Bangladesh under Awami League rule 2009–2023: book discussion

A large crowd, unusual for events outside the Boy Mela season, gathered at Bangla Academy on Saturday evening to discuss bold criticism of the Awami League government’s rule.

November 02, 2024, 21:45

Last modified: 02 November 2024, 21:50

From left to right: Netra News Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Khalil, Prothom Alo Co-Editor Sohrab Hassan, Samakal Consulting Editor Abu Sayeed Khan, Academician and writer Parsa Sanzana Sajid, Dhaka University Professor Giti Ara Nasreen and Writer and Journalist Ehsan Mahmud. Photo: Miraz Hossain

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From left to right: Netra News Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Khalil, Prothom Alo Co-Editor Sohrab Hassan, Samakal Consulting Editor Abu Sayeed Khan, Academician and writer Parsa Sanzana Sajid, Dhaka University Professor Giti Ara Nasreen and Writer and Journalist Ehsan Mahmud. Photo: Miraz Hossain

Saturday night at Bangla Academy presented some surprising elements.

First, Tasnim Khalil, a journalist exiled for 17 years, appeared, and the packed room was buzzing with excitement. All the seats were taken and there was only standing room left. People lined the walls to take part in the discussion.

Such a large crowd is unusual for events outside of the Boy Mela season. And the book responsible for this is a bold critique of the Awami League government’s rule.

The book in question is Swadhinota Gonotontro Manobadhikar: Shasonamole of Awami League, Bangladesh, 2009–2023. — highlighted a moment when journalists often praised the government.

Almost every meeting of journalists with the Prime Minister was a performance where journalists showed off their linguistic skills to utter the most unctuous expressions. Some almost awarded Hasina the Nobel Prize. One of the panellists, Abu Saeed Khan, consulting editor of Samakal magazine, said: “Some journalists have gone so far that they are now in exile. Journalists shouldn’t be in this situation.”

Those who dared to offer alternative views were either silenced or denied the privilege of normal working conditions. This journalist and writer Ehsan Mahmood was one of the few who dared to challenge this narrative by writing a book at a time when it was a courageous act to do so.

Just outside the gates of Kabi Shamsur Rahman’s seminar hall at Bangla Academy in Dhaka, Adarsha Publications, the organizer of the event and publisher of the book, exhibited several works of a similar genre. This was certainly something for Adarshi, who faced the iron fist of the previous government and was thrown out of the country’s largest book fair.

The room was filled with the minds who came up with these books, as well as intellectuals, journalists, scientists and experts.

A book that is translated into Independence, democracy and human rights: Bangladesh under Awami League rule (2009–2023)is an in-depth analysis of the socio-political and human rights situation in Bangladesh. Despite the title, the 135-page book is primarily a compilation of Ehsan’s columns on Samakal from 2022-23.

Ehsan described how dissidents and opposition parties were treated and suppressed during Hasina’s regime.

“It is not that Ehsan wrote a book in favor of the BNP; rather, being the main opposition party, their suppression was noted, especially when writing this book could be seen as an act of valor,” said Abu Saeed Khan. He also commented, “This book may even help researchers in the future. We always need journalists who can weather the storm like Ehsan did.”

The panel, comprising eminent members of the media and academia of Bangladesh, included Abu Saeed Khan, Deputy Editor of Samakal Magazine; Sohrab Hassan, co-editor of Prothom Alo; Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Environmental Advisor to the Government of Bangladesh; Tasneem Khalil, Editor-in-Chief of Netra News; Dr. Giti Ara Nasreen, Professor, University of Dhaka; and Parsa Sanzana Sajid, writer and scholar.

Each panelist shared their views on Ehsan’s work, sparking a passionate discussion that captivated the audience.

Parsa Sanzana Sajid linked the book’s contents to 1971 by citing an article by Lawrence Leamer in Harper’s Magazine entitled “Bangladesh in the Morning”. She took the audience back to the state of Bangladesh after the Liberation War, noting how Sheikh Mujibur Rahman perceived the country and how members of the Awami League began to acquire other people’s property.

Giti Ara Nasreen praised her 1971 reference, saying, “’71 is very relevant.” She added that the recent uprising was the culmination of 15 years of authoritarian rule by the Awami League.

The book, consisting of 39 articles divided into four sections, originally published in Samakal, presents critical accounts of the governance of the Awami League.

Giti Ara noted: “Ehsan’s articles are like a journey that takes us back to events.” She added: “The articles show how people in power create the narrative and how the media helps them do so, with only a handful of journalists still working for the truth and writing an alternative version.”

Almost every meeting of journalists with the Prime Minister was a performance where journalists showed off their linguistic skills to utter the most unctuous expressions. Some almost awarded Hasina the Nobel Prize. One of the panellists, Abu Saeed Khan, consulting editor of Samakal magazine, said: “Some journalists have gone so far that they are now in exile. Journalists shouldn’t be in this situation.”

Tasneem Khalil shared his experiences in other countries where there are many books on politics and political figures, unlike Bangladesh. “In that regard, this book is encouraging.” He also praised the author for not writing articles at his desk but starting to work in this field. However, he criticized the book’s title, saying: “It is uninteresting and does not reflect the exciting articles contained in the book.”

Syeda Rizwana Hasan shared her thoughts during a Zoom call. Photo: Miraz Hossain

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Syeda Rizwana Hasan shared her thoughts during a Zoom call. Photo: Miraz Hossain