When the fall of any autocrat occurs, it is a victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Conversely, when any conspiracy takes place, it leads to the downfall of BNP. The mass movement of 1990 and the conspiracy of 1/11 are proof of this. Therefore, in the present time following the July Revolution, BNP must learn from its past. At the same time, it must remain vigilant and cautious.
Beware! If the attitude of entitlement to power, as seen among Awami League leaders and activists before the 1991 election, starts appearing within the BNP now, disaster is inevitable. The ideals of Shaheed Zia will once again be trampled by conspiracies.
BNP’s only true asset is the ideology of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. The symbol of that nationalist ideology is Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. If anyone thinks otherwise, or if the leaders and activists of the party develop a premature sense of entitlement to power, no one will be able to prevent disaster.
Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was a true patriot. This courageous, intelligent, and honest individual actively participated in the Liberation War, declared the independence of the country, and later became its president. From the Language Movement of 1952 to the Mass Uprising of 1969, the list of freedom fighters is quite long. Yet, despite the length of the list, Ziaur Rahman remains the only fortunate one.
It is worth reflecting on whether the nation would have received proper guidance if a Major had not declared independence during the Liberation War. At that time, the nation was unaware under whose leadership the war preparations were taking place. The declaration of independence by a Major was regarded as an early signal of the birth of Bangladesh across the world. For this reason, it will never be possible to erase Major Zia from history, no matter how much one might desire it.
The nation once again found Major Zia as a savior when he became the President. During a critical juncture in the country’s history, he took charge through a revolution which is known as “Sipahi-Janata Biplob”. Assuming responsibility as a military ruler, he won the hearts of people across the country with his 19-point program, uniting the nation under its vision. With the dream of building a self-reliant Bangladesh, he personally took up a spade to lead the Canal-Digging program.
On April 30, 1977, he launched a political and socio-economic development program, introducing a 19-point program to build a new Bangladesh. The primary goal of this program was to develop the country, increase production in all sectors(including agriculture), create employment opportunities to establish a self-reliant Bangladesh, achieve food self-sufficiency, ensure the equitable distribution of resources, and control the population. Through extensive canal-digging and tree-planting programs, he brought about a revolution in agriculture and environmental preservation in Bangladesh.
The first point of the 19-point agenda was to safeguard the country’s independence, integrity, and sovereignty. As a patriot, freedom fighter, and the proclaimer of independence, he prioritized the nation’s security above all else. The 19th point was the full preservation of the rights of all citizens—irrespective of religion, caste, or ethnicity—and strengthening national unity and solidarity. In every aspect of his life, he adhered strictly to the principles and ideals declared in the 19-point program. His reputation as an honest man was universally acknowledged. Even his adversaries did not have the audacity to question his integrity.
After the tragic death of President Ziaur Rahman in a failed military coup, his wife Begum Khaleda Zia joined the BNP as a general member on January 2, 1982. Later, in March 1983, she was elected the party’s Vice Chairperson, and in August 1984, the party elected her as Chairperson. From then on, her relentless struggle began. The result of that struggle was the fall of Ershad during the anti-autocracy movement.
In the 1991 election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) emerged victorious. The people of Bangladesh, inspired by Shaheed Zia’s ideals, chose Khaleda Zia as their leader. Before that election, leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Awami League at all levels were in high spirits. Even party chief Sheikh Hasina believed that her party was destined to win and that she would become the Prime Minister. Many senior Awami League leaders were already considering themselves members of the upcoming cabinet and had tailored new suits and Mujib coats in preparation. Some even carried themselves in a way as though they were already ministers.
However, the election results told a different story. The people of the country voted for the BNP’s sheaf of paddy symbol. Khaleda Zia went on to become Prime Minister three times. Yet, a dark chapter in the history of Bangladesh, known as 1/11, emerged due to both domestic and international conspiracies. That conspiracy defeated her. Ultimately, it was the nationalist force that lost.
Thus began a new battle for the nationalist force. It was a battle for survival and democracy. In this struggle, the son, Tarique Rahman, joined his mother. This fight began in 2007. During this long struggle, a wife lost her historic Moinul Hossain Road residence, filled with memories of her husband. When the bulldozer demolished the birthplace of the nationalist force, one person writhed in pain while another reveled in a grotesque display of joy. A press conference was held, where many baseless and defamatory pieces of information against Begum Khaleda Zia were shamelessly fabricated and revealed. The entire nation was stunned and astonished and they witnessed the enormity of lies and vengeance.. In this battle, a mother lost one of her children, and the other one was forced to go into exile.
To protect millions of leaders and activists in the country, Begum Khaleda Zia chose imprisonment over compromising with the authoritarian government. Meanwhile, in London, Tarique Rahman prepared himself. While Begum Khaleda Zia fought for her life in prison and on a hospital bed, struggling against life and death, she made every possible effort to keep the nationalist forces alive. Only the members of the Zia family can truly understand the immense torture, suffering, and humiliation the family endured for the ideals of Ziaur Rahman and the nationalist force. In such a dire time, Tarique Rahman, by adding a few timely points to Zia's 19-point program, presented a 31-point agenda and took it to the grassroots. With the dream of turning Bangladesh into a modern, democratic, equal, and self-reliant state, he is working tirelessly day and night.
But can the grassroots leaders and activists of BNP truly understand the immense sacrifices and suffering of the Zia family? After the fall of the authoritarian Hasina government, BNP leaders and activists across the country have enjoyed a liberated environment where they are now free from cases and attacks. Those who had been in hiding have come out into the open, and those who were displaced from their homes have been able to return. It is a time of great joy for the BNP. However, many are complaining that just as, before the 1991 election, there was a sense of certain victory within the Awami League, now many BNP leaders and activists are experiencing the same sense of entitlement to power. Allegations are being made that some opportunistic BNP leaders, hiding within the party, are becoming involved in extortion, land grabbing, and other illegal activities.
In the murder of Monir in Dhaka’s Gulshan police station, some leaders of BNP’s metropolitan branch filed a murder case through Monir’s father, Abu Zafar. In this case, 105 people were accused, including several of the country’s top businessmen. Among the accused was a Jubodol activist and the son of Ziaur Rahman’s Chief Security Officer, who had been actively involved in the July Revolution. Not only was he named as an accused, but pressure was also applied on the police to arrest him. After spending a few months in jail, he was granted bail. He was arrested due to personal enmity. Upon hearing about his arrest, his father, a former army officer, could only lament, saying, “Whom should I seek justice from?”
To remove the names of three prominent businessmen from the case, some BNP leaders behind the scenes demanded 6 crore taka through the plaintiff. However, those named in the case refused to pay. Through this case-business scheme, a particular group became reckless.
Even small-time leaders like Mir Sagir in Pirojpur district have become reckless in engaging in extortion, terrorism, assault, threats, and intimidation. This grassroots leader has taken over someone else's shop and turned it into a BNP office. An internal investigation by the party has confirmed the truth of his misdeeds, yet no action has been taken against him by the party. If this continues, ultimately, it will benefit the criminals, land grabbers, and extortionists. The symbol of nationalist unity, Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman will suffer immensely.
However, according to party sources, around 1,200 individuals from various levels of the party have been expelled for violating discipline. Still, the enemies within the party remain unrestrained.
For a long time, BNP's opponent has been the Awami League. However, the Awami League is no longer active in the political arena, and it is uncertain whether they will participate in the upcoming election. For now, the political chapter of the Sheikh family in Bangladesh seems to be over. In the upcoming election, BNP will have to compete with its allies. New players will also emerge in the political arena. Tarique Rahman, the successor of Ziaur Rahman, understands from London that the upcoming election will not be easy by any means. This is why he is emphasizing bringing good people into the party. He wants to get rid of corruption from the party. From this realization, he said in his speech at the party membership renewal ceremony, "We need to turn well-wishers into supporters, supporters into workers, and workers into leaders. We need good people. We need effective people. We need productive people for our future.”
The sooner the party leaders and activists understand Tarique Rahman's statement, the better it will be for the party and the nationalist ideology. If they fail to realize this and if a power-centric mentality arises among the leaders and activists, it will be a disaster for them and the nation. The individuals who were the architects of the Minus Two formula during the One-Eleven period are still active. They are still trying to stir up trouble by manipulating various forces. Since the Awami League president and all members of the Sheikh family have fled the country and lost the moral strength to appear in public, the current target of that group is solely the Zia family. The senior leaders of BNP must carefully consider this harsh reality.
(The writer is the Executive Editor of Bangladesh Pratidin)
(Translated and marginally edited by Rafid)
