Some dates are not merely ordinary numbers on a calendar; they become the repetition of a nation's defeat. In the history of Bangladesh, there are certain days that do not just remind us of the past—they repeatedly subject our nation to subjugation or strike a blow to national progress, pushing us backward.

The Battle of Plassey in 1757 marked the beginning of the fall of Bengal's independence. The central character of that defeat was Mir Jafar, who was a relative and the commander-in-chief of Siraj-ud-Daulah. History teaches us that a nation becomes most vulnerable when division arises from within and personal or factional interests take precedence over national interests. Thus, the name Mir Jafar is not merely the identity of a person; it has become a symbol of betrayal in history. And the entire Indian subcontinent paid the price for Mir Jafar's betrayal—through 250 years of British rule.

In the history of independent Bangladesh, August 15, 1975, remains a profound national tragedy. The assassination of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with his family, still shakes the conscience of the nation. Involved in that massacre were his close political associates, such as Khondaker Mostaq—a Mir Jafar of his time—and others whom Bangabandhu had trusted. Through this assassination, 20 years of military rule were ushered into Bangladesh. The state structure of Bangladesh collapsed; bribery, corruption, robbery, alcohol, gambling, attacks on basic human rights, and a mockery of justice completely destroyed the framework of a fair and just state.

After a long struggle against this military autocracy, during Sheikh Hasina's 16-year rule, the country was moving forward with the momentum of development and progress. Bangladesh was emerging as a secular state and a prime investment destination for people from all walks of life globally. People were defeating poverty to dream of a better life, and basic rights including education, healthcare, and housing were being secured for citizens. It was then that another Mir Jafar re-emerged. That Mir Jafar was Sheikh Hasina’s relative, Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman, under whose leadership the betrayal of August 5 was repeated in history. Under his leadership, thousands of police force members and all democratic institutions, including the country's vital judiciary, are being destroyed.

In the eyes of many citizens, the post-August 5 period has once again placed Bangladesh at the brink of new uncertainty. It is not merely economic destruction; over the past two years, there is hardly any social or cultural institution that has not been set on fire. Under the guise of politics, hundreds of thousands of homes and business establishments have been looted in these two years. Alongside instability, mob violence, the breakdown of law and order, and atrocities against women and minorities have taken place. Publicly burning people to death while celebrating, torturing freedom fighters by hanging garlands of shoes around their necks, and mob attacks and torture on teachers by students—countless such tragic events have unfolded under the leadership of this Mir Jafar, Waker. In history, his betrayal surpasses all others.

This Waker took responsibility for the security of all citizens on August 5. It was merely an act. Through all his actions over the past two years, he has proven himself to be a Pakistani agent. He cannot bear the development and prosperity of the people of this country. Therefore, he has systematically destroyed a well-organized country economically, socially, and politically. He knows that economic stability is an integral part of a state's security. Investment uncertainty, disrupted production, industrial crisis or shutdowns, and declining employment opportunities—these ultimately impact the lives of ordinary citizens. When people's income decreases while the cost of living rises, fulfilling basic needs like food, healthcare, education, and shelter becomes even harder. Losing economic confidence damages a nation's potential, which is precisely what has happened under the leadership of Waker and his clique. Capitalizing on people's despair, they are now trying to establish the politics of religion in the minds of the public. The widespread rise of Jamaat-Shibir fundamentalists stands as proof of this. History teaches us another lesson—a traitor can never spawn anything in the minds of the people except hatred. Violence never brings a permanent solution. The politics of revenge, the language of hatred, and a culture of division do not make a nation strong; rather, they make it weaker. The foundation of a civilized state rests upon the rule of law, human dignity, democratic institutions, and the security of its citizens. That is why people still believe August 5 was a domestic and foreign conspiracy; they were deceived by Mir Jafars. Hence, they are eager to bring the People's Leader Sheikh Hasina back to the country to make amends for the injustice and betrayal committed against her, and to deliver appropriate punishment to Waker and the Mir Jafars. They want a Bangladesh where political differences exist without violence, where criticism exists without hatred, and where power changes while state institutions and citizen security remain intact.

History does not give anyone permanent power, but history remembers everyone's deeds. Therefore, our responsibility is to build a state where truth will not be feared, justice will not be delayed, and the future generation will be presented with a united—not divided—Bangladesh. And that will be the ideal of the Sheikh Hasina government in the future Bangladesh.

Author: Sachin Bangali, Columnist and Political Analyst