The police went to the house of Barrister Mainul Hosein to arrest him. They took an old warrant with them. I was astonished and became hopeless seeing this. The over-enthusiast police members didn’t know Mainul Hosein, the former advisor to caretaker government, died a long time ago. Their bosses keep no track on country’s current condition. Even, I doubt whether they watch TV, read newspaper and log into the social medias or not. There’s a gap created in state, society and government. It’s the gap of not understanding the pulse of the new generation and the inability to keep up with the youth. And this gap among the generations has created today’s critical situation. The national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, in a letter, wrote to his first wife Nargis: “If you imagine me with the speculations spread by the people, then you’ll misunderstand me. And then this understanding will be false.” Disasters happen in the spiral circle of true-lies. My grandmother told, “In the last ages, everything will be possible. The wise men will become insane, people will deny the truth, believe in rumor and fantasy.” Hence, we’ve to accept the reality and should not run influencing by the rumors.

Bangladesh is crying now. No one has ever seen so much death, so many tears. An environment will be created that was never imagined. Bangladesh, the bearer of red-green flag, is unstable today. Why did everything suddenly happen so quickly? Why did youth fall into destructive activities? This movement has not come so far around a specific demand of the students. Common people from all walks of life are now involved in the movement. Why did they get involved, in what environment did they stand next to the children and youth? The language of people's mind should be understood. Mr. Quader (Obaidul Quader) says the incitement was from different quarters. BNP-Jamaat is involved in everything. Political parties that have been out of power for a long time, along with the individuals could have joined then. Evil forces abroad can also play. They might bring an atmosphere of Arab spring. The rulers did not understand why this was happened? Did not know why the long-term anger of ordinary people been accumulated? Sand dams can’t resist the wave of angst. Identify the root of the problem. Then move on to the permanent solution. Otherwise everything will stop temporarily. The wound inside will not heal.

People and environment around are changing. Beneficiaries roll their eyes. I see a change in social media. During the last national parliament election, I saw him become the right hand of one of the center of power; today I see his Facebook profiled turned into red. Nothing surprises now as we’re going through a difficult time in the house of fake relationship of digital world. Awami League is in continuous power. The government is surrounded by powerful organizations and institutions. Outside of that, there are big parties like Awami League. There is no end to the cooperative organizations. More than 200 “Opportunist Leagues” were formed. I don't know what’s the use of those organizations that have been cropped up like mushroom. Despite that, many Awami League activists have entered into the houses outnumbered by them. Minister and MPs have created Family League, Brother League, Relative League, and Uncle League! I thought that in some bad times of the party, the relatives and people of Sycophant League would come forward. Now I see that there is no one anywhere in the field. Many MPs understood the situation abroad. He says that he needs treatment. What treatment they need in Dubai, London, America, Canada, China and Australia? During the quota movement, the powerful were not in the constituency. The participants in the nomination race have also remained silent. Beneficiary traders are cut off. Those who are in charge of the ministry are in the process of falling into the trap. I don't see them anywhere.

 Jamaat-shibir was banned. After the mass awakening, many Jamaat formally came to the Awami League leaders with flowers in their hands. What will happen to them now? Will they be expelled from Awami League? Will not be upheld? If the wood of the house is touched, there will be danger in front of the owner. If the fence eats the crop field, the farmer wouldn’t be able to earn livelihood. If the house is broken, it can be repaired. What can be done if the mind is broken? What has the ‘Giant’ Awami League done this time? No Awami Leaguer was found on August 15, 1975. The leaders were desperate to save their lives. The activists were leaderless. No one came out in protest in Dhaka city then. After the August 21 grenade attack, the Awami League was supposed to erupt in mass protests, but it did not. Awami League president was arrested after one-eleven. The party leaders entered the house. There is no denying of this truth. This time from 15th to 20th July, the wind was changed.

In the beginning, Awami League leaders could convince the students if they wanted. They could understand the language of the youth by using his youths. Ministers and State ministers could have a meeting. Pro-Awami League teachers could also stay with them during the meeting. Everyone gave a speech, but did not become active. Ministers and MPs did not feel the need to go to the area after the trouble escalated. They forgot the words of the poet, 'Forever no one is equal.' Now correct the mistake. Go to people and express your grief. Identify the problem first. Then take action slowly. Coordinate and awaken activists across the country.

If there is a purge campaign in the party and government, the popularity will increase rather than decrease. The time is now for the cleansing campaign. Excluding the criticized, failed ministers is no problem. Let the leaders of the field be evaluated by removing the weeds within the team. Let them be given responsibility. Action should be taken against those who sold party posts for money. Why should he be kept who does not come to the country as an adviser with the status of a minister? Be omitted. Those people are completely useless who can't walk, can't move, and haven’t the right memory. Let there be change in the party and the government. When a team member is tired on the football field, the coach picks him up. Send someone new to play. No one is upset about it. Everyone is a team member. Some were outside, some were in the field. The coach needs victory. As a last ditch effort, the coach changed the field. Newcomers try to take control of the field.

No one likes the behavior and statements of people who have been in the same position for a long time. They have neglected the activists in their long tenure. They were surrounded by own arrogance and sycophants. Now you wake up and see that the day has passed. The activists make unacceptable slogans when they see them. Purification campaign is urgently needed in Awami League and government. The same person is in the committee of Upazila Awami League and District Awami League! He is also in the center or local committee of Jubo League. They are the ones who have sold the post by contracting again and they feel no accountability. This ‘committee business’ should be closed forever. People are tired of seeing the same face over and over again. Over-enthusiasm of bureaucrats has seen a tendency to go wild in Awami League. During covid-119 period, the chief secretary, cabinet secretaries made district coordinators by excluding politicians to show their power. The distance between people and political parties started in 2014. Bureaucrats thought they owned the country. Uncontested people have been nominated, ministers have become ministers again. There are also MPs in this parliament who haven’t not gone the constituency even once in five years.

‘Committee Business’ in Chhatra League, Jubo League was terrible. The party is now paying the price for that business. Arrogance of the leaders, organizational weakness made the associate organizations non-existent. The general secretary of a political party plays a strong role in advancing the flag of principles and ideals. He feels that his only job is to go to the party office and brief the media about the march. Media briefs require a spokesperson, not a general secretary. Dramatic speeches do not develop organizational skills, but create humor. Have you ever thought how terrible it was to say irresponsibly that 'Chhatra League’ is enough' due to the boast of being in power?

It should be remembered that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also a general secretary of Awami League. I am not comparing anyone with him. He built Awami League, made the country independent. Leaders like Tajuddin Ahmed, Zillur Rahman, Abdur Razzak, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdul Jalil, and Syed Ashraful Islam have served in succession. They patiently took the party forward. And where is the party standing now? Was there any use of just ‘showing up?’ Even in the middle of the night, Abdul Jalil used to pick up the phone of the activists. And now it is forbidden to call after 8 pm. The general secretary of the party lives in the reserved area. The entry of leaders and workers is prohibited!How strange is their politics! Out of angst, the activists chant unacceptable slogans. Everything is too late to understand the hard reality.

I am ending this article with an incident of poet Nazrul's strugling life. In personal life, Nazrul lived in a house in Mosque Street of Kolkata. His Financial crisis of life continued. Bulbul (the son of the poet) died of pox. He needed money for his burial. Tk 150 was required to buy the cemetery land. Apart from that there were other expenses. He sent some people to the publishers. No one gave any money. All returned empty handed. Understanding the situation, the poet himself went. After hearing everything, the publisher said, sit down and arrange the money. He said to the poet that with a pen and paper, you should write something to arrange the money. Drenched in pain, the poet did not speak. But he wrote, 'Slept peacefully/The nightingale of my song/Looking with pitiful eyes/The Evening flowers!'

(The writer is the editor of The Bangladsh Pratidin)