We are all passing through stressful times clouded by uncertainty. But people live through difficult days and end up stronger because that period has been overcome simply by surviving. For those - and they are in the majority - this August uprising is the first big turmoil. For us, who are past 70 springs and winters, it's only the latest.

While some may find relief in thinking that given an age limit quota for the number of such turmoil one is entitled to see in a lifetime this is the last, no one can be sure how many years one will live and end up seeing more of the same. But that's history for you.

15th February 1969

The 1969 street movement was intense and very driven by state making impulses. It happened as the Agartala trial was on, trying Sk. Mujib and a band of armed forces members, a few civil servants and a sprinkling of politicians thrown in as well for conspiring to break away from Pakistan.

The street movement was led by Maulana Bhashani and the colors of firebrand politics were on full display. We were school students and not really part of the movement but it was also a time to be on the street. I remember one procession coming our way as we stood near the New Market. Suddenly we realized it was a funeral march doubled as a protest march.

The one who had been shot dead was Sgt, Zahrul Haq, one of the accused in the Agartala trial. He was shot dead while in custody so it was particularly rage rising. The old adage that bodies generate resistance was obvious. Suddenly, the movement was not about the trial but something bigger, a new state.

The next day was my birthday and the family had organized a party for me, probably my last but the atmosphere all around was so charged and tense that celebration was the last thing on any mind. Angry crowds were gathering on the streets and soon became ferocious and as it usually happens attacked and torched buildings, monuments and structures representing the Pakistan regime.

The signal was loud and clear that President Ayub Khan's authority had largely collapsed and the end could be a matter of time. I remember us on the roof of our house that evening watching the flames redden the sky as we relished the home made snacks made by my mother for my birthday.

What followed later is known.

November 1975

We had passed the August 15 event in a state of shock. I remember hearing the declaration by the army officers on the radio and it still echoes. There was an aura of "permanence" about Sk. Mujib and none expected him to be dislodged let alone be killed along with his family members the way they were. One party rule was not popular but the killing wasn't either though some sighed in relief or a few cheered. And soon people began to cope with the change as soon as possible.

By the time late summer was over and a late autumn was on, people were adjusting without choice to military rule. I went to bed on a passive November 3 night and heard the next morning that the Mushtaq regime was at bay as a new military group had dislodged him. We didn't exactly know who but it was obvious that the situation was very fluid.

Khaled Mosharraf, a war hero was made the army chief and we came to know of processions in the DU campus led by his brother and others. Nobody was quite sure what was on and some said India was backing this new group as the last one led by Mushtaque was seen as very anti-Indians. We practically ate rumors for every meal.

We went to bed on the 7th Nov night not knowing what was going to happen but 2-3 hours later were awakened by the sound of truckloads of people -soldiers actually- shouting slogans and we knew that another coup was on but not sure who, what, why.

I was feeling rather despondent as one coup seemed to be following another, the third in 1975 alone. The only thing we could do was watch the distant dark Mymensingh Road on which one truck headlights followed another to the city.

The next morning we all went to the ever important Bangladesh Betar office and stood in front of the gate and watched various people go in and come out. There was a lot of tension and confusion and some young people were seen being escorted out. We didn't know about the internal political conflict dynamics involving Khaled Mosharraf, Zia, Taher, and the rest. After a while we turned back and walked home.

The rest is known.

August 5, 2024

As I heard on the street vendor's radio that Sk. Hasina had left in the face of massive protests and the army was sort of in charge, the continuity seemed obvious, the scenario played out several times before. It was still changing, still coups, still violence, still new faces coming to power and new regimes even as the years roll by.

It was faintly raining as I headed home hoping it would be an omen for some peace and tranquility from now on. Or shall we see the drama serial that never runs out of the same episode with new dates.