Monju quits politics

Trackback URL

Download PDF

Seasoned politician and Chairman of a faction of Jatiya Party (JP) Anwar Hossain Monju announced his retirement from politics yesterday.

The announcement, suddenness of which surprised the political arena, came amid a widespread rumour that a few senior political leaders received suggestions from different quarters to retire from politics.

Talking to The Daily Star, however, Monju denied having any pressure on him to quit politics.

In a statement, Monju, who was elected MP five times in 1986, 1988, 1991, 1996 and 2001 and was a minister for a long time, expressed his gratitude to the countrymen and the people of his constituency.

But he did not specify any reason behind his decision to quit politics.

“I actively joined politics at a critical moment of the nation to establish a state based on constitutional system. I have tried to contribute to the efforts over the last two decades. The countrymen and people in my constituency extended wholehearted support to me,” Monju said in the statement sent by the JP office.

“I believe I have finished my task in politics,” Monju told The Daily Star last night.

JP Secretary General Sheikh Shahidul Islam said Monju has contributed a lot to the country’s politics. “Not only the Jatiya Party, the national politics will also feel the absence of his political wisdom,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.

“The senior most leader in the party’s chain of command will be acting as the chairman in accordance with party constitution,” Shahidul added.

Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah said to retire from politics is Monju’s personal decision. “But he could specify why he chose to retire from politics at this moment. I respect his decision and I sincerely believe that there must be a specific reason behind his decision,” he told The Daily Star.

Surprised by the announcement, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu said time to quit politics has not yet come for Monju.

“Anwar Hossain Monju has proved himself as an efficient administrator. Still, he has a lot to contribute to the present political situation,” Inu, also a long-time close friend of Monju, told The Daily Star.

GM Quader, presidium member of the Ershad-led JP, said Monju took the decision to quit politics on his own political wisdom. “It is his personal matter and I have nothing to say in favour of his decision or against it,” said Quader, who was apparently surprised upon hearing the news.

Born in 1944 to eminent journalist and founder of the daily Ittefaq Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia, Monju joined student politics in 1963. He was the general secretary and vice-president of the Fazlul Haq Hall unit of Students’ Union at Dhaka University. In 1969 he joined the daily Ittefaq and became its editor in 1972. He was the president of the Jatiya Press Club in 1980.

In 1985, Monju joined the then Ershad government and was given the portfolio of the power, energy and mineral resources ministry, which he held until 1988. He was then made the communications minister for the next two years.

Monju was a founder member of the Jatiya Party formed in 1986. In 1996, the Ershad-led JP joined the AL-led national consensus government and Monju was given the portfolio of the communications ministry.

Later, the JP witnessed a split and Monju formed a faction of JP.

Monju was arrested thrice during the Liberation War in 1971 and thrice again during the BNP’s 1991-1996 rule.

Following the declaration of the state of emergency on January 11 this year, Monju’s name appeared on an unofficial list of 50 corruption suspects published in different newspapers on March 8.

Leave a Reply