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Gonojagoron Mancha: Disquieting developments

Mozammel H. Khan
Reports of differences among the leaders of Gonojagoron Mancha are disturbing. The naissance of Gonojagoron Mancha took place at a historic moment, albeit with a limited purpose. It soon became a rallying point for the renaissance of patriotism, especially among our younger generations who had grown up hearing distorted and deceptive versions of our glorious history. Bengalis around the world know how this movement started and how it was being relentlessly led by a few youngsters, strictly maintaining its apolitical character.
Never before in our history had the news media around the globe come with such words of admiration for the movement, especially of its spontaneity, nonviolence and devoutness. Headlines in the international media reflected the unprecedented non-violent movement in clear terms, especially in a country where violence is the order of the day. The Independent of UK wrote: "The war Bangladesh can never forget. The guns fell silent more than 40 years ago, but the scars of Bangladesh's short, bloody struggle for independence still burn to this day. But this is a country driven by a national agony at its creation which has never been fully addressed. The protest now happening outside the national museum is of an unprecedented nature, and on an unprecedented scale."
CNN, under the heading "The Spirit of'71 Rises at Shahbagh Square in Dhaka,” reported: "Shahbagh Square is full of people from all classes, gender, religion and profession who have gathered there for one single demand, 'hang the war criminals until death.'" The Toronto Star wrote: "In Bangladesh, a revolution is unfolding to keep the country's secular character alive. For two months now, hundreds of thousands of people, from young men and women, aging former guerrilla fighters and grandmothers who still carry the scars of genocide, have occupied Shahbagh Square in the capital, Dhaka. The collective anger of a nation, simmering below the surface for more than 40 years, has been called the country's second war of liberation."
The new war, dubbed as the second war of liberation, was different from the first one in many ways. The weapons which were used in this war were not deadly; they did not kill or harm anyone, yet were as effective as the worst weapons technology has ever developed, if not more. The unprecedented "weapon" of silence exhibited spontaneously by the citizens across the country was more thunderous than the noise of the noisiest weapons, the light of the lighted million candles was more soothing and shining than the full moon, and the unison of voices singing Sonar Bangla was heard from Cape Town to Canada.
Dear young leaders,
It is disquieting to learn about the recent differences and bickering among the leaders, divided in different groups, on absolutely trivial issues vis-A-vis the reaffirmation of the intrinsic conviction of the people. Your movement has nothing whatsoever to do with religion, yet you have been dubbed as 'atheist' by a political group and a newspaper in particular. Although that newspaper is banned at this moment, others are still around inflating the causes of your differences with loathsome and imaginary stories.
It is the deep-rooted conviction of the masses that gave rise to your much-acclaimed Mancha, where the conviction ran so deep that even a poor rickshaw puller carried his passenger free if he was going to Shahbagh Sqaure. "I have never seen such a scene in my life," a 40-year old shopkeeper told the media. "The boys have shown us how affectionate they are towards the country." In Toronto, I saw men, women and children people of age all age groups, braving subzero temperature, come together to declare allegiance to the making of history, where the spirit of'71 was rekindled.
The nation is not in any better shape than when you started the movement. Instead of a government that stood on a high moral ground, we now have a government, albeit not illegal but with very little moral standing. The trials of war criminals are far from over. The nation is receiving weekly sermons from a halfeducated heir apparent of a major political party, sitting in a safe haven, on serious matters pertaining to constitution and the foundation and history of the nation's creation. The nation cannot afford to shrug them off as diatribes of a nonsensical individual since almost half of the nation supports his political party, knowing very well he would be at the helm if the party goes to power.
Echoing the voices and apprehensions of the millions, and specially of those of us who carried the baton of the battle of freedom and justice in 1971, may we solemnly urge you the leaders of the Mancha, in the name of our living heroes and esteemed martyrs, to put your act together, resolve the petty differences and get unified once again to assure the millions who want to feel assured that the baton of '71 is in safe hands. Please do not fail us, dear young leaders.
The writer is the Convenor of the Canadian Committee for Human Rights and Democracy In Bangladesh.