Ershad's trial
With the High Court declaring the 7th amendment to the constitution illegal, H.M. Ershad's regime has turned illegal.
And that is cause for celebration, for democracy loving people can never support a military dictator's rule even if any beneficial activities for the country took place during that period. For instance many say that Ershad contributed a lot towards the development of infrastructure. In other words, he built roads, buildings, dams etc. By preaching his development activities many people try to justify his regime and indulge in indirect praise for the military strongman. It is true that the development activities took place during that period but that cannot justify his illegal grabbing of state power. He was the CMLA and also President at the same time from 1983 to 1986! If that is not illegal then one wonders what is.
A murderer may build schools, hospitals etc. But his basic crime of committing a murder can never be pardoned. A nation with values and morals can never condone the act of murder just because the murderer happens to have built some schools, hospitals etc.
So the people who try to glorify Erhsad must take a closer look into the fact that overthrowing an elected president at gunpoint and grabbing state power is gross violation of the constitution that he took oath to uphold. Such dictators deserve a trial.
They need to be brought to book for their misdeeds. Ershad must be tried. If needed law must be made to that end. If he escapes trial this time, it will be a shame for the nation. We will not be establishing rule of law then. But as Mohammad Badrul Ahsan wrote in his article, "The Teflon Man," (DS Sept 3rd, 2010), Ershad can escape from any situation. If he escapes this time, probably we may not be able to punish him during his lifetime!
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