It is becoming more and more uncomfortable to defend Awami league for many dedicated Awami

League supporters who even has a family involvement with the party for generations, perhaps from
the formation of the party or perhaps before the formation of the party when we just started to feel
the urge of a political party like awami League.
Recently I started to feel that Awami league has become an abandoned gigantic spider-web.
Ideologically cleaned out, torn apart.
I talked to an old comrade of mine- a former president of a district unit of BCL, an air to a
constituency (A future MP perhaps) with whom I have shared a prison cell once ( As we were front
line defender of Awami League). He also happens to be from a Hindu family. I sensed a fire of
dissatisfaction in his voice. Not only him, whomever of my former BCL comrades I talk to I sense
the same frustration.
Does Awami League leadership realize that the root level of the party crying out for help as they are
out of oxygen and cornered by neo-Awami's? They are searching for support hopelessly within the
party just for a little breathing space or perhaps a space to put their feet to rest. Do they realize that
the foundation pillars of Awami League are trembling and collapsing because of their greed of
power and money? Is there anyone able to see the blazing banner of outrage of the root level
supporters of the party?
How could Awami League which by the world considered as the protector of democracy in
Bangladesh eventually managed to be so self-destructive?
I have always believed it is the consequence of 1996 election ( An election we would have won
anyway because of overwhelming public anger towards BNP) policy. As I see it, Awami League
leaders were so occupied by the thoughts of an election win they did not care about right and
wrong. They sold parliamentary nominations to whomever they thought could contribute a hefty
sum of money to secure the election win. It seemed like business deals. The Awami League leaders
did not even consider the ethical or the compliance aspects of those hired rich men.
There could not have been more mismatch- Awami League and the rich businesses. And now it
clearly seems the power of money and greed has taken over the will of the party faithfulls.
And then, most fatal mistake of all, the January 2013 election. No one even in their dream ever
thought such an undemocratic-one party election would be facilitated by an Awami League lead
government. This election will have an profound impact in the future- in any debate to set
distinction between Awami League and others. It is an enormous loss of political capital. This is not
only my opinion. This has been ratified by many scholars both Awami insiders and independents.
The aftermath of this election is already visible. In the past two years Awami League is infiltrated
by a wave of opportunist BNP-Jamat supporters. In recent months we have heard accusation of
minority torture by Awami League men and you do not have to be very bright to realize who those
Awami men are?
Awami League and its supporters are known as the defender of secularism driven by the ideologies
of 71. Even a Million dollar would not convince me or someone like me to believe that a true
Awami League ideologist would harm someone based on their faith. Not even in their dreams.
And still Awami League facing the accusations because of the infiltrates, the neo-Awamis from
BNP and Jamat. It hurts.
Only an ideological defender of Awami League- one who has suffered, tortured, jailed for defending
awami League can realize the anger and frustration people like us are suffering from.
It is simply just impossible for people like us to cope with such U-turn and impossible to comply
with the new order. Those who threw us in the prison, assaulted us, killed our fellow companions
once can never be our comrades.
There are many like us bears the scars of assault in our body- rejects to comply and hope that the
years old legacy of Awami League will prevail, the mist of darkness will disappear and there will be
light. Until then we will bear the Tag The unappreciated one's.
Joy Bangla!
Joy Bongo-Bondhu!