Words & Bites

Thank you Mash for another excellent blog.

I liked your point on government losing its legitimacy to govern. But again, this government never had any (ie, legitimacy) to begin with, no matter how hard some of our Constitution-gurus tried to convince us otherwise. I am one of those who were sceptical from the beginning. I never believed, even for a fleeting second, that anything good could come out of this so called Mili-Biz-Mullah sponsored Caretaker rule.

Last week, Imran Khan wrote somewhere: “when democracy is flawed, the solution is more democracy, not Military rule.” I am pained to see that many of our democracy and human rights stalwarts in Bangladesh civil society have forgotten this simple truth. It is difficult enough putting up with Moeens-Fakhruddins appearing on national television with their arrogant sermons on how should democracy be in Bangladesh. At least we can try to see that in perspective, expecting nothing better from them. But it becomes really unbearable when we have to endure watching people like Prof Muzaffar Ahmed or Prof Anisuzzaman cheerleading for the Caretaker Government with Armed Forces prompting from the wings. The other day, one of my friends used the term “shona-pondit” [coined by Humayun Azad] to describe these fallen teachers. (I miss Humayun Azad–his incisive mind, and his unforgiving tongue–at a time like this).

Thank God that we had Tasneems, Choleshs and Anwar Hossains. They represent the best in our people that cannot be silenced or broken or purchased. Where would we be today without them?

I hope (and I know) this whole ordeal would only make Tasneem stronger and give him the necessary resolve to carry on his work. Being an atheist, I do not have any God to pray to. If I had, then I probably would have made an exception for Tasneem and everyone like him.