After failing to implement the 'minus two' formula during the 1/11 political crisis, anti-national vested interests have once again conspired to pursue the same formula. With the leader of the ruling party fleeing the country, the current targets of the conspirators are Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman .
Their goal is to implement an Indian agenda to politically destabilize the nation and destroy local business investors.
Sensing this, concerned citizens have staged protests, including slaughtering cattle in front of the office of a national daily in Karwan Bazar. They have identified the newspaper as 'RAW' agent, and demanded justice. On June 11, 2007, the editor of that daily wrote, 'both leaders must step down' as part of the 'minus two' formula.
Recently, following a statement by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the 'minus two' formula has once again entered public discourse.
He said, "No one should consider the 'minus two' formula again, nor should anyone engage in any conspiracy to exclude the BNP as part of such schemes."
After warning the government about the formula, discussions have emerged both within and outside the party.
In response to the BBC's question about whether there is any issue in sidelining Khaleda Zia from politics or preventing Tarique Rahman from returning to the country, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "Someone may harbor such ill intentions, but it will be of no use. In fact, we can clearly state that nothing will happen in Bangladesh bypassing Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman."
In the July-August mass uprising, the Awami League and its leader, Sheikh Hasina, have been ousted and forced to flee the country. Since then, the BNP has been calling for elections at the earliest.
However, the government has consistently emphasized the need to prioritize the implementation of reform agendas.
Meanwhile, many protesters have subtly indicated that reforms should come first, followed by elections. Various reform commissions, including those for constitutional, police, and administrative changes, are actively working.
The agenda of the controversial national daily appears to be delaying the elections to allow its columnists to remain in power for an extended period. It is worth noting that several of the advisors in the current interim government are columnists for 'Prothom Alo', leading many to believe that the newspaper is effectively guiding the government's actions.
Additionally, BNP Chairperson Begum Zia may have the possibility of going abroad for medical treatment. Meanwhile, the party has yet to confirm when the party's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, currently residing in London, will be able to return to the country.
While he has been cleared of some legal cases, the slow pace of administrative procedures in removing all legal obstacles has caused dissatisfaction among many within the party.
In the midst of this, party leaders believe that some recent speeches by student movement leaders have been subtly directed at the BNP.
Political analysts assert that during the 1/11 crisis, the editor of 'Prothom Alo' played a key role in creating a politically and leaderless country. Despite the gravity of his actions, there has been no accountability. In an effort to remove the two leading female political figures from the political scene, the editor personally took up the pen.
Throughout that period, 'Prothom Alo' published editorials for days promoting the 'minus two' formula.
By sidelining politicians, the newspaper aimed to facilitate the rise of an elite class, often referred to as civil society, in politics. Under the editorial leadership of Matiur Rahman, the controversial daily contributed to fostering unconstitutional powers through provocative actions, negative propaganda, and attempts to label the country as a failed state.
The newspaper also played a prominent role in harassing the country’s industrialists and business community.
Sources indicate that 'Prothom Alo' has repeatedly contributed to creating instability in the country, yet has consistently managed to avoid consequences.
During the 1/11 crisis, the newspaper subtly published satirical content about Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in its entertainment magazine 'Alpin', which sparked widespread protests from religious communities across the nation. In response, the devout public demanded the editor’s arrest.
However, due to his close ties with the caretaker government at the time, the editor managed to escape legal repercussions by attending a mediation session at the Islamic Foundation, where he publicly apologized and sought forgiveness from Maulana Obaidul Haq, the then Khatib of Baitul Mukarram Mosque. Photographs of his public apology were later published in various newspapers.
It's noteworthy that in 2007, following the rise of the army-backed caretaker government, which initiated reform efforts, discussions around the 'minus two' formula gained traction. After both major political leaders, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, were jailed, many accused the government of attempting to remove the two from politics—a move that later became known as the 'minus two' formula.
Translated by ARK/BD-Pratidin English
