'Good political environment will come if leaders are respectful towards each other'

Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah

Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, adviser to the BNP chairperson, joined politics in 1984 after retiring from the army in 1982. He worked as organising secretary of the party's central committee and president of Gazipur district unit, and actively participated in the movement against military autocracy in the '80's. He was elected member of the parliament in the fifth and sixth parliaments and served as minister from 1991 to 96. Shah was the only vocal leader in favour of Khaleda Zia when she was virtually under "house arrest" before her arrest on September 3, 2007. He has been arrested several times during the present government. Rakib Hasnet Suman and Rashidul Hasan took this interview.
What changes have you brought in the party constitution, and did you discuss the matter in a party forum like the executive committee?
No, it was not discussed in the party forum. According to our party constitution the council is the sole forum that has power to bring changes in the constitution. I think that they [standing committee] were forced to bring changes in the party constitution due to government pressure under a special situation.
BNP could not hold any meeting of its central executive committee in the last two years. Why?
It was the failure of the party leader who led the party at that time.
But as a leader you were in a position to lead the party.
I am the adviser to the chairperson, not to the party. The party has a general secretary, joint secretary-generals and standing committee members, they did not take any initiative. It was their failure.
But you were in the frontline after imposition of emergency.
I played my role as an adviser to the BNP chairperson. But they [other leaders] did not do carry out their responsibility; therefore, they might have to face questions from party leaders and activists.
You do not seem as active after release of Khaleda Zia.
My first target was to free Khaleda Zia, second, to resist the government's plan to send her abroad and third, to face the propaganda against Khaleda Zia and her family members by some pressure groups.
Have you succeeded in this regard?
Of course, she had been freed through legal process; she did not bow down to any pressure and has kept her image as an uncompromising leader, and is leading the party again.
Khaleda Zia has said that BNP will participate in the dialogue and in the election.
BNP will participate in election if an election-friendly atmosphere is ensured. BNP knows that election is the only way for a political party to go to power to serve the people.
What is your feeling about the minus-two formula?
Apparently, it seems that the initiators of the minus-two formula have gone backward.
BNP has demanded lifting of the emergency. What's the problem for your party to take part in the polls under emergency?
Why should the emergency continue? Who gave the mandate to the present government? They had mandate only for three months. After that the government turned into an unconstitutional government. There is no chaos, hartal, clash, labour unrest, movement… so why is the emergency continuing?
The commerce adviser said that emergency will continue to ensure security of voters.
I think he has no idea about elections in Bangladesh. In fact, a certain quarter wants to hold election under emergency only to implement their plan. I have already said that the present government has planned to form puppet government in future through an election. You also heard about a list. This government claims itself to be non-political.... if it is true why would they prepare a list?
You will have to take part in the polls under this government.
That does not mean that we will accept anything they say.
Do you think that Hawa Bhaban destroyed the image of BNP?
BNP's political opponents and different agencies of the present government tried to humiliate BNP and the Zia family. I myself visited Malayasia to investigate the allegation that Tarique Rahman siphoned off money, but did not find anything. No one can bring any allegation against Khaleda Zia that she took money from them.
The ongoing anti-corruption drive started with huge support of the people. Do you think the drive should continue?
There is no country in the world without corruption. But corruption is not acceptable and it must be controlled. The cases filed against political leaders were only to victimise them. Could the present government prove any of the allegations they have raised against political leaders?
But the lower court has already convicted many persons.
Please don't talk about lower court. I myself have seen that five-day remand order was issued against me in an extortion case of Tk.20,000 as a Major Shaheb was present there, while it issued two days remand order in a murder case on the same day. So it proves that the whole episode was designed only to make the politicians controversial. And I have to say that they have sent the country backward. I was an army officer for 24 years, and engaged in politics for the last 25 years. The uniformed soldiers of today cannot understand everything, leading to the failure in every activity of the government. Some advisers also admitted that they have to clear everything through the higher authority.
Who is responsible for the failure -- the government or the force behind it?
Crores of people of the country are suffering due to lack of knowledge of the main forces about running the country, and because of some whimsical decisions and in the attempt to implement many policies at a time. That is why the government has lost all the support. People have no faith in this government. The inexperience of the government and the force behind it is responsible for the present situation, but they had no lack of sincerity.
So what has the nation achieved after 1/11?
It is now clear to the countrymen that 1/11 was a preplanned drama. Some local and foreign forces staged the drama. Those who never sent observers to monitor elections in any country under emergency are now saying that Bangladesh is an exceptional.
What is your comment on the activities of foreign diplomats and donor agencies regarding internal affairs of the country?
I think they should obey the Vienna Convention on diplomacy. On the other hand, the political parties who frequently go to them (foreign diplomats) for any reason should change their mindset. It is unfortunate that a political party wants to allow foreign observers but has objections against local observers.
There are allegations against some local organisations that are interested in observing the polls as they are connected with political parties, and Awami League has raised specific allegation against an NGO.
Awami League likes to create controversy. They said they would ratify all the activities of the present government. It means they will also make all the unconstitutional and extra-judicial activities of the government legitimate. But we cannot do this.
What will be the position of BNP on the activities of the present government, if voted to power?
Our chairperson has categorically said that we have nothing to do if anything done was unconstitutional.
Do you think the initiative taken by the Election Commission will be able to bring qualitative changes in politics?
Political parties are being forced to accept many things now. I don't think these will continue in future if democracy is restored.
Do you agree that rivalry between political parties is responsible for political violence?
I do agree. Good political environment can be ensured if top-level leaders are respectful to each other and mind their language. So I want to say that frequent exchange of views among the political leaders will ensure good political environment.
Will reformist leaders be able to return to the party?
Khaleda Zia is a big-hearted leader so she has pardoned the leaders who nakedly attacked her when she was behind bars. But we, the lower level leaders, are narrow-minded and could not forget the matter. That is why some identified reformist leaders are facing people's wrath in different areas across the country, and local leaders and workers will decide regarding party nomination for the polls.
What are the lessons of 1/11 for politicians?
Of course. Its simple. One should take as much work in one's hands as can be completed. The lesson is not only for us but also for those who came into power after 1/11.
Do you think Khaleda Zia's ego was responsible for 1/11?
I strongly denounce any such argument. BNP is not responsible for 1/11. BNP did not make any mistake, as the party was not in power then. The power was in the hands of the president. Did Khaleda Zia tell the people to bring stick and oars?