Sunday, September 1, marked the 46th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. For the first time in nearly 18 years, the party is celebrating its anniversary under a different circumstance.
The party has been out of power since the dissolution of the eighth parliament's cabinet on October 29, 2006. Over this long period, the party has faced numerous trials and tribulations, including attacks, police cases, and persecution affecting nearly all its leaders from top to grassroots levels.
However, by not leaving the field, it now has a chance to score a “goal,” though its plans also face the risk of being thwarted. The pain of not being able to score despite being near the goalpost is indeed much more significant than the agony of being penalized throughout the field.
After more than 15 years in power, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government fell in the face of a mass uprising. The party had formed a government on January 6, 2009, after winning the December 29, 2008 general election under a caretaker government.
The Awami League then held elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024, all of which were controversial, lacking equal participation from all major parties and undermining democracy. Even local elections were “selections” rather than genuine elections.
Despite visible development work, the Awami League gradually became disconnected from the people.
Throughout this period, the BNP was active in advocating for democracy. Even when the party faced leadership voids due to the illness and imprisonment of its chairperson and the exile of the acting chairman, seasoned leaders like Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi continued the struggle.
The question now is whether the BNP can reap the benefits of its long fight. It is clear that even within the BNP, there are concerns about this. Tarique Rahman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have already said there are “conspiracies” against the party both domestically and internationally. If they recognize this, how prepared are they to address these conspiracies in the changed political context?
For electoral preparation, the party needs to restructure from grassroots to top leadership
During the BNP's 18 years out of power, a new generation has emerged. Today's youth are no longer citizens of a specific country -- they are global citizens. Additionally, there has been a change in people's mindset over this long period. They now demand justice for criminals but reject revenge-driven politics. They want development but do not tolerate anyone enriching themselves under the guise of development. They no longer want politics of violence, looting, and crime.
To fight these so-called conspiracies, the BNP needs to regain the public’s trust and must understand the changes in people’s mindsets. People no longer believe that a change in power is merely about changing faces. The entire approach must now change. But how well has the BNP adapted to this change so far?
Recent allegations of forced occupation and extortion in various areas after the government’s fall have often involved BNP leaders. Although the party's punitive measures are commendable, if these actions remain confined to press releases, it will not suffice, as the current generation is much more observant.
However, the BNP's acting chairman has recently seemed more mature. If he can maintain this, it will help in gaining public trust.
For electoral preparation, the party needs to restructure from grassroots to top leadership. Rather than considering who can buy positions or who has more men, the party should appoint leaders who understand the changing mindset of the people.
Special attention should also be given to the youth. The BNP's student wing, Chhatra Dal, could be a powerful tool in gaining the trust of the current generation. However, the suitability of its student leaders in the district, upazila, and central committees with Gen-Z needs to be evaluated.
It appears that the BNP's long-time political ally Jamaat-e-Islami is becoming its main rival in the upcoming election. Over the past month, Jamaat and its student wing have seemed well-organized in adapting to both the political and psychological changes.
If the BNP aims to rely on muscle power in the political arena against them, it would be a grave mistake. The BNP must now focus on intellectual politics. It should also be aware that attempts may be made to brand it negatively. To counter this, it must rely on political wisdom rather than force.
Moreover, if religious-based political parties form alliances, the BNP could be an alternative option for those not inclined towards religious politics. However, the changing context leaves no room to assume that people will have only the BNP as an alternative to the Awami League.
Instead, to capitalize on the emerging opportunities, the BNP must change its mindset, abandon revenge-driven politics, reduce reliance on muscle power, and trust in public sentiment. It must break away from the habit of not learning from history.
Marouf Kholifa is a journalist.
