It has been about a week since the fall of Awami League, a party that had been in power for most of the lives of those who brought it to its feet.
It was humbling to see university students remain steadfast in their demands. The steely determination of the six student leaders was the iron fist that empowered thousands of people suffocated by years of repression -- repression of expression, of fairness, of trade of justice -- to join in the long march to freedom on August 5, 2024.
It is estimated that 5 million people answered the call of student leaders and marched towards the Shahbag Square in the capital. The call for the resignation was centred on one aspect only -- the PM’s resignation, as she had lost all confidence. How can a leader be entrusted with the safety of citizens when she can directly order the killing of innocents?
Sheikh Hasina had been a great leader and had led Bangladesh through tumultuous times. She empowered women, bravely combatted international bullies, and wore her heart on her sleeve. It was easy to read her and she connected well with the people. However, the quota protests revealed she lost that connection and underestimated the youth. It was her inability to accept that killing the youth was wrong, no matter how much they protested, which ultimately led to her demise.
BNP’s emergence and optimism
As the nation still reels from her shock exit, and people are coming to terms with the new normal, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) is finally emerging from the woods. Since 2008, party members of the BNP have faced violent atrocities. Many reside in Western countries under political asylum. The top leaders of BNP who have the means to live in Bangladesh are overwhelmed with court cases and oppressive litigation.
The official leader of the party is Begum Khaleda Zia who had been in house arrest since 2008. At the age of 79, she is beleaguered with illnesses. The actual operational leader of the party is her elder son who resides in the UK under political asylum. Since August 5, BNP has been feelingoptimistic. General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul did not waste any time and expressed solidarity with the students. After sixyears of house arrest, Begum Zia too was released and she managed to give a brief statement, expressing good wishes for democracy and fair elections.
What is notable in all this is that not a single BNP member is seen doing anything that matters. Members of Chhatra Dal (the student wing of BNP) are alleged to be doing revenge attacks on AL supporters. Unverified news of BNP members trying to change the name of a park near the Parliament building from Chondrima Uddan to Zia Uddan is also circulating. Buses and truckloads of members are also convening to plan their party activities and welcome Tarique Zia's imminent return from the UK.
Students are still out on the streets cleaning roads, managing traffic, and providing security to Hindu temples and households. Students continue to defy the odds and ensure their movement brings about the much-desired change. While they work on the ground, BNP seeks to attain its former glory on the back of a movement they have no legitimate claim over, like a cuckoo laying an egg on a crow’s nest.
It is important to remember Tarique Zia during BNP’s last ruling tenure from 2001-2006 when he broke into the political arena. This was the person who set up headquarters, Hawa Bhaban, and amassed wealth thriving in rampant corruption. He made deadly alliances and perhaps most tragically, he removed his mother from the intellectual leadership of the party and installed his nepotistic cronies.
Many may say that 16 years of exile have reformed him, but it is a hard call to convince someone who had lived through histyranny. Instead of making any genuine effort to call his party to assist the student, he is now opportunistically lining up his chances at the back of the student movement.
If anything, the student movement against discrimination is a testament to people’s ultimate power and that the youth are not to be taken for granted and people are fed up with dynastic claims to power. The protests against the quota system were a protest for merit, and Tarique has proved in the six years of BNP’s last rule that he is scant of it. The BNP needs to reform and bring out a leader with proven merit.
Nabila Rafique is an Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh.