November 1975 represents one of the darkest and most sinister days experienced in Bangladesh’s national history. It was the day when the nation's trajectory towards liberation from Pakistan was derailed by a group of renegade soldiers determined to undermine the values that Bangladesh had fought for. The events of that day marked a turning point in Bangladesh's political landscape and left a lasting legacy of pain and injustice.
The stage for this dark chapter of Bangladesh’s history was set when troops loyal to Major General Ziaur Rahman and encouraged by Colonel Abu Taher seized control of the people’s republic of Bangladesh. Their actions represented a callous disregard for the progressive politics and enriched society that the people of Bangladesh had fought for just four years earlier during the liberation war.
On this ill-fated day, the nation looked on in horror as these soldiers chanted 'Bangladesh Zindabad' even as it was a slogan that had already been suppressed by the murderous regime of Moshtaque and his band of assassins just three months prior. The Zia-Taher alliance served only to further humiliate a people that had been led towards independence by the visionary leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The cry of 'Joy Bangla Banglar Joy' from the war of 1971 had been silenced, replaced by the alien slogan of 'Nara-e-Takbeer' which harked back to the divisive politics of the Muslim League during the Indian partition.
The usurpation of democracy by Zia and his associates inaugurated a period marked by political nihilism, repression, and erosion of democratic values that Bangladesh had fought so hard to establish. Zia, motivated by narrow self-interest, would push the country further into the abyss of authoritarian rule.
Tragically, on the morning of November 1975, three brave freedom fighters – Khaled Mosharraf, Nazmul Huda, and ATM Haider – were ruthlessly murdered by rogue soldiers acting on orders from shadowy powerful figures. These officers, who had shown such valour during the 1971 war, were falsely branded as Indian and Soviet agents. To this day no official investigation has ever been conducted leaving their deaths shrouded in mystery.
In the weeks and months after Zia's rise to power, deliberate efforts were made to suppress any investigation into the November 1975 murders. This encompassed not just the death of the three officers, but also brutal killing sprees within the armed forces and cantonments. The collective national conscience was wounded, and the path to justice and accountability obstructed.
The events of November were a stain on the nation’s self-respect as they represented a betrayal of the secular and socialistic principles that Bangladesh had enshrined in its constitution. Zia used his unlawful authority to dismantle these guiding policies and pave the way for the rise of religious fundamentalism. The orchestrated 'Serajat' conference by rabid Islamist MG Tawab marked a clear departure from the inclusive, secular outlook of the nation.
The dark November legacy extended beyond the immediate aftermath. For those who had opposed Bangladeshi independence and repatriated from Pakistan, it marked a significant shift in the balance of power. This trend continued following Zia's assassination in 1981, resulting in further marginalization of freedom fighter officers within the military and the rise of repatriated officers united under General H.M. Ershad.
The November crimes proliferated into diplomatic appointments as Zia appointed one of Bangabandhu's assassins to various Bangladesh missions abroad as a diplomat. This unfortunate step was later expanded by Ershad, allowing some killers to form a political party and contest elections, significantly eroding the values Bangladesh had fought for. Elements antagonistic to independence like the Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami re-entered politics, diminishing the ideals Bangladesh had struggled for.
The dark November legacy is tied to the notorious Fifth Amendment of the constitution, which effectively shielded the killers of August 1975 from facing trial. This legacy was further expanded under Ershad's rule as the state became increasingly communal, narrowed space for liberal discourse, and promoted the majority faith.
The events of November 1975 were a disastrous turning point for Bangladesh, profoundly impacting its political and social fabric. It was an assault on the Bengali heritage, traditions, and consciousness of liberation. The day has come to signify the beginning of a regression away from the secularism and inclusiveness that were the guiding vision for independent Bangladesh.
Comments