman Manna are national figures outside 18 party alliances that need to be participating in the Anti Government agitation. The opposition also has to be aware that once agitation starts, Awamileague government will do all possible, or even outside norms to foil opposition agitations, this could mean mass arrest of the front line leaders and killings. So planning and provision will be required to overcome those scenarios and must be willing to come out with fervour and a determination to win.

The third step for a successful crippling of the government is to involve man power from all the anti government Islamic parties including Hifazote Islam to be more vocal and have more presence in the streets. Bangladesh Islamic party’s in my estimations are not extremists, but moderate law abiding political parties and groups which are only grieved because of the government wrong actions and which affects their belief, such as removal of some provision from the constitution, persecution of Islamic figures, and allowing defamation of the Prophet Muhammad. So, any analysis that Bangladesh will head towards some Taliban like government is a misleading notion. Bangladesh main Islamic Parties believe in democracy and the vehicle of free election to gain power, and are not extremists in ideology.

The fourth step for the opposition to take is to bear more pressure on the government by lobbying international community on the unfairness of the one-sided election, and the consequences it will have in alienating the population, and breading extremism. Because unfairness and lawlessness by the state only increases the chance of youths moving away from main stream parties to joining extremist’s organization. Also the fact that instability may spill to neighbouring countries and will impact on global trade which USA is an important partner. Chinese involvement is very crucial too in this regards.

The final scenario is not desired, but it may be desired in the interest of the country, so the opposition also needs to open channel with the Army in case the government goes beyond to suppress the agitation and the Army feels the need to intervene, in that case, the Army has to play a neutral part for a limited period until institutions are set for a free fair election. Under no circumstances, the Army should do anything that previous General Moyeen U Ahmed did to the democratic process of the country. It must not play the role of putting someone in to power by helping to rig the election, as the previous Army lead government did to put Awamileague in to power with an unbelievable majority. Army’s role should be to ensure a free, fair, election, under a neutral government, helping the administration to maintain law and order.

The opposition, if comes to power, must think of the security of the country in ensuring that no future government is able to endanger our countries freedom and security by patronizing a particular countries intelligence service in our political affairs. We have seen how India openly interfered in our country by various means of money, bribe, and direct involvement with men and weapons; this is very dangerous precedence the Awamileague government has set which takes away our pride of being an independent state. Also the constitution must be changed to ensure it is a constitution for the people and not for a particular party. Most important system of the government is to ensure that the judiciary is neutral applying rules according to laws and not implementing their personal whims and political dictates. People’s last resort of receiving justice must not be politicised. So all the appointments based on political intentions must be cancelled and a balance judiciary having good, able, righteous people should be ensured.