Mahmudur Rahman Manna, whom I knew, had the gift of amazing oratory skill and blazing revolutionary fervour which made him an iconic politician to many young activists like me in 70s. In his mercurial political trek from revolutionary nihilist to centrist AL till date, his followers always felt measurably abandoned by the leader at every turning point of the journey. In the present context when exponents of democracy should remain stead fast and united under the party banner to counter the enormous thrust of conspiracy against democratic institutions, his article appears to be anecdotal and detrimental to his own political identity. We can only hope Manna will work to overcome his political and emotional pitfalls and will be able to show his political maturity not duplicity at this critical point in time.

The reactions of the readers deftly dealt with the intentions of Peer’s articles bringing under spotlight, unlike highly publicized corruption of the politicians, the silent but rampant corruption that has plagued journalism and the tale of a pen turning into a tool of a bounty hunter.

Lutfur Rahman Riton’s Open letter to Moeen U Ahmed

[Jagoruk Manush, Canada]

Lutfur Rahman Riton received Bangla Academy Award 2007 on juvenile literature. This award earned him kudos and criticism as well. The timing of give and take of this award churned a cloud of suspicion in many minds including mine, more apolitical less literary and a long time admirer of Riton. A recent poetry of Riton, a posthumous tribute to the greatest pen-warrior Wahidul Huq, helped me see Riton at a much higher ground, much beyond his limericks and spoofs. His sudden arrival in Canada couple of years ago, as a political exile, had created a huge inertia of excitement among his fans and local Bangalee literary hubs. That also has decimated in a relatively short time, and his initial presence at the centre of every arty and literary podium has now reduced to living room sizzling adda. His life in Ottawa gliding on odd jobs was not uncommon for a starter in Canada, but certainly a huge plunge from his immediate velvety past as a diplomat. His diplomatic assignment in Japan is found as critically inappropriate but hefty dividend of his earlier political investments, thanks to Awami League’s brief respite from street to the power.

However, the timing of Riton,s open letter to General Moeen U published on June 22, 2007 in ‘Weekly 2000’ with a shrill  of appreciation for the General left many of his fans and comrades like me flabbergasted. Particularly, when the time, tune and the turf have been too hostile for an aficionado of democracy to waltz with the wolf.  .In his open letter to the General, Riton articulated his total alliance, punctuated by a feeble request to stop liaisons with war criminals, with the mesmerising ambitions of the General on political reforms and corruption cleansing. Riton’s emotional aberration went further in cajoling the General to pay him eighty dollar that he spent on overseas calls for his abortive attempt to contact the General for a live chat and to whisper his love for his agendas. General did not falter to seize the opportunity and precisely after a month on July 22, 2007, in an interview, in a befitting response to his new found ‘beau politico’, he assured him bounty much more than mere eighty dollar.

Riton often used to complain about a bus ticket to Toronto that his pedestrian life in Ottawa could not afford him. Last month, all of a sudden, he found a magic carpet to fly him in luxury to Bangladesh. Public radar got the blips from Dhaka of a floral reception and goose step honour on red carpet and a ceremonial handover of a ‘lifetime ladder’. The first step of the telescopic ladder took him to the podium of Bangla Academy. A prestige envelope with a point One Million Taka cheque was the first consignment of humble payback from the General in response to a meagre demand of Dollar Eighty and a certificate, which Riton undisputedly deserves but not from this Bangla Academy, was an untimely harvest of his life long cultivation.

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Jagorook Manush [http://jagorookbangalee.blogspot.com] writes micro analysis of events unfolding in Bangladesh. He is a vigilante to materialize the dreams of our martyrs and uses to write as a Guest Blogger for E-Bangladesh. He prefers to remain anonymous for his own personal reasons in the present context. 

Abdul Jalil and Anxious Awami League Supporters in front of LabAid hospital . Photo: Banglar Chokh 

[Jagorook Manush, Canada]

Here is an urgent appeal to save a Freedom Fighter of 1971. His name is Abdul Jalil. He is fighting for his life in a hospital prison cell. His kidney is not functioning. His heart is failing. His blood is not getting enough haemoglobin to keep him alive. Whatever charges (if any) are against him are a matter of the court and the law of the country and should be processed accordingly. But he is in the prison without any trial without any chance for self defence, which is very unfair. A freedom fighter, who had directly fought for this country, does not deserve a death in the prison cell without proper treatment, in utter negligence and humiliation. Please do something before the life of this freedom fighter comes to an end.

I feel so helpless, so much frustrated that I myself do not know how to request or demand the release of Abdul Jalil to the present Government. I am asking your conscience; please keep your intellectual discussions and debates aside for a while. Please look beyond your political allegiances and preferences and think of Abul Jalil as a person. Please think for a moment about Abdul Jalil, who fought for the freedom of our country, how he can spend his last days of life with honour and respect that he deserves and can die as a freeman in his country. Please mobilize and use your every resource you have to save Abdul Jalil.

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Jagorook Manush [http://jagorookbangalee.blogspot.com] writes micro analysis of events unfolding in Bangladesh. He is a vigilante to materialize the dreams of our martyrs and uses to write as a Guest Blogger for E-Bangladesh. He prefers to remain anonymous for his own personal reasons in the present context. 

[Update from Dhaka Correspondent]

The ailing Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil was released on a 30-day parole on Sunday night to enable him to have better medical treatment abroad.

The government, however, imposed a number of conditions for the 30 days of his being on parole.

Family sources said, Jalil, who had been undergoing treatment in a private clinic in Dhaka, would be flown to Singapore today for treatment of his ill-functioning kidneys and some other complications.

As the jail code does not permit a prisoner to take treatment abroad, the interim government ordered his release on parole on humanitarian ground only after his health condition deteriorated. 

The 30-day parole began at 7:45pm Sunday. 

A government handout issued Sunday night said Jalil was released on parole for 30 days but imposed a number of conditions if he goes abroad for treatment. 

‘Jalil or relatives accompanying him will inform the Bangladesh mission within three days of his arrival in a country for treatment and will not be involved in politics and business there’, says the handout. 

The other conditions are – he will not be able to communicate with anybody or any organisations about any issues excepting the issues related to his health. He will inform the government immediately after his treatment completes and will return home. He will not travel to other countries other than the country he is allowed to go for treatment.  

‘His parole will be cancelled if any of the conditions is violated’, the handout said. 

Earlier, chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed held an emergency meeting with some of his cabinet colleagues at his office and decided to give him parole.

A five-member high-powered medical team was also formed at the meeting to report to assess condition of the AL leader, who was arrested from his Mercantile Bank office at Dilkusha on May 28 last year.

Hundreds of party leaders and followers of Jalil thronged to LabAid hospital in the afternoon hearing his release on Parol.

Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Suranjit Sengupta, Syed Ashraful Islam, Shahara Khatun were among the leaders who met Jalil at the hospital.

Amu told reporters at the hospital that they would take Jalil to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Earlier briefing newsmen at his office, home adviser MA Matin said the authorities sometimes have to compromise with law in some special circumstances. ‘If necessary, Jalil may go abroad for better treatment on the parole.’

Asked why the AL general secretary should not be released since he was neither convicted nor any specific charges were framed against him, the adviser said, he would be paroled on ‘humanitarian ground’.

The government brought no specific charge against Jalil in more than six months after his detention for his alleged involvement in trying to destabilise the country by making provocative statements.

The Anti-Corruption Commission lodged a case with Ramna police station accusing him of concealing wealth in his wealth statement on December 18, five days after the High Court declared his detention illegal and ordered the jail authorities to release Jail if there is no case pending against him.

Later Jalil was shown arrested in the case on January 1, 2008. Earlier his name came up in the third lists announced by the ACC on May, 2007.

Asked about other ailing detainees, Matin said same decision would be taken if similar cases were found.

He said, they were well aware of the health conditions of detained AL president Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia who were suffering from various diseases.

‘Health conditions of madam Hasina and madam Khaleda Zia were not so bad that similar decision should be taken in their cases.’ 

Jalil was admitted to the LabAid Hospital on July 15, 2007. Hs condition deteriorated on February 28 leading to formation of a medical board to assess his health condition on Saturday. The board suggested immediate transplantation of his kidneys in a developed centre. Water was developing in his lunge and body due to the malfunctioning kidneys.

His family and the AL leaders were demanding his release and sending him abroad for better treatment. The government finally released him parole paving way for treatment in abroad as his health turned grave on Sunday.