Bangladeshis are entitled to ask for a change in political leadership. For 32 years, we have been stuck in a so-called battle of the begums. As the country stands on the precipice of graduating to middle-income status, we need efficient leadership which propels our economy to the next stage of development. We also need leadership which grapples with the reality of today’s world, brought about by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and dangers to international peace and security.
Once again, we face the prospect of Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman returning to power. For so many of us, we are fatigued by their fiefdom over BNP. It is time for change, be it within the BNP or broadly within the structure of centre-right political forces in Bangladesh.
If change does not come and we are doomed to another cycle of the BNP’s illiberalism, inefficiency, and intransigence, then the country is set for a very rocky ride ahead.
With efficient leadership, we can steadily unleash our economy’s potential. We can enhance our armed forces to deter any threats to our security. We can lead Bangladesh into playing a more proactive global role.
The world’s eighth most populous nation deserves better than Begum Zia. Not even Tonga, one of the tiniest nations in the Pacific, deserves to be led by Begum Zia and Tarique Rahman.
If the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty can step away from the post of Congress president, surely Begum Zia and Tarique Rahman can step away from the posts of chairperson and acting chairman of BNP. More qualified members of their family can even step into their shoes as future MPs. But the BNP is not their personal property. It is a political party beholden to the laws of Bangladesh.
If Zia loyalists within the BNP obstruct change, the civil society of Bangladesh and other political forces should seriously address the Zia stranglehold over BNP. Begum Zia’s failures in her first term should have barred her from leading the country ever again. But sadly, she came back in 2001.
At this point in history, Bangladesh is enjoying a demographic dividend. Our economy is well positioned to advance into the future, notwithstanding the global geopolitical shocks taking place. Even from a geopolitical perspective, Bangladesh also desperately needs change.
It would be an immense tragedy if the future of our country, our young generation, our economy, and our armed forces, falls into the hands of Begum Zia’s son.
Tarique Rahman is the de facto leader of BNP and a convicted fugitive. An article in Foreign Affairs earlier this year noted that Tarique Rahman is not only accused of corruption, but he has also been sentenced to life in prison for his role in a plot to assassinate the current prime minister.
Zia loyalists are adamant that Begum Zia and her son hold on to their reigns. Zia loyalists are still stuck in the mindset of the late 1970s. This was evident during their last tenure in government between 2001 and 2006. No matter how much Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claims to lead a saintly pro-democracy movement, the BNP is infested with criminal leadership.
If the BNP returns to power, it would likely appoint Alamgir or another Zia loyalist as prime minister. They would churn the wheels of the judiciary to get Begum Zia released and quash all convictions to pave the way for the return of Tarique Rahman.
From being the de facto leader of BNP, Tarique Rahman will emerge as the de facto leader of Bangladesh. This would be a great injustice and a disgustingly depressing blow to the future of the country.
Alamgir would be better off serving the national interests of Bangladesh instead of the vested interests of Begum Zia and her son. Alamgir and other Zia loyalists are telling themselves that the BNP is set for another landslide.
If one speaks to a grassroots Zia loyalist, this thinking is also quite evident. Such a scenario would overturn the balance of power for the worse.
In the greater interests of democracy and in keeping with Bangladesh’s history, the balance of power should ideally be more proportionate than a zero-sum game. A BNP-led electoral autocracy is not what Bangladeshis want. Sometimes, democracy needs to save itself from itself.
Umran Chowdhury works in the legal field.
