The writer is a UN Dag Hammarskjold Fellow in journalism.
Bewildered opposition party BNP, with two of its top leaders convicted on graft charges, has once again raised its infamous anti-India card as the general elections draw ever so closer.
One cannot forget former BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s infamous remarks: “If Awami League comes to power, from Feni onwards, Bangladesh will become part of India.”
Of course that never happened, as she herself visited Feni a little while later which remained very much a part of Bangladesh.
Currently behind bars, Khaleda Zia must be wondering why she is in jail and why she did not act prudently, taking her stature for granted as almost everyone rejected her silly comments because, apparently, people aren’t idiots.
She must be wondering what she and her son, Tarique Rahman, who is in London under political asylum, did with all those years of glory except to rehabilitate war criminals and making money.
The BNP leadership has lost all respect with their “statement based” campaigning, now believes that neighbouring India holds the chair of the Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner.
BNP’s “statement leader,” in a recent media brief, said the recent tour of Awami League leaders to India was to “seek support of New Delhi in holding another lopsided election (like 2014) to cling to power.”
“Did you [Awami League leaders] go to India with a big team for a negotiation to stay in power?” so said Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP’s senior joint secretary general, according a news report.
I suggest that the BNP leadership go home and take a good long rest, and, instead of blaming fantasy tactics, take a long hard look at exactly why their party has been so unpopular for close to 10 years now
“As the government has come to know that it will not get more than 20 to 22 seats if the election is conducted in a free and fair manner, they are now making frantic efforts towards holding a one-sided election with the interference of external powers, like in January 2014,” he added.
That is far too much baggage coming from a major political party.
Makes you wonder whether BNP came to power in 1991 and again 2001 with the help of Pakistan and fundamentalist group Jamaat-e-Islami as its major allies.
Do BNP leaders think that India has some sort of a magic wand to change results in favour of the Awami League?
If they really believe so, then I suggest that the BNP leadership go home and take a good long rest, and, instead of blaming fantasy tactics, take a long hard look at exactly why their party has been so unpopular for close to 10 years now.
Last month an Awami League delegation, led by General Secretary Obaidul Quader, visited India for three days.
I have written before on how Tarique Rahman has been trying to reach the Indian prime minister over the past few months, and especially after the Indian leader visited Britain last year.
So now we can assume why he was, and still is, pushing for this meeting with Modi — in order to win the December elections, of course. This, in turn, means BNP has settled in its assessment about its fate in the polls and is seeking numerous avenues in order to return to power.
The party seriously needs to take a careful look at why the Awami League has been able to retain power thus far.
It’s the economy and how it is fast changing the lives of Bangladeshis, and the current government’s numerous policies which have paved the way for this boom.
Personally, I always swell with pride when my foreign friends see how well Bangladesh has been doing great as of late, and how none of it would have been possible if not for our prime minister.
Sheikh Hasina’s diplomacy with India has brought positive results in connectivity, the issue with the Ganges river, and the nearly done-deal that is the sharing of Teesta river waters.
The premier has been nothing if not bold in strengthening ties with India.
BNP needs a reality check. They need to find a suitable leader as both Khaleda and Tarique are not only embarrassments to them, but hold no qualifications to lead an army of ants, let alone a major political party.https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/2018/05/06/bnp-raises-anti-india-card/
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