Here we are. The New Year got off to a heated start. Khaleda Zia remains confined in her Gulshan office since Saturday. Party leaders are scampering.
Her confinement (“security” is the government version) was beefed up with at least 10 brick and sand-laden trucks parked in front of her office. She will find herself in solitude for a few more days until things conform to the government’s liking. She has declared nonstop blockade of rail, road, and waterways for an indefinite period. Therefore, we brace ourselves for periods of uncertainty.
It now seems clear that there is no scope for a peaceful settlement. Dialogue is a far cry, which the BNP so earnestly wanted. The strange fight for democracy is underway, with BNP fighting for people’s right to vote while the Awami League government holds on to its stand of protecting the constitution and development. It is a bizarre battle for democracy.
Four BNP activists have been killed across the country. Clashes go on and more lives will be lost. The High Court and Press Club premises remain tense with two opposing sides raring to go at each other, while the police wait at every point to nab the opposition leaders.
The expected has happened. BNP finds no alternative but to resort to tougher action to realise its demands for participatory national polls under a neutral caretaker government. This time round, the party chief declared that there would be no further concession to the government.
The party has been suffering from various ailments since 2007. From leadership crises to policy implementation to internal squabbles to government ire, it is facing a tough time and will have to brave the rough weathers if it has to survive in a credible manner. For the first time in its colourful history, the party has been, in effect, out of the mainframe of state politics and administration.
Lack of commitment and fear of imprisonment have kept many senior and young leaders away from taking an active part in street showdowns. Add to these the internal squabbles among the leaders. Dhaka leaders have been at loggerheads for years.
The opposing supporters of the student-front also fought for supremacy. Therefore, there has been genuine frustration and discontentment among the party workers and youngsters. Many seniors have taken back seats due to reasons they prefer not to talk about. Acting Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been the main voice of the party. Senior and mid-level leaders have frequently disappeared from the scene at inappropriate times.
Most of the BNP advisers and senior members are showing signs of bad judgment. Some of them are too old to do anything other than retire or compromise. This pitiable situation has become more dreadful as the government becomes intransigent.
Following the 2009 polls, which were not taken in good stride by many, the AL has become increasingly intolerant when dealing with BNP activists. Unofficially, the party is now just about persona non-grata in Bangladeshi politics.
The party offices remain under the shadows of the cops. Party leaders keep themselves holed up inside the gates of the main office. Others remain in hiding, or are forced to enjoy the coziness of their apartments.
Sarcastic comments by the AL leaders about the alleged failure and weaknesses of the BNP make it more annoying for all. The government has made it clear that BNP and its allies will not be given any leverage concerning polls or politics.
One senior BNP leader commented: “The way they treat us in the streets, it is simply not possible to bear such atrocities.” Another young leader remarked: “If the police and RAB did not back the AL activists on the ground, we could have exposed our force.”
The party leaders believe that the government is afraid of their support base. They challenged the government to let them come out without obstruction and prove their mass support. However, the government is not interested in witnessing any congregation of the opposition, posing a threat to its popularity.
Once again, democracy is not in practice here.
The ruling party has binned the seven-point demand put forward by the BNP chief in a press conference on New Year’s Eve. To many, the demands were not timely and inappropriate for the current situation. Therefore, BNP is also likely to shun its dialogue offers from here on.
The politics of conflict is back again. For BNP, it is a must win situation. The party leaders believe that it will have to continue with its movement if it wants to have a credible existence, and the government will have to keep negotiating various situations at different levels. Since the government is not keen on dialogue, a dark cloud hangs overhead.
BNP will find the road ahead very taxing. It will have to redesign its stance and the government ought to realise that democracy is facing the gallows.