Headlines:
- August 21 Grenade Attack Verdict
- President’s Speech at University of Dhaka Convocation
August 21 Grenade Attack Verdict
A Dhaka Speedy Trial tribunal on Wednesday sentenced former State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, former Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu and 17 others to death and acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman and 18 others to life in the grenade attack cases. The grenade attack in 21 August, 2004 on an Awami League rally in Dhaka left 22 AL leaders and activists killed and injured many including AL President, erstwhile opposition leader and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The verdict has become the topic of discussion in the media. It has sparked debate about the impartiality and fairness of judiciary amongst the Awami-BNP leaders and activists. General people are lost if not entertained by this circus. The common people do understand that while millions of cases are piled up and awaiting for trail for ages in our courts, only those cases are being disposed of that are connected with ruling party’s political interests. The Grenade Attack judgment has been delivered very timely in the sense that the general election is just 3 months away and consequence of this judgment is already in effect in the form of arrest of BNP protesters and cases against them causing the main opposition to be dismantled before election. People now tend to believe that under the secular-democratic system, independent judiciary is a myth. Unfortunately, like all other institutions judiciary has been politicized and in the history of Bangladesh it has always been manipulated by the ruling party for political gain. We never see judgment sentencing ruling party leaders although most of the corruptions and atrocities are committed under the auspices of the ruling party. Ruling party somehow managed to adjourn the trail of those cases that might be problematic for them for example; Sagar-Runi Murder case, Major General Manzor murder case, Toki (of Naraynganj) murder case etc. In case a judgement passed against any ruling party leader or activists; their convictions mysteriously get quashed (High Court acquits Awami League leader Maya of graft charges for second time- BDnews24.com, 10 Oct 2018) or pardoned by the President (AL leader Taher’s son Biplob freed from jail – Dhaka Tribune, 10 Oct 2018)
Impartial administration of justice can only be ensured under Islam where judges do their duties without any fear or favor of any person, except that from Allah (swt). The main purpose of sending prophets to this world was the impartial administration of justice as Allah (swt) says: إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِمَا أَرَاكَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَكُن لِّلْخَآئِنِينَ خَصِيمًا “We have revealed to you the Book with the Truth so that you may judge between people in accordance with the Right Way which Allah has shown you.” (Surah An-Nisa: 105)
President’s Speech at University of Dhaka Convocation
The University of Dhaka celebrated the 51st convocation this year where the president of Bangladesh was the chief guest. The ground was filled by graduates, academicians, bureaucrats, politicians, diplomats and journalists. He talked about politicians, student politics, and DUCSU (Dhaka University Central Students Union) election etc. He expressed his grief and anxiety about anyone coming in to the politics which he deemed to be alarming for the nation.
The President of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid presented his speech in front of thousands of graduates describing how they can contribute to the society and the economy. Many of the graduates were present there with a very uncertain future about their job and life while at some point in time the president started mocking and joking. He seems to be so relaxed as if his job for the next term is definite.
The president, as an experienced politician, understood this particular anxiety of the audiences. That is why he skirted his responsibility through mockery which only fits a secular political personality at our time. But no matter how funny it was, it failed to hide the collapse of the current politics and the malignant attitude evolved from the democratic exactitude. Faithfulness towards secularism teaches us hatred between state and religion in the name of separating them. While the doctrine of the philosophy is like this, the resultant political practices are also full of animosity and conflict. Capitalism causes the clashes among different classes in the society, enriching the ruling elites and crushing the subjects, instigating fights and jealousy among different professions, tribes or ethnicities. So the more secularism is practiced, the more division is generated within the Ummah. In his malicious speech, the President very openly expressed jealousy about anyone joining politics.
Similarly, in the past, when military dictators snatched power or a judge became President, they talked against students’ political affiliations. And it’s noteworthy that this Government already outlawed the participation in politics of the Ulemas of the country. Thus we see that everyone’s right to do politics is being severely criticized by this corrupt secular system, and this speech of President is the true reflection of the failure of democracy in Bangladesh as it discriminates people’s inherent right to take up a political career.
In Islam, it has rather been a divine duty for every Muslim to participate in politics (Siyasa) through تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ “to enjoin what is good and approved, and to forbid what is evil and disapproved” [Surah Aal-e-Imran:110]”, «كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ» “presenting the truth against the unjust ruler” [al hadith] and so many other commands of Allah (swt) and the Prophet ﷺ. Thus Islam welcomes every Muslim without regard to age, experience, race and color, professional or family background to join politics.