Dear Mr Rahman,
I hope this finds you in the excitement of your soon-to-be historic landing in Dhaka, while your anxiety regarding your mother, Begum Khaleda Zia's ill health, is well understood.
I recently came across an interview of yours, in which you stated that you enjoy (and take lightly) the funny memes that are made surrounding your apparent "work from home" politics.
So, I took the courage to comment on a few aspects of BNP as a non-endorser of your party politics, which you may choose to ponder. The observations are personal, and I apologize in advance if some are based on incorrect information.
I would appreciate your response to this, or even your supporters'. As I use “we” underneath, I am writing to you as a commoner and a teacher who engages with non-partisan students every single day, to the extent of having been with them on the streets to protest against Hasina's regime in the face of baton charges and bullets.
First, I am of the impression that almost all citizens (irrespective of political affiliations) very well acknowledge the sacrifice made by thousands of your grassroots party activists, who were subject to torture, enforced disappearances, and murders.
But I hope you recognize that a significant number of your party's high command led very comfortable lives, with thriving businesses during the autocratic era. They very well knew who to liaise with during the tenure.
Hence, please be wary of them, and realize that people are no more fond of them; BNP's plan to reinstate them in power as parliament members reminds the people of bitter experiences.
Second, BNP’s senior leadership had outright rejected any involvement during the July Revolution, recognizing it as not their own but rather that of the ordinary students. It was absolutely fine, until the party strived to take credit through various events, post the fall of the Hasina tenure on August 5, 2024.
It is true that we clearly heard you acknowledge the fact that it was a mass movement and really appreciated it. Hence, we hope you will halt all attempts to portray the July Revolution as BNP's sole achievement, as it makes the party appear desperate for undeserved credit.
We hope you also acknowledge that BNP was only a part of the mass movement (as were others), and none of your party leaders or activists significantly led the protests anywhere in the country.
Third, your party initially craved elections and was undeniably against any initial reforms. In fact, we have come across news that your party leadership opted to continue with Hasina's undemocratic constitution (one where all three government organs centre around the PM), until, thankfully, they realized the expectations of the ordinary people, particularly the youth.
Forgive me for being so frank, but taking advantage of your high possibility to become the next PM, and thereby adhering to the dishonourable constitution, would seem very greedy from your end. Having said that, the hunger for money and power on the part of some of your leaders and activists is, in fact, too well visible, not to mention the extortion by your local leaders all over the country, even before the party has formed the government.
Fourth, your party is likely going to be coming into power by chance -- simply because the other significant alternative has been dethroned. You are going to form the government, as the other large party, just like the Awami League formed the government in elections where the BNP did not participate.
Therefore, there is no reason to believe that BNP is the preferred choice of every citizen who wishes to escape the old political practices and envision genuine changes since the July Revolution. Clarifying this point to BNP leaders and activists, with the advice not to disappoint the ordinary people of Bangladesh (who are giving you an opportunity to lead), would be highly appreciated.
Fifth, as a son of a decorated freedom fighter, and as a leader of a party that owns 1971’s War of Liberation, I think any citizen would appreciate a good clarification of why you had to form a coalition with the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami once, and whether you regret the decision.
Since Jamaat is being considered your formidable opposition in the upcoming polls, voicing on their stance as against the very birth of Bangladesh won’t suffice, unless BNP has a convincing explanation of why they are having to carry the baggage.
Last but not least, in line with the start of this piece, we hope you can take criticisms unlike Hasina. To begin with, we would appreciate it if you could acknowledge all the things BNP had done wrong, especially during its time in power from 2001 to 2006. And eventually, ensure that no draconian laws, such as the infamous Digital Security Act, are enacted.
Before I conclude, I would like to make a confession. I may have differences with your party, its policies, ideology, and past decisions, etc. Still, regarding the brutal BDR Pilkhana carnage where I lost my father to bullets, I remain grateful to you for leading the only political party, the BNP, that had in their election mandate in 2018, that it would ensure proper justice for the massacre.
I remain appreciative to you for your compassion towards the victims’ families as a fellow military brat and a future leader who seems to prioritize “Bangladesh first.” Additionally, BNP, unlike its primary contender Jamaat, may be the only ray of hope for people who value secularism, women's empowerment, tolerance towards minorities of all types, and diversity at large.
Wishing you the best for all your future endeavours, political or otherwise, Sir.
Saquib Rahman is editor of Progress Magazine and senior lecturer in the department of law, North South University. Views expressed are the writer’s