Making a Corruption Free Bangladesh

Freedom fighters are the best sons of the soil. We have achieved independent Bangladesh due to their sacrifice and dedication. As such, they must have every right to identify what is right and what is wrong. More over they should have the right to advise government for positive activities in the country. They deserve respects from the present generations for their unique contributions given to the society in the liberation war. The new generations should have the real pictures and history of the liberation war too. After 15th of August 1975, it was very difficult for the real freedom fighters to open up their mouth to tell the truth about liberation movement. A big gap created since then. Very few of the present generation know the real history and background of liberation war and they are in great confusions. This situation is more prominent in urban areas particularly in the capital city. A significant number of highly educated boys and girls engaged in responsible and prestigious professions have requested me to let them know the real history of the liberation war. They have agreed they are in confusion whether it was a war or just a political disturbance. I believe this is the high time to let them know the real history. Other wise the situation will worsen in near future and the new generation will grow up with wrong conceptions about the liberation war and the freedom fighters.

The freedom movement was not a previously set organization before the speech on 7th of March 1971 delivered by Sheikh Mujibor Rahman, the father of the nation at the Shahid Sarwardi Uddan. People from 15 to 50 years started to unite to prepare for fighting. After 26th of March 1971, war started against the Pakistani Army. Freedom movement developed from among the societies for survival or existence of the Bangalees. The freedom fighters were composed of students, teachers, farmers, day labors, officers, doctors, engineers, scientists, journalists, diplomats etc. People came out and joined the liberation war spontaneously taking the risks of death. About ten million people crossed the border and became refugees in India. Bangladesh territory was a risky place for the young people particularly for the students from 26th of March because of existence of the Pak army and their collaborators. The parents were seriously anxious of their kids. They preferred sending their sons in war than hiding them at home. Thousands of young boys and girls got training inside and in India and participated in liberation war. It was a different life for us (the freedom fighters) for nine months with exceptional experience the new generation should know how they have become the proud citizens of an independent country. It did not come automatically. We had to win it.

On 16th of December 1971, through the surrender of Pakistani army, Bangladesh won the respects of an independent country in the world and we became the proud citizens of an independent country. Sheikh Mujib came back to the soil of independent Bangladesh on 10th of January 1972 and congratulated the people of independent Bangladesh particularly the freedom fighters for their excellent contribution and sacrifices in response to his call for freedom on 7th March 1971 from the same place. He urged everybody with the same voice to go back to respective works meaning students and teachers should go back to the respective institutes, the officials and workers to their respective workplaces and others to their respective fields. He stressed- the war not yet ended but to set up the real independent Bangladesh. "I will call you (the freedom fighters) whenever we need your services for our national interest" he said in the huge meeting. The father of the nation must have called us (the freedom fighters) at the present crisis of unlimited corruption if he remained alive.

After the liberation war, a large number of greedy freedom fighters derailed and lost their paths. Another significant number of honest freedom fighters with higher degrees and skills left the country after 15th of August 1975.

They feel very much for the welfare of the country and want to keep contributions for national interests. Still a small portion of the honest freedom fighters lives in the country but they face unlimited tortures of various kinds. In a society of corruptions, an honest person becomes an unwanted laughing element. It is so much painful for a person who hates bribe all through his professional career and tries to maintain honest life within limited resources, to give bribe for a genuine work done.

Good news is that during the last four decades, a significant number of highly qualified, experienced, talented Bangladeshi experts have developed in almost all areas of scientific and technical disciplines who are working at home or abroad. Interestingly some of them are efficient enough to design technology to make Bangladesh a corruption free country and more interesting thing is they participated in liberation war at their young age of 15 to 25 years as students.

Now the responsibility of the respected Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina to give a call to freedom fighters in the name of father of the nation to make a corruption free digital Bangladesh in cooperation of the present government. I believe the patriotic freedom fighters with scientific and technological expertise will surely come up with mindset of full dedication and sacrifice to make the mission a success.