Dear Friend,
The assassination by the United States of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, near Baghdad’s airport will ignite widespread retaliatory attacks against U.S. targets from Shiites, who form the majority in Iraq. It will activate Iranian-backed militias and insurgents in Lebanon and Syria and throughout the Middle East. The existing mayhem, violence, failed states and war, the result of nearly two decades of U.S. blunders and miscalculations in the region, will become an even wider and more dangerous conflagration
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War With Iran
by Chris Hedges
The assassination by the United States of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, near Baghdad’s airport will ignite widespread retaliatory attacks against U.S. targets from Shiites, who form the majority in Iraq. It will activate Iranian-backed militias and insurgents in Lebanon and Syria and throughout the Middle East. The existing mayhem, violence, failed states and war, the result of nearly two decades of U.S. blunders and miscalculations in the region, will become an even wider and more dangerous conflagration
As most days, this morning I opened the Tao – Dao DeJing –at random, at Dao-42. In its conclusion it says “Those who are forceful and aggressive… die a painful death – This I use as the foundation of my teaching.”
And so it may be. The reaction of “painful death” may not be immediate. Time in the dimensions of Tao has a different perspective of what we humans, particularly those living in the west, are used to. The concept of instant gratification, instant reward, or instant revenge, does not exist in the Wisdom of the 5000-year-old Tao.
President Trump is a murderer. Already before the murder of the popular Iranian Quds Force Commander, General Quassem Soleimani, Trump had not only blood on his hands and feet and smeared all over his face.He is responsible for countless deaths going into the millions, stemming from regular wars with guns and bombs, and from his financial-economic wars – by “sanctioning” countries which are not willing to bend to the Washington dictate, i.e. preventing them from importing life-saving medication, medical equipment and food. In Venezuela alone, according to a recent study carried out by the renown Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), in Washington DC, at least 40,000 people have perished since the beginning of 2017 due to US (Trump) sanctions. This figure has since considerably increased.
Yes, there is no doubt, Trump is a murderer. And yes, he is not alone. He is joined at least by those dark elitists who put him on the throne, and who direct and monitor his atrocities; and foremost, by Israeli’s PM Netanyahu. Trump and Netanyahu are walking hand-in-hand, and it is unclear who is wagging whose tail. Israel is running the western world’s financial system, i.e. Wall Street and by now most related and affiliated globalized international banks which are financing the deadly US war industry.
On the other hand, the US military – plus NATO, the composite of the US, Canada and the European puppets, also called the European Union –they are all defending Israel’s horrendous crimes on the Palestine people for the last seventy years. The Nazi Holocaust pales in the face of Israeli atrocities waged against a helpless Gaza-incarcerated people. All that would not have been possible without the full military support and funding of the US.
And nobody dares to speak out against these genocidal crimes. Because, everybody who does, will be punished by law. Yes, the US has passed legislation – and probably under pressure from Washington, other countries have adopted similar legislation, to criminalize telling the truth about Israelis heinous murders. All under the convenient but utterly fake pretext of “antisemitism”.
This absolutely aberrant and illegal pressure against the truth has also largely influenced the United Nations (UN) body, the very UN that was created to protect the poor, the discriminated against; created to defend justice, to arbitrate between adversaries – but NO, nothing of that is adhered to or even respected by the members of the UN. Hundreds, if not thousands of UN Resolutions against Israel, against Israel’s crimes against humanity, were ignoredby Israel, and nobody – but NOBODY – dares stand up infront of this enormous Body of Justice, as it were, to insist that those who go against the UN Resolutions have to be prosecuted by international law. Period.
But then again, what is ‘international law’ in our times of US impunity and immunity that breaks every international law, even threatens the International Criminal Court (ICC) to destroy it, if it dares prosecuting the US or Israel for crimes against humanity?
Can you imagine? Yes, that’s the world we live in. People wake up! The imaginary clock is reaching High Noon.
Laws are to no avail. The US rules and kills with self-given immunity.The situation is getting worse. State assassinations ordered by Trump and Netanyahu continue lawlessly, unpunished. The world looks on as if it were a normality — bought propaganda and corrupted media keep indoctrinating the western public with the idea that that war is peace and right is wrong, and indeed – that war and killing is profitable (the WaPo on several occasions), implying, ‘making our economy strong’.
The latest Trump murder of the Iranian Commander, Soleimani, may have just crossed the legendary Rubicon – the line not to cross – because there is a limit to just about everything. And the arrogance of the United States has now passed that limit – actually bringing the world to the brink of WWIII, or a similar disaster that may have implications bringing down civilization as we know it – and with it the false-fake-lie-and-crime-spangled US of A – pretty much as Tao predicts. The western “allies” of such crimes, or “collaborators”, as they would have been called during the WWII Nazi period, are equally at fault, for tolerating during decades in silence these heinous acts of mass murder – and wars – wars, for power and resources and for world hegemony.
Now we are living in the west in another Nazi-Fascist Period – that could easily prompt WWIII. This time the world would be not just in shatters, but annihilated to rubble and cinder. Good riddens of humanity! Let Mother Earth regenerate itself and, perhaps be generous enough to one day give man another chance – in a timeframe that is not measured by human dimensions, maybe not even by Tao dimensions – but by dimensions that are regulating the universe in harmony.
Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a water resources and environmental specialist. He worked for over 30 years with the World Bank and the World Health Organizationaround the world in the fields of environment and water. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for Global Research; ICH; RT; Sputnik; PressTV; The 21st Century; Greanville Post; Defend Democracy Press, TeleSUR; The Saker Blog, the New Eastern Outlook (NEO); and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion – An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed – fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! – Essays from the Resistance.
Peter Koenig is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.
Peter Koenig is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.
Iran vs. US – The Murder of General Qassem Suleimani
by Peter Koenig
Trump expected applause from the public at large. Let’s not forget he is entering the year 2020 of his re-election… that’s what he wants. So, he needs
increased popularity and approval ratings.To be reelected, he, like others before him, doesn’t shy away from committing murder or entering a new war, killing millions.
Interestingly, after the US attack on Iraqi Militia fighters on 31 December 2020, and the assassination of General Qassem Suleimani, on 2 January, the first thing President Trump could come up with, was bragging that it was him who gave the order to murder the popular military leader. General Qassem Suleimani, was the commander of the Iranian special Quds Force. The Quds Force was created during the Iran–Iraq War as a special unit from the broader Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It has the mission of liberating Muslim land, especially al-Quds, from which it takes its name – “Jerusalem Force“, in English.
General Suleimani was killed by a US drone. He was not only the most popular and prominent military officer in Iran, but he was also influential and respected throughout the Middle East.He was chief in training Iraqi forces who eventually defeated ISIS in Iraq within less than a year, when the US and NATO estimated it would take at least 3 years. General Suleimani, along with Russia was also instrumental in training the Syrian armed forces with the objective of defeating ISIS / IS / DEASH in Syria, and they succeeded. This US act of impunity, the General Suleimani killing, was unmistakenly targeted with precision and as such a clear declaration of war on Iran.
Trump expected applause from the public at large. Let’s not forget he is entering the year 2020 of his re-election… that’s what he wants. So, he needs increased popularity and approval ratings.To be reelected, he, like others before him, doesn’t shy away from committing murder or entering a new war, killing millions. That’s what American Presidents do to win elections. That’s what Obama has done. He entered the Presidency with two ongoing US wars – Afghanistan and Iraq – when he left office the US was engaged in seven wars around the globe, in Libya, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, as well as Afghanistan and Iraq.
Plus, numerous proxy-conflicts, meaning, they are fought by mercenaries and / or US trained, funded and armed terrorists, i.e. ISIS / DAESH, Islamic State (IS) and whatever other names the empire gives its agents of terror to confuse the world. And let’s not forget, the algorithmically manipulated regime-change elections in Latin America and Europe, the steady NATO advances with new military bases encircling Russia and China, including the stationing of more than 50% of the US Naval force in the South China Sea.
Most of the US Presidents are elected on the basis of their aggression, planned or ongoing, on how much they are willing to kill around the world – and how well they are representing the interests of the US War Industry — and, of course, the Israeli AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee). In other words, Americans who go to the polls, are duped into believing they are electing a president, when in reality their president had been pre-selected by a small group of elitists, representing the key US interests, the War Industry, Big Finance, Big Oil, Big Pharma – and who else, of course, the State of Israel.
The unarmed Iraqi protests and attack on 31 December on the US Embassy in Bagdad was a response to a US assault on Militia Iraqi forces on 29 December – leaving at least 25 dead and more than 50 wounded.
The US has absolutely no business in Iraq. Not now, not ever – nor in Syria, nor anywhere else in the Middle East –for that matter, outside the frontiers of the United States of America. Its as simple as that.
And the world, the UN the UN Security Council should act accordingly.
The boundless US aggression must be stopped.
The world has become used to it – and, for the most part, is just silent. The ABNORMAL has become normal. That must be reversed.
Yes, the Iranian Government warned of retaliation. Understandably. However, that is precisely what Washington and the Pentagon wants; that’s what they were provoking, with this assassination of General Suleiman, and earlier with confiscated oil tankers and tanker attacks in the Gulf. The US hawks are just waiting for Iraq to retaliate, so they can attack in full force – or ask Israel to attack in full force with US backing, of course.
Knowing how the US is acting around the world with impunity – and especially in the countries they want to dominate – Iran has to count with the worst. So far, Iran has been acting wisely with a lot of restraint, not to risk MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction, in other words, a World War scenario.
A retaliation must be well-thought out – and foremost not be obvious. It must be strategic with long-term impact not the short-term face-saving military act. In the long-term, non-aggression, non-confrontation – the contrary of what Washington is seeking – may prevail. Let the American war hawks continue shadow boxing.
What the Middle East and world is dealing with, is a dying beast – that’s what the US empire has become. The beast, in its last breath, is lashing out round itself no matter how many other countries it pulls with it into the abyss, no matter how many people are killed in the process.
What will be the world’s reaction to this open and flagrant murder? – Do not expect much from the US-submissive West, especially the Europeans.
However, Iran can certainly count on Russia and China and on a number of other allies. And in the UN on the more than 120 non-aligned countries, that also stand behind Venezuela and Cuba, and now behind Evo Morales.
This is important. These unaligned countries are now in the majority of the UN body of member states. They have to speak out in the Security Council, as well as in the General Assembly. This case of US impunity should be elevated to world attention. Therefore,Iran may want to call a special UN General Assembly Meeting to discuss the case. It would show where the UN stands – and would accordingly provide Iran with more leverage on their reaction.
Iran cannot elevate this case high enough on the world stage. So that each and every nation realizes that their own sovereignty is at risk – is every day at risk – of being annihilated by the wannabe World Hegemon – the self-declared Exceptional Nation, US of A.
Only united this monster can be beaten.
Washington is weak, knows no long-term thinking, no long-term strategy – lives off instant gratification. This works for a while, by sheer military force, but not forever.
Russia and China have now far advanced precision weaponry – and are allies of Iran, short-term thinking may be a suicide mission.
Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a water resources and environmental specialist. He worked for over 30 years with the World Bank and the World Health Organizationaround the world in the fields of environment and water. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for Global Research; ICH; RT; Sputnik; PressTV; The 21st Century; Greanville Post; Defend Democracy Press, TeleSUR; The Saker Blog, the New Eastern Outlook (NEO); and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion – An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed – fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! – Essays from the Resistance.
Peter Koenig is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.
Peter Koenig is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.
First published by the New Eastern Outlook – NEO
America is Ruled by a Murderer
by Peter Koenig
President Trump is a murderer. Already before the murder of the popular Iranian Quds Force Commander, General Quassem Soleimani, Trump had not only blood on his hands and feet and smeared all over his face.He is responsible for countless deaths going into the millions, stemming from regular wars with guns and bombs, and from his financial-economic wars – by “sanctioning” countries which are not willing to bend to the Washington dictate, i.e. preventing them from importing life-saving medication, medical equipment and food. In Venezuela alone, according to a recent study carried out by the renown Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), in Washington DC, at least 40,000 people have perished
since the beginning of 2017 due to US (Trump) sanctions. This figure has since considerably increased.
Become a rock in the foundation
by Mirza Yawar Baig
Final important thing and maybe the most important: Keep repeating the fact that the people who this NRC will harm the most are the Hindu majority. It is their tax money which will be (is being) used to build the camps. It is their taxes which will feed the detainees forever, because they can’t be deported anywhere. The disruption to the economy and the loss of jobs, investment, production, services and peace that is happening is harming them the most because they are the majority. The myth of a Muslim Mukt India where every Hindu will be a king is rubbish. Total nonsense which is taking the lives and livelihoods of Hindus and Muslims alike. Emphasize this.The most critical thing to do is to keep the protests going for the next four years and ensure that
hate mongers lose the general election.
Between Allah, Hindutva and Atheist in Kerala
by K P Sasi
Remember Faiz Ahmed Faiz writing about Allah? He was a communist. But many communists in Kerala believe that when the Muslims in this country are hit from head to toe for their culture, identity and faith, they should not even utter the word Allah' in their protests on streets. In the ballroom dance of electoral politics, these communists forgot to read Marx who said thatreligion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, soul of soulless conditions….’ before he brought in the word opium of the people!’ It is an opiate atheist mind which refuses to address `the condition for the need for religion.’
National Clean Air Programme requires teeth and grit to make a difference
by Rohin Kumar
Reports cite that India’s carbon emissions are growing at a faster rate than the United States of America or China.
Maradu Flat Demolition Fraught With Danger
by VT Padmanabhan
The implosion-demolition of the four high rises in Maradu, Ernakulam, Kerala is being done without any proper study or preparation
Bangladesh: Road to Independence
by R Chowdhury
The people of East Bengal, who are majority Muslims, suffered injustice for ages. After the fall of Plassey in 1757, they came under the wrath of the British and its Hindu surrogates. When the British left in 1947, partitioning India on religious divide, East Bengal became part of Pakistan, their condition was no better, if not worse. They continued to suffer
injustice under the West Pakistani overlords. The year 1971 ushered a new hope. After decades of maltreatment, they thought their sufferings came to an end. It was not. They had more injustice and suffering in store before they could taste freedom and achieve independence.
“Injustice in the end produces independence.”–Voltaire
The people of East Bengal, who are majority Muslims, suffered injustice for ages. After the fall of Plassey in 1757, they came under the wrath of the British and its Hindu surrogates. When the British left in 1947, partitioning India on religious divide, East Bengal became part of Pakistan, their condition was no better, if not worse. They continued to suffer injustice under the West Pakistani overlords. The year 1971 ushered a new hope. After decades of maltreatment, they thought their sufferings came to an end. It was not. They had more injustice and suffering in store before they could taste freedom and achieve independence.
The first jolt came when the inaugural session of the Pakistan National Assembly, to be held in Dhaka on March 3, 1971, was arbitrarily cancelled by the military president, General Yahya Khan. The Bengalis of East Pakistan saw it another conspiracy by the center to deny them their rights. On March 7, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the supreme Bengali leader, called for Ebarer songram amader muktir songram, swadhinotar songram(Our struggle this time is for freedom, for independence). Soon they faced the slaughter of the military under an undeclared war, bleeding the land red. At that crucial juncture, they heard a beam of hope coming from the Chittagong Radio Station. Major Ziaur Rahman called for the Independence of Bangladesh. Immediately, people from all walks of life joined the soldiers, police, rifles who revolted against the marauding Pakistan military and started the War of Independence. After nine bloody months, an independent Bangladesh appeared in the world map. The victory did not come cheap. Millions of lives lost and wounded in addition to colossal damage of the country’s resources. Nor did the story beganin 1971. Their struggle had a glorious history.
Independence Leaders
The root of Bangladesh independence can be traced to the early part of the century, when in 1906, Sir Salimullah of Dhaka founded the All India Muslim League so that the Muslims of India could be masters of their destiny. Salimullah had another vision: promotion of Bengali Muslims, who had been demanding their separation from the control of theHindu majority in thewestern half. British Viceroy Lord Curzon in 1905 divided the Bengal Presidency, separating East Bengal and Assam from West Bengal and Orissa. But the Kolkata based Hindu Zamindar class and the business groups could not accept this division. Apart from casting a disapproval to the intended upliftment of the Muslims, they feared the loss of their revenue and agricultural hinterland for the industries located in their part. Poet Rabindranath Tagore, one such Zamindar, was in the forefront of anti-division movement. He composed an emotional Amar Sonar Bangla to express the oneness of Bengal. In effect, it was against the Muslims of East Bengal, today’s Bangladesh. Ironically, Bangladesh today sings Amar Sonar Bangla as its National Anthem. The British succumbed to the blackmail and annulled the division in 19011. Bengali Muslims were reverted back to square one. Salimullah felt that the Muslims must be united to fight for their rights and formed the Muslim League. He later donated a huge chunk of his family land to set up the Dhaka University, which subsequently became a breeding ground for Bengalis’ identity and independence.
In 1940, A K Fazlul Haq, the Tiger of Bengal, demanded separate homelands for the Muslims with a view to freeing them from the control and subjugation of the majority Hindus in India. He also envisaged an independent Bangsam–Bengal and Assam–in which Muslims were majority. Later, H S Suhrawardi, Abul Hashem, Abul Mansur Ahmed, Satyen Bose, Sarat Bose and others espoused the same idea. Much against their opposition, West Bengal was taken away to join India during the partition in 1947. East Bengal, without Assam, became part of Pakistan. However, the neglect and sufferings of the Bengalis continued under the domination of Pakistan’s west.
(To be noted, though the Muslims of East Bengal desired separation from West Bengal during early part of the century, a few top Hindu-Muslims leaders worked for an independent Bengal with Assam, separate from India or Pakistan).
During Pakistan’s constitutional crisis from 1947 to 1956, a few Bengali leaders tried in vain to safeguard the interest of East Pakistan. After formation of the Jukta Front government in East Pakistan in 1954, Chief Minister Fazlul Haq, the Sher-e-Bangla, categorically told the center that “his ultimate goal was independence of East Pakistan, and that he was prepared to concede Foreign Affairs, Currency and Defence to the Central Government only temporarily.” The Sher-e-Bangla wastermed “a traitor” by Prime Minister Mohammad Ali andhad to face the axe.[1]In 1957, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani threatened to cut off ties with West Pakistan if their demand of full regional autonomy was not met.[2] With the decline of President Ayub Khan’s military dictatorship, demands of the Bengalis’ legitimate rights gained strength. In that backdrop, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman put up a 6-Point program in 1966aimed at complete provincial autonomy, picking up the thread from where Sher-e-Bangla left more than a decade ago.
Yahya’s Reforms
In March 1969, General Yahya Khan entered the scene as President, replacing Ayub Khan. The new leader appeared genuinely wanting Pakistan to return to the civilian rule. Perhaps his only desire was to continue as president under the new administration. He made a few far reaching political and administrative reforms that benefitted East Pakistan. First, he disbanded the one-unit of West Pakistan and restored the provinces of the Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan and the North West Frontier Province. That made East Pakistan the largest and dominant province. Second, he introduced the universal adult franchise of the one-man one-vote. Based on population, it gave East Pakistan 164 parliamentary seats to West Pakistan’s 136, out of a total of 300, from the former 150:150 parity. This measure made it possible for the Awami League to emerge as the majority party with 162 wins in the 1970 elections. Third, during his two-year tenure, Yahya increased the induction of Bengalis into the military and administration. He suspended the recruitment of soldiers in West Pakistan while accelerating enrollment in East Pakistan. Bengali cadet intakes in the military academies also increased. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Bengali cadets were 5% or less. In 1971, the number rose to almost 25%. Statistics in the civil services also improved similarly.
The 1970 Elections
Campaigning largely on the Six- Point Program, Awami League swept to victory in the December 1970 elections. A dichotomy existed, however. It won all its 162 seats in East Pakistan but failed to win any in the western wing. On the other hand, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto secured 82 National Assembly seats, but none in East Pakistan. That gave the two major parties regional portrayals, rather than all Pakistan-based. Serving in the western part of Pakistan in those days, I had the opportunity to notice a feeling of concern and despair among most Punjabis in the higher echelon that their days of bullying the Bengalis were coming to an end. But the hawkish generals and politicians would not give up so easily. They started hatching conspiracies to maintain their control. To start with, President Yahya might have not been part of this conspiracy.
Since elections, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had been forcefully advocating that he won a mandate on his 6 Points and would amend Pakistan’s constitution accordingly. It ran contrary to Legal Framework Order (LFO) under which elections were held. LFO demanded unity of Pakistan, while the 6-Point undermined it. Mujib had earlier assured Governor Admiral Ahsan and G W Chowdhury, Yahya’s Constitutional Adviser, that his formula was not the word of Bible and could be amended. The junta and West Pakistani leaders perceived the 6 Points as an obvious move for the eastern wing to secede. They also suspected that Pakistan’s archenemy India had a hand in it.
The Crucial Year:1971
A number of meetings between the central leaders and Awami League did not produced any positive result. While boarding a plane on January 14 in Dhaka, following an impasse with Mujib, an angry president retorted to the inquisitive journalists, “Go and ask these questions to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He is the next Prime Minister.” Bhutto could not take this remark lightly. He thought the president had reached an understanding with the Bengali leader bypassing him. He started planning his revenge. Upon arrival in Karachi, Yahya accepted Bhutto’s invitation to go “duck hunting” at Larkana. Army Chief of Staff General Hamid, Chief of the Intelligence General Akbar, among others, were also called to join in. The president now became a partner in the conspiracy. There at Bhutto’s lush palace, began what is commonly known as “The Larkana Conspiracy,” the blueprint of the Operation Searchlight. The Searchlight was aimed at crushing the Bengalis’ aspirations for good. While the homework was being done by Bhutto and the generals, the president said to mostly remain busy with what he enjoyed the most: the two ‘W’s, lavishly arranged by his host. In effect, the president was said to be reduced to a signatory or the front-man, while the real authority rested in the military headed by Hamid and General S G M Peerzada, chief of the general staff to the president and a close friend of Bhutto.
Yahya perhaps still hoped that the impasse could be resolved. Bhutto refused to join the inaugural session of the assembly, scheduled in Dhaka on March 3, 1971, “just to endorse the 6 Points.” He also threatened to “break the legs” of any other West Pakistani parliamentarians who would dare to go to Dhaka. The parliamentary session was cancelled and Dhaka reacted violently. Radical leaders and student activists pressed Mujib to make the unilateral declaration of independence (UDI). The leader came short of it. The 17-minute speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Race Course on March 7, 1971 was great, though somewhat confusing to the public. He did not make the UDI butput forward four demands to the authorities: The lifting of the martial law; the military’s return to the barracks; enquiry into the civilians’ killings, and immediate transfer of power to the elected representatives. He left the podium as quickly as he came without talking to anyone.
Declaration of Independence Controversy
Sheikh Mujib’s followers maintain that Mujib’s March 7 speech was itself the declaration for independence. The main reason for this version is to undercut the announcement made by Major Ziaur Rahman of 8 Bengal Regiment at the Chittagong Radio Station on March 27, 1971. However, there exist contradictions and inconsistencies surrounding those claims. First, if the March 7 speech was the call for independence, then why did Sheikh Mujib engage himself in lengthy deliberations with Yahya, Bhutto and other central leaders on March 15-25, ostensibly to craft the future of Pakistan? If the March 7 speech was the declaration of independence, there was no need of a separate declaration on March 25/26, 1971. Why then were so much fuss about sending a written declaration to Chittagong to M A Hannan or Zuhur Ahmed Chowdhury, who supposedly made the announcements? Nobody heard those announcements, if any. The only announcement people heard was the one made by Major Ziaur Rahman. On the night of March 25, 1971, Awami League Secretary General Tajuddin Ahmad brought a tape recorder for Mujib to record the declaration of independence, as well as a draft declaration to sign. Mujib declined to oblige either.[3]So, when did Mujib declare the independence? Or, did he really want the independence of Bangladesh?
After traversing a sea of blood, the people of Bangladesh won victory in December 1971. French writer-philosopher Voltaire finally proved right for the Bengalis, when he said, “Injustice in the end produces independence.”
R Chowdhury is a former soldier and a decorated freedom fighter in the war of liberation of Bangladesh. Enjoys retired life in reading, writing and gardening. Writes on contemporary issues of Bangladesh; published a few books so far.
[1]Hasan Zaheer, The Separation of East Pakistan, Oxford University Press, Dhaka, 1994; Kamruddin Ahmad, Social History of East Pakistan, Dhaka, 1967; G W Chowdhury, Constitutional Development in Pakistan, London, 1970).
[2]Hasan Zaheer, ibid p 34.).
[3]Sharmin Ahmad, Tajuddin Ahmad: Neta o Pita, 2014
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