The anti-government movement led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been plunged into an uncertainty as the US-led foreign diplomats found opposition demand unconstitutional. The situation culminated in such a way that they can neither go for election nor can advance their movement because of the lack of interest of their mentors. US and its allies are busy salvaging Dr. Yunus instead of giving support to BNP. Moreover, US is keen to strengthen business ties with Bangladesh at the moment. They cannot consider the BNP agenda as it is unconstitutional and undemocratic. Though lately but BNP has also realized that US and its allies are not coming to their help.
BNP is suffering from a leadership crisis too. BNP never practiced the culture of democracy since its birth. “Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people’, said by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. The type of politics BNP is doing can be anything but democracy.
If we look at the history of modern democracy, it would be difficult to find a match for the BNP.
BNP not being in power for more than one and a half decades is making one serious political mistakes one after another, and in the process pushing itself further and further away from regaining power. The political game is harder than playing chess. In chess, it is important to make good opening moves. Two consecutive wrong moves can ruin control over the chess board. Similarly, two wrong moves in politics may also result in failure to salvage a political party. BNP ever since their inception has never walked along the path of democracy.
The goal of a party’s first move is to decide the fate of a political party. BNP never realized that opposition has an equal role to play for democracy. Neither did it understand that democracy controls itself. Hence, it has failed in every aspect in establishing democracy.
BNP had set an example of farcical voter-less elections in 1996 which lost acceptance at home and abroad. 'Janatar Manch' was formed at the reflection of combined agitation of people and, as a result, the then BNP-led government formed after the controversial election of 15 February 1996, collapsed.
In 2001, BNP buried democracy by repeating the atrocities of Pakistan Army that happened in 1971. In the year 2014, BNP could avail itself of the opportunity to practice democracy through participating in election, but it didn’t. BNP carried out arson attacks, killing more than 500 people and injuring over 3,000 instead of participating in the 2014 general election. BNP has always played ducks and drakes with the election and people's voting rights. It pushed the country behind whenever it came to power.
In recent days, BNP is trying to hit every ball that the government is throwing for the betterment of the people of this country. Whatever the current government is doing, BNP is the people to criticize and speak against the same even if it goes against the interest of people of this country. BNP has forgotten that one wicket cannot make win a match. Tolerance is very important in the field of democracy. Unless someone is a true democrat, he or she cannot fight for democracy. So far, the activities of BNP do not reflect any sort of democratic movement. The founder of BNP Ziaur Rahman and his widow BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia never understood or believed in democracy. BNP speaks about democracy but does not understand or believe in that. Their ideology does not match with the spirit of liberation of Bangladesh. There are different types of democracy around the world, however; we must understand that democracy is not meant for incompetent or uneducated people. Practicing democracy means one may disagree with what someone says, but he will defend to the death for his right to say it. Democracy cannot be established through petrol bomb attacks. Neither it can be established through coming up with one point demand or uttering last word as these have no place in the dictionary of democracy.
There is nothing like finality in politics. Military dictator Ziaur Rahman in 1977 although emerged as a military strongman, but he decided to return to democracy which is similar to Pakistan's first military dictator Ayub Khan’s basic democracy.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Awami League has always been involved in practicing democracy. In 1979, Awami League decided to contest a sham election during Zia's regime even though they were asked not to mention the name of Bangabandhu in their election manifesto or in any document. Sheikh Hasina even participated in the election during Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s regime in the year 1986.
Sheikh Hasina never tried to grab power in an extra- democratic way. Awami League has never got involved in any conspiracy outside democracy which leaves Awami League in an advantageous position unlike BNP.
Any final forecast is anti-democratic. BNP’s declaration that announced the fall of the present government after December 10 of 2022 with a threat to besiege Dhaka and take power on December 10 is nothing but a farce. The siege of the power by Khaleda is absolutely a hoax. We can cite two previous examples of such forecasts which miserably failed as they were groundless. One was made by Mr. Jalil, the then Awami League general secretary who announced that the then government will fall by April 30. And the other one was about the fall of H.M. Ershad linked with Dr. Milon murder case. These predictions never give a fillip to any anti-government movements, only contrary these being disastrous for any party.
Anything historic doesn’t not repeat- is a farce. Another “Janatar Manch” is unlikely to occur that may threaten the current government. It can’t bring the same result due to democratic practice within Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On the other hand, Tareque Zia, the acting chairman of BNP has been seen impatient and might have been trying to do something worse than Holey Artisan type carnage as their one point demand is not supported by any foreign countries. BNP announced a 'one-point' movement with the goal to remove Awami League from the power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government. Their one-point demand is just for coming into power for themselves. BNP is neither working for democracy nor for fair election. It also confers a message that they have not done their homework properly. In order to be competent enough to understand the meaning of democracy and its values, one needs to study, learn and practice the same which BNP lacks in. BNP is such a big institution that they should have foreseen the impact of coming up with one point demand before the election. The future is dark indeed if they proceed this way.