Professor (Dr) Badruddoza Chowdhury was also seen in the electronic media, granting an interview on the same news. He rejected the story as absolutely untrue and motivated. He thought that some vested interests could be behind such a news aimed at creating confusion among his party line-up. He thought that he was very fit both physically and mentally to continue in politics. He claimed too that despite his age he wielded youthful exuberance, clear sense of understanding and analytical brain to make positive contribution to national politics till Allah ordained otherwise.

General Ershad also rejected the news as mere wishful thinking of some people who are used to such fabrication without gaining anything ultimately. He had the firm conviction to be in politics for some more years for making positive contribution to nation-building. He too thought that some mischief mongers were behind such stories aiming to create dissention and frustration among his own partymen.

Between the admixture of apparent truth and apparent lie we have one thing in common and that is, a comparatively new trend in political thinking. We have at least one, single person who had been in the limelight for a substantial period in the national politics and who has opted voluntarily to retire from politics. It is, however, yet to be known how soon such a novel stance shall be effective and, whether or not, despite retirement from active politics, he shall take up some sort of 'honorary' and behind the curtain role to play for his party. As of now and according to his own statement to the news media we shall know that Mr. Anwar Hossain Manju is no more in politics and that he is back to his own core profession of journalism -- the editor of the Daily Ittefaque.

Due to some one's departure from the political scenario of the country there shall not be any significant impact. The typical hum-drum in the arena will very soon automatically consign his memory to oblivion. Newer ones will replace him to fill the temporary void. The only difference that may be palpable around shall be his leadership faculties vis-a-vis others in the row. The ultimate status of his Jatiya Party subsequent to his formal withdrawal from politics will bear testimony of his personal role in it. It's a matter of time and we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, we may have to note the most pertinent part of his decision which coincides very much with the raid in his Dhanmondi residence by the law enforcing agency couple of weeks ago.

They seized nine lakh taka in cash and a number of bottles/cans of foreign liquor. Mr. Hossain evaded arrest because he was not at home during the raid. Later, he obtained order from the Hon'ble High Court against his possible arrest. In spite of that he was not back home till March 23. So, he made a sort of strategic decision, much after he was implicated. His half-hearted endorsement of the role being played by the present caretaker government wouldn't perhaps 'gather any moss' in favour.

Numerous reform programmes initiated by the present caretaker government and in progress now include, inter alia, one on cleansing the political arena. As an inevitable adjunct to this specific area it would demand banishing the corrupt for a couple of years from being a part of Bangladesh politics. Rules are being framed to forbid bureaucrats from joining politics immediately after their retirement. The proposed inhibition, if implemented eventually, will keep them away at least for three consecutive years. To our utter dismay we may recall in this context that some of the senior officers in the secretariat enjoyed direct patronage of past government to indulge in lobbying for party nomination long before they went on retirement. The politicians who are now behind bars, on charges of large-scale corruption, will be debarred from contesting in any election, national and local, for several years if found guilty and convicted. The restriction could even be effective from the date of expiry of the period of conviction.

In the backdrop of the news on retirement of some of the senior politicians and subsequent confirmation by one of the observations made by two other noted political figures belonging to BNP and Awami League respectively in the Bangladesh dialogue of BBC on March 24 may draw our attention. Replying to a question of a participant in the dialogue Mr. Moudud Ahmed observed that declaration of such retirement in the present perspective could have been more encouraging if done on some other time. He thought that the doubt or reservation expressed by the audience on the bonafide of the announcement of retirement could not be altogether ignored. Such observation could be construed to have been an oblique and yet unspent reference to the allegation of corruptions against the retiring politicians. Town planner Professor Nazrul Islam went one step further and remarked that only in days ahead we shall know how far strategic such declaration of retirement would be. He added that there was no last word in politics and he would welcome the retirement trend as a good omen.

Both Barrister Moudud Ahmed of BNP and Mrs Matia Chowdhury of Awami League opined that there was no alternative to declaration of national emergency. Moudud Ahmed added that if national emergency was not clamped there would have been a terrible head on collision across the country. He was all in praise of the role played by our patriotic armed forces. It was not the forum for him to recollect or reminisce on the fast aggravating situation in the country fanned up by the unholy arrogance displayed by the leaders of the 4-party alliance and its so-called 'supremo' on January 22 election.

In would make no difference now if some one belonging to the party in power and a very vocal member of the outgoing government evaded such painful rumination. Yet there shall be many people in the country having little or no connection with politics to felicitate the creators of the crisis paving way to the present national emergency. It may sound a bit preposterous but it is true. Even though the BNP and its partners in the alliance could be accused of immense disservice to the nation they did, most unknowingly, do great service instead to compensate their known lapses. Without such an unwittingly displayed contribution the stalwarts of massive corruption, extortion, terrorists, hoodlums etc would not have been behind the bars now.

In the same breath we shall pity these contributors for being trapped in their own snares. Yet for such a generous act on their part towards precipitating a terrible crisis and provoking imposition of emergency rule, the whole nation shall owe them thanks and gratitude. They must be given full credit for preparing the grounds to expose and haul up the corrupt and criminals thriving in their hideous patronage. The massive reform programmes of the present caretaker government, particularly in the Election Commission and in the Anti-Corruption Commission will solemnly reaffirm the Quranic verse where Allah expresses his dislike of those who cross their limits. He likens them with the brethren of Satan who must be punished.

Kazi Alauddin Ahmed is a management consultant.