Comments on a NFB write-up "Zia that I knew"

Ref: http://www.newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=265512

From the link in NFB: http://www.newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=265512, it is obvious that Mr. A.O. Chowdhury is not the person whose account on Zia we are reading, but that he is simply relaying information from an admirer of Ziaur Rahman (see, e.g., the statement: "Retrospect - This is a story related to me by a friend, who preferred to remain anonymous"). This kind of posting is problematic in the sense that it does not allow the reader to know who actually is the author, and therefore, whether or not, one can trust him. If the author is serious, he ought to disclose his identity and let people judge the credibility of his story. To me, the write-up appears to come from a blind supporter of the BNP who wants to salvage Zia's image on some controversial issues.

The writer's account of the 1971 Pakistani crackdown in Chittagong is somewhat difficult to believe and is at variance with the accounts provided by Major Rafiq in his "The Tale of the Millions". How did the 8th Bengal revolt and under whose leadership on the night of March 25? What happened to Zia's own family members, including wife? Note that 8th Bengal's no. 2, Maj. Zia, himself was on his way to the port for unloading arms for the Pakistan Army. Before that night, Maj. Rafiq says that both Zia and M.R. Chowdhury were opposed to take arms against the Pakistani soldiers. In his lifetime, Zia never challenged Rafiq's version of history. As a prize for their trust with the Pakistan Army, Col. M.R. Chowdhury was the first senior officer of Bangladeshi origin who was killed by the Pakistani forces in Chittagong on the night of March 25. Not only that, some 1200 Bengali new recruits were killed in Sholoshahar camp, located only a couple of miles away from my home. If either of them had a little doubt about their "trusting" Pakistani brethren many observers and analysts believe that most of those lives would have been saved.

The report also seems to be a revisionist attempt in doctoring history. It says, "Here on March 27, 1971, Zia made his famous declaration of independence at the Kalurghat Radio Station. According to Oli, he was instrumental in the making of the declaration. He even claimed to have made Zia. Shamsher told me that he drafted the final version of the declaration. So much for the controversy over the declaration of independence made by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the night of March 25, 1971." I remember very well seeing a copy of Sk. Mujib's telegraph material on the evening of March 26. I have no clue who wrote that piece, how it was sent and to whom. It had Sk. Mujib's name printed at the bottom, giving the impression that it was sent on his behest. Thus, this material which was later to be called the declaration of independence by Sk. Mujib was seen by me and many others in Chittagong at least 24 hours before I heard Zia's short speech in broken Bengali over the radio. If the declaration was written by Shamsher M. Chowdhury, it is news to us. I don't recall the ex-U.S. Ambassador claiming such.

Only two doors next to our home "Prantik" on Zakir Hossain Road lived Bangladeshi Capt. Moslem and Punjabi Capt. Rizvi. If I am not mistaken Moslem was with the Signal corps and had shown the copy to elders in our locality. After Chittagong fell to the Pakistan Army he fled from his home (and probably joined the retreating Bangladeshi forces like Zia and many others that survived). I have, therefore, serious doubt about Oli's version and find the report to be a sly attempt to distort history.

This statement of mine should not be interpreted as belittling Zia's, Shamsher's and Oli's contribution during our liberation war. What I am cautioning against is that in our love for anyone, we need not rewrite history to undeservedly give credit to someone when it is not due. When we do that we only soil their image. Unfortunately, in a highly partisan atmosphere of ours, I see many such blind supporters who are doing disservice to our nation.

Intellectuals within our community have to rise above petty, narrow partisanship (above idol worship of their iconic figures) to be taken seriously.

[See this author's old article on the same subject: http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidDate=2004-07-31&hidType=HIG&hidRecord=0000000000000000016240]

Comments

  1. I do appreciaate your extra-ordinary work on human rights issues. I do more appreciate your view of not idoling one's icons that soils the icons; and more it also demean you and yourself esteem. I may differ with your views but please look at the link below and comment.

    Thanks.


    http://blog.priyo.com/politics/2009/07/55.html

    ReplyDelete

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