The journey of a daughter’s grief: 73 years of Sheikh Hasina

Seventy-three years. A daughter, a mother and a leader to millions. Hers is not one story, but numerous. The story of the little girl who followed the footsteps of her dear father in becoming the leader this nation needed, the story of a generous soul as we may hear from the lips of a journalist covering her reports and an SSF officer securing her life, the story of the reflection of Bengali culture and heritage, of struggle, of perseverance and surely of undying determination. But with every story I read, my thoughts always find their way to her journey, one that has been so much of pain. The harrowing grief shared by her and her only living sibling, Sheikh Rehana, as they remain with memories of their beloved family snatched away from them too early. I am left amazed each time I ponder the immeasurable amount of courage one must have to gather each day, attaining such incredible successes all the while carrying the unimaginable pain that has been inflicted. I thus found it only befitting to write upon what strikes me the most about her journey: an indomitable spirit that has had to overcome continuous hurdles, suffering and incomparable grief.

I remember the day vividly when I triumphantly snuck out of the house, my parents unaware that their young son of class 10 would make his way on the roof of a bus arranged by Muktijoddha Sangshad, Mirpur Unit along with thousands to welcome our leader at the airport after so many years of exile abroad. I remember not being able to hold back tears at the sight of her fainting time and time again through her speech, as I stood among masses at Manik Mia Avenue amidst the pouring rain on that blessed stormy day. One thought that raced through my emotional young mind, constantly though, as I listened to her words, was whether she questioned where we all were when her beloved father, mother, brothers, sisters-in-law were being brutally murdered one after the other; whether the sight of such a huge crowd made her want to cry out in sorrow and anguish of how we, thousands of supporters who had come to welcome her, could just let an entire family be executed in broad daylight! Indeed, where were we? Youth is a time painted with emotions and my question was a reflection of my naivety of politics, complexities in society and how brutal human societies can be but the question has remained with me and I truly do wonder about what thoughts ran through her mind as she stood there facing a nation that took away her loved ones. I have also wished on many occasions with her presence to ask her of that evening at Manik Mia Avenue and all she had in mind but alas! I have not yet had the ability to do so. Being a student of sociology, I have thought many a time about her sufferings with the attempt to add analyses, explanations, and though many of these writings remain unpublished. Today I wish to give words to thoughts that have lingered on with me since youth.

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Hasina's incessant struggle for justice began the minute after her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination as she and her sister remained helpless in West Germany, starting with the ungratefulness and betrayal by the then Bangladesh ambassador to Belgium. Expectations of protests and a movement that demanded justice for the killing of the Father of the Nation were met with ghastly silence and betrayal, as the long list of traitors came forth. The list started with the very foreign minister at the time who did not pay heed to the cries of help from two orphaned siblings pleading for a press conference and condemnation of the killings, even though he was in West Germany himself. I am still perplexed how she was able to deal with the horrifying and unfortunate reality that those who had posed as dear supporters of Bangabandhu throughout his life had joined the killer Khandakar Mushtaque Ahmed's council of ministers in a heartbeat with no resilience whatsoever. It perplexes me to this day how such a betrayal was tolerated. Out of 21 members of the council, only two were not from the Awami League and the president and vice-president were Mushtaque and Mahmudullah accordingly.

While I was quite little in 1975, I remember the shocking turn of events and being left utterly confused at the new council of ministers. My reaction, as I understand now more clearly, was most possibly influenced by my family background, leaning towards the Awami family of Gopalganj, and the upbringing I had had. To this day I find myself at a loss of words when I think of how Hasina had to come to terms with how Mushtaque, who only reached so far for the kindness received from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, betrayed him so terribly and I still fail to understand how many of the ministers who had indulged in silence after 1975 were brought back as ministers again years later. How was it possible that individuals such as Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Abdul Mannan, Manoranjan Dhar, Sohrab Hossain or Asaduzzaman Khan, AR Mallick, Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury and others joined the killer! Perhaps some of them might not have had ill intention as they joined and perhaps many of them might not even criminals but it leaves one wondering how it must have traumatised the daughter of the man executed for believing his countrymen so innocently. Those who had even the slightest bit of communication with the Sheikh family at the time or held even a minimal idea about the Awami League and its leader were also well aware of how much Bangabandhu loved KM Obaidur Rahman, Shah Moazzem Hossain or Taheruddin Thakur.

I wonder if anyone questions the kind of horrific emotional experience undergone by Hasina as she witnessed the activities of her own party men. And to speak of those who have been given the highest of respect in society, has anyone ever thought about how their decisions pained her? Honoured names including Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, General MAG Osmani, Ataur Rahman Khan, ASM Abdur Rab, Colonel Taher and others. While he devoted his life to the politics of the working people, Bhashani was seen offering his support to the military regimes of Ayub Khan and General Ziaur Rahman, calling for people via television and radio to vote for Islamist personalities in the 1970 election. It was quite surprising to see him speak out against the establishment of the Collaborators Act enacted by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's government as quickly as Jan 31, 1972 and also propose the name "Muslim Bangla" for the newly founded land of Bangladesh.

After the assassination of Bangabandhu, he further went onto support the Mushtaque government, assist the killer's government gain China's recognition, freeing his close comrade Mashiur Rahman Jadu Miah, a 1971 convicted war collaborator, who was in the jail under the Collaboration Act. He also offered his continued support for Gen Zia's government which later came into power.

In the same way, history saw not only the support offered to Mushtaque by Gen Osmani but also his acceptance of the role of defence advisor in his government. Bangabandhu's daughter was well aware of the roles played by Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu and Colonel Taher but had shown continuous tolerance for these individuals as well. The very colonel who kept close contact with the perpetrators of Aug 15, who was the mastermind of killing officers in the name of so-called Sepoy Biplob and who had to hang in Zia's rule was also given justice under Hasina's government. And on this side, we see how individuals such as Rab and many others still seem dissatisfied despite being given responsibility as ministers.

It is unimaginable to think how the brutal execution of Bangabandhu was even justified indirectly by politicians such as Bhasha Matin, Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish and Syed Altaf Hossain supporting the killer Mushtaque. To add to the list are also so-called civil society members who continue to criticise every move of the prime minister but a closer look will surely reveal how a large portion come from backgrounds against the liberation of Bangladesh.

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Besides these, modern and logical individuals do have huge desires from Hasina due to firstly her being the daughter of Bangabandhu and secondly for being the leader of Awami League. And within this group of people with such large demands are socialists, liberals, conservatives, the ultra-left, the ultra-right, the simple masses and many other groups indeed. What they, especially the secular supporters, willingly or unwillingly don't try to understand that the limitations lie within the social structure, created through illegitimate military rules, cannot allow all demands to be met. To offer my explanation of how all went astray, it was primarily the crude killings that took place on Aug 15, 1975 that ruined the road towards progressiveness for the nation's politics. Can we all take a moment to think of how "Bangladesh Zindabad" which was not even in the spirit of the Liberation War became established?! The answer is quite easy if we take a look at the events that took place politically after 1975. What came about of the military regimes and their strange synthesis of worldly and after-life bizarre concept was the birth of an unnatural, peculiar political culture and people that largely obstructed the activities of the Awami League, which prided itself to be a historically celebrated liberal political force. And that was why in many ways the prime minister has had to compromise, at times with ASM Rab, HM Ershad, Hifazat-e Islam, the many Menons, Inus and even with her own party men.

Hasina is also at times accused of not maintaining a harmonious relationship with the BNP by the so-called civil society members but just like her enemies, her well-wishers even fail to realise or should I say empathise with her unbearable journey of grief that has been painted with blood from the start. Besides the trial to seek justice for the murderers of her father being obstructed legally by the enactment of the notorious Indemnity Act, she has also had to witness the various ways these murderers were given lucrative positions by the BNP and even the regimes that came after. And it didn't end there! While the killings of Bangabandhu, the four National Leaders and the entire Sheikh family were met with absolute silence and even praise at times, that very party passed a condolence motion in the sixth parliament portraying  Mushtaque a "seasoned politician and parliamentarian" and a "meritorious son of the soil" after the killer's death. And to bring forth yet another most horror-stricken occurrence in the history of the nation, we all remember the brutal grenade attack of Aug 21 in 2004 that threatened her life, snatched 24 other lives and injured 300 people yet again by the BNP, the very political party that had been formed from the bloodshed of Bangabandhu and his family.

I am left surprised at times when I think of how she has been able to deal with every injustice, every adversity that too with a smile of courage, carrying such an emotional burden only to keep her father's dream of a liberated and thriving Bangladesh alive! I often echo the classical proverb "the history repeats itself" and so it has. This nation once looked desperately to Bangabandhu for its liberation rendering his absolute authority and now it again looks to Hasina with the same desperation and the need for change giving her absolute and unconditional supports. Just how our beloved Bangabandhu could not be wiped out from the pages of history even though there were multiple heinous attempts, Hasina too will be remembered forever as the leader of a modern Bangladesh who envisioned change and walked towards it. And with her well-being lies the well-being of Bangladesh, for the masses know that she is indeed our one and only last hope.