The dreadful syndicates have been wreaking havoc to many sectors in our country and spoiling the image of the state. A corrupted father, who was an NBR officer, gets caught after the ‘Goat Scam.’ His limitless corruption wasn’t accepted by the nature as the desire of a man for wealth should have a limit. The nature gives them a befitting reply if their lust becomes limitless and we see the incidents like purchasing of luxurious goat spread out publicly. He didn’t get rid of his crime even after denying his son. No sooner than the ‘Goat Scam’ is over, the story of Abed Ali was revealed publicly and has become a talk of the town. For how long people like him have been working to tarnish the image of Public Service Commission? An Abed Ali isn’t built in a day, as well as the huge amount of wealth belong to Motiur haven’t been accumulated overnight.

The poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore said, “Whom are you blaming? Be modest as its sin of both you and me.” The incidents like becoming rich suddenly come out publicly sometimes and mass people become busy with it. The media also become very busy in publishing such news and new stories also come out in social media. However, everything becomes normal gradually and people wait for newer stories.  

Abed Ali is afraid that many things may not be covered up by others. My grandmother used to say, “The boat of money runs on the road,” not in the river. It was said that Abed Ali was the driver when Prof. Jinnatunnesa Tahmina Akhtar, AT Ahmedul Haque, Ikram Ahmed were chairman in PSC. He was fired during the tenure of AT Ahmedul Haque. His rise was during the time of Prof. Jinnatunnesa Tahmina Akhtar. Abed Ali had his hand twisted during the coalition government. He became a bigot by leaking the question of Public Service Commission and made his companions rich. His syndicate became bigger. Although he left the PSC, he did not leave the syndicate. He gets caught because of making business of question leak syndicate.

With religious cap on head and black and white beard on face, he looks like a pious man. He showed this appearance just to express himself as a good man. He chanted slogan in the name of Ziaur Rahman during the power of BNP. During the Awami League period, he changed his religion and suddenly went under the Awami League’s umbrella. His son became the Chhatra League leader. If you give money, the world will meet your demand. There was no problem in getting the BCL post. Abed Ali is now being discussed and criticized. The hard reality is that Abed Ali is a negative part of our society. I saw the wife's picture of one of his associates. He wrapped his wife with 2.5 kg gold jewelry. Its look like Emperor Shahjahan's immortal love story!

Abed Ali’s real identity came out when talking about quota. A driver was in such a discussion before Abed Ali. He worked in health sector. He was the driver of DG Health. If the whole body is sore, how many places to apply the ointment? We saw the rise of Abed Ali after 2002. At that time, how many got appointed at Bogra Azizul Hoque College? He must not forget history. Does anyone remember a big fish from Nilphamari Bari PSC? He has drowned PSC by his unprecedented irregularities. The black chapter of Abed Ali's corruption in independent Bangladesh did not start suddenly. ‘The Motiurs’ have been swallowing Bangladesh for a long time. He danced happily at the pier. The Hawa Bhavan corruption was state-sponsored. The military government of 1/11 came because of the gross failure of the then government due to unprecedentedcorruption. Constitutional crisis developed within Iajuddin Ahmed. Moin U Ahmed took power amid extreme lawlessness. Moin was made the army chief after ousting nine senior army officers. Moin was not in the country. He returned from abroad and went directly to the Prime Minister's office from the airport. He touched his feet and took the blessing of the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Masud Uddin Chowdhury was posted in the 9th Infantry Division. He was the brother of Khaleda Zia's brother Saeed Eskander. Relatives and trusted officials of Khaleda Zia, Tariq Rahman and Saeed Eskander were placed in various intelligence agencies, but that didn’t give them any advantage. When 1/11 happened, many BNP leaders thought everything was going in their favor. They realized their mistake on the second day. The campaign against the terrible irregularities and corruption started. The names of the villains behind the 21 August terrible grenade attack, 10 truckloads of weapons in Chittagong came out as well as the stories of the corruption of Hawa Bhaban.

Freedom fighters did not liberate the country to see so much filth. The attack on freedom fighters has now become a fashion in this country of Motiur, Abed Ali. It has been done by some people to make jokes about the liberation war. 1971 was a time of ultimate testing for a nation and a country. Do you keep track of those who took part in this great challenge risking their lives? I am a proud child of a freedom fighter family. My brother, uncle, cousin participated in the liberation war. My cousin's husband was martyred. The freedom fighters stayed in our house for nine months during the war. They went under surgery. Mother spent the day cooking for the freedom fighters. Abdul Malek was the commander of my brothers. Brother Ashraf died two years ago. One day before that, I received a telephone call from the freedom fighter Commander Abdul Malek. In 1971 he called my grandmother as mother. That's why he used to call me ‘uncle.’ He said, "Mama, I heard that Bangabandhu's daughter will make us a house. The broken tin house is in very poor condition. It rains during monsoon. The sun is visible in summer. Please tell the Police Executive Officer to send recommendation for my house.” The executive officer of Nangalkot was a lady named Lamia. People admired him for her integrity and personality. I said to her that this Abdul Malek is our hero. He is a warrior. Our family members fought under his leadership. During the liberation war, he was based in our house with companions. This man has no home right now. The day is spent carelessly. Lamia listened to me. She said, don't worry. I am placing this warrior's name at number 1 in the list. He will get the house.

Commander Abdul Malek, a resident of Bhulin village in Nangalkot, said on the phone one day that he got the house given by Bangabandhu's daughter. He expressed his gratitude to Bangabandhu's daughter. He also said that freedom fighters are neglected in this country. Sheikh Hasina has only looked at them, but also given all the facilities and honors. Ordinary freedom fighters are living on the allowance given by the Prime Minister. This is a harsh reality. After the death of my brother, I took the dead body from Dhaka to the village home. Burial would be in the family cemetery. A police team led by a magistrate came to provide guard of honour. State salute was given to a freedom fighter in his last farewell. The body was draped with the national flag. After paying last respects by the state, the funeral took place. A freedom fighter passed away. The freedom fighters are leaving. 1971 is both of our pride and suffering.

Everyone is saying whatever they want about the freedom fighters on social media around the quota movement. I am not against quota reform. After so many years of independence, there can be reforms. But I feel pain when I see that everyone is repeatedly talking about the quota of freedom fighters. There are quotas outside of freedom fighters. No one is talking about him. Criticism of liberation war and freedom fighters is now a kind of fashion. Cumilla residents were the first to demand the abolition of district quota. Quota has been kept for hill communities, disabled and women to bring up the neglected. Quota should not be abolished but reformed. I want to know one thing - what percentages of jobs are actually being available through quota? I have never seen anyone from my family take a job in quota, neither heard of it. Part of the quota of freedom fighter families is now a form of ornamentation and honoring them. Find out those who are criticizing how many of their families get jobs every year in the freedom fighter quota? The number of neglected, deprived freedom fighters in the society is high. The families of the poor freedom fighters in the village are not in a position to accept any other opportunity apart from the allowance. They are not worried about quotas. An analysis of BCS 35 to 38 batch results showed that overall freedom fighter families got jobs below 8 percent. There are more jobs in the district quota than this quota. If the quota is not met, the job is based on merit. Nothing is held back for anyone.

Everyone is shouting about the quota.  Is there no quota in any other country in the world? During the Pakistan period we had quotas for our population. Not only civil service, army, navy, air force also had separate quota for Bengalis. Pakistan still has quota. Many developed countries in the world have quotas. India, Malaysia and Japan still have quotas. Countries like Europe have many types of quotas to advance women. A country like the United States could not easily accept a woman as President. United States has many facilities for backward society. How to keep the small communities of different areas including our hills with the mainstream? What is possible outside the quota? How many disabled people are getting jobs? Not that much noticeable, indeed. Even if that was so, the issue of keeping quotas is humane. When I go to the village, I see more girls than boys in educational institutions. Despite that they are lagging behind in BCS. Women quota is applied here to increase their participation. I myself have asked to cancel the district quota repeatedly. Despite that, district quota exists to bring many small districts forward.

Reforms can be done with time. The state and government will decide on this issue. Stop disrespecting the liberation war and freedom fighters around the quota movement! How can you sit in court as a senior government official in contempt of the High Court? How to 'repair' the state? We got a free country because of the struggle of the freedom fighters. There will be many discussions and debates about how to organize this country now. But if you deny the liberation war, nothing remains. Everything ends. There are many conflicts and differences of opinion in society and politics. Why the flag and the Constitution will be under attack? Who is doing these things? What are their goals and objectives? We want a syndicate-free, corruption-free society which is still now under the dominance of people like Motiur and Abed Ali.  I want an end to the question-leaking scam created by Abed Ali. I want to stop appointing ‘Abed Alis’ in political positions in exchange for money. And if you want that, you’ve to cherish the liberation war, Bangabandhu and Bangladesh in your heart.

(The writer is the Editor of The Bangladesh Pratidin)