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ENIGMATTERS

A party in disarray

Mohammad Ali Sattar
Moudud Ahmed, while addressing a protest rally of the BNP in Dhaka recently remarked that if the government withdraws
the pending cases instituted against its party leader Khaleda Zia, his party would start attending parliament session from the very next day. There's nothing wrong with the demand, it being one of many that BNP has come up with. Interestingly it has been coming up with new demands every day. All to do with the party's convenience; and nothing really to do with national issues or people's interest.
Our state minister for law was loud enough to make it clear the next day that the government is not ready to withdraw the cases of the opposition who were involved in corruption. The message should be plain and patent. Any reflection over his assertion is unwarranted.
I would like to focus on Bangladesh Nationalist Party's inconsistency in its moves and talks and an obtrusive weakness in deciding its course of action. First it has failed to draft a well thought out script on which to act. There's seems to an appalling mix of agenda in its exhaustive list with no clear priority. However, there appears to be no dearth of educated and experienced persons in the party. It is just unfathomable as to how these brainpowers do not view the simplest of things that encase us. A droll character would say: "It is not easy to think easy." May be!
BNP has failed to take the people in its march to mobilise them against the government on issues like price hike of CNG, and hike in public transport fares. It also could not cash in on the unremitting price rise of essentials; the party leadership also by-passed the serious law and order situation issues. It overlooked many others.
Instead of highlighting the failures or shortcomings of the government, it has competently managed to expose its own organisational weaknesses.
Let’s look at the events where the BNP and its allies failed to negotiate. First, it could not act wisely on the BDR carnage in February 2009. The tragic butchery of the army officers at Peelkhana was
a national misfortune. BNP did make some noise but not loud enough to nudge the government. There was no tangible statement from the party regarding the catastrophe. It was a huge blow to the very foundation of the newly installed Awami League government. BNP was perhaps more mystified than the government.
The party could not win the court battle for the cantonment house of its leader . After much hullabaloo, Khaleda Zia had to walk out in tears. There were conflicting statements within the party rank and file. Nazmul Huda got the axe when he tried to make a point about the way the case was handled. May be he had some meat in his statement. He thought the case was lost more due to the party's naive treatment of the merit of the case. The party stalwarts adeptly managed to help its leader out of the house in which she lived for years. The house now lives in her memory.
The declaration of independence is another issue on which the party could not hold its ground. BNP faithfuls religiously believe that it was Ziaur Rahman, and not Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujib who had actually first declared the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.
Although the recorded voice of the announcement by major Zia over a radio is available; this did not receive any credence from the Awami league. The party had some other claims. That it was Bangabandhu who declared the independence sometime just before he was taken captive by the Pakistan army at midnight on March 25. The Awami League government took on the issue. After thorough appraisal and support from selective minds, the BNP claim has been put to rest legally.
In 2006, the then party (BNP) in power could not handle the forming of the caretaker government. It messed up the whole political calculation. The party took up wrong ways to win elections. The destructive minds in the party played one fatalistic move after another. From raising the age limit of the judges to making the incumbent President lajuddin Ahmed the chief adviser.
The Election Commission was made a laughing stock. The Election Commission office had become an amusing park for the media persons. People enjoyed the comical acts of the CEC beamed on the TV screens. BNP made a mess of things leading to widespread violence in the country. Gruesome killings took place. People were beaten to death in broad daylight. Huge public and private property were damaged. The country was in flames.
It was in fact a perfect setting for the third force to step in. And it did. Next two years (2007-2009) had been a double tragedy for the BNP. For it was the worst sufferer during the army backed caretaker rule.
In 2011, the party remains the same. No wonder it is out of the parliament today. The party is only upholding the culture of boycott. The leaders should do well in planning things in a way that is greeted by people. To the leaders, come out with constructive criticism and action on issues of people's interest. Don't rush for personal gains.
Tell us something different. Tell us what you are going to do to check the price spiral of essentials? What are your remedies for transport fare hike? What's your plan for the next caretaker government? How will you compel the government improve the law and order situation? How to stop the BSF killings at the borders?
Winning elections and ministerial seats is not the end, or is it ?
The writer is Assistant Editor, The Daily Star. Email: malisattar@hotmail.com