Anti-India forces involved in mutiny, say Bangla authors

PTI is reporting that leading authors from Bangladesh are saying they do not have any doubt about involvement of anti-India forces and elements opposed to the liberation movement in the mayhem

Report:
Renowned authors, attending the SAARC festival of literature in Agra, were unanimous in pointing finger at " a country opposed to Bangladesh's liberation in fanning violence" as part of a "big conspiracy" to destabilise the Sheikh Hasina-led government. "I think elements opposed to India and opposed to creation of Bangladesh were behind the conspiracy," Khondakar Ashraf Hossain, a popular literary figure in Bangladesh, said without naming Pakistan.

Known as one of the finest voices on the literary horizon of the country, Ashraf alleged that "Pakistani ISI is working in Bangladesh" and there were reports that "crores of rupees have been given to common jawans to rise in rebellion."

"The big plan was to plunge the country into total chaos," he further alleged. Asked about the Bangla author's view, Pakistani writer Zahid Nawaz said the allegations were not acceptable. "We do not accept what has been said. We should live in peace and work for a peaceful environment around us," he said.

Over 70 army officers were killed in the revolt at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles last month.

Another renowned author Selina Hossain alleged that"some elements in former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party could have been involved in the horrible mutiny."

"It (mutiny) was a conspiracy against the democratically elected government," Salina, author of many popular books,said. Asked whether she believed ISI was also involved in the conspiracy, she said "I think so". Pointing fingers towards hardline Jamaat-e-Islami, anally of BNP, Selina said those who did not want the current government to carry out the trial of 1971 war criminals could have also played a role in the conspiracy. She said prosecution of war criminals will create problem for BNP and Jamaat as it will hurt them politically. "Even Pakistan does not want trial of the war criminals."

Pakistani government had sent a diplomat to Dhaka in February to request the Awami League government not to go ahead with the trial of the war criminals. Ashraf said the plan of the conspirators was to "create a1975-like situation in the country when most members of the Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rehman's family were killed."

"They thought after the killing of the army officers, the army will move with tanks and machine guns and gun down mutineers. That would have created a chain reaction. The plan was to create a civil war kind of situation."

Agrees Muhmmad Samad, another writer from the country, who believed the conspiracy was "to destabilise the country as well as to stall the trial of those found guilty of war crimes." Critical of Khaleda Zia's "narrow politics", Samad, whois a professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Researchin Dhaka University, claimed the BNP does not want strong and friendly ties with India. Ashraf, who is also Professor of English at the University of Dhaka, also praised India for extending support to Hasina so that she could tackle the situation.

"External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee did a very good job. He sent out a message saying that India was behind Bangladesh," he said adding, Indian government alerted BSF so that the mutineers cannot escape to India. Supporting Awami government's policy towards India,Selina said India sacrificed a lot to ensure freedom for Bangladesh. "It was Indira Gandhi who went to various countries to get support for freedom of Bangladesh."

The authors are attending the the literary festival organised by Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL), where authors, academicians and peace activists from all the SAARC countries are participating.