Is Zubaida Rahman’s joining in politics the answer?
Dr Hasan Mahmud, Publicity and Publication Affairs Secretary of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL), remarked on Friday that BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is solely responsible for the present sorry state of her party and for this she should tender resignation.
The PPAS of AL said: In the past they (BNP) killed people in the name of movement setting deadline for their action program. Khaleda Zia is solely responsible for the present sorry state of BNP. You should not shift the blame on others shoulder for this and you should resign from the party post and only then the party would be saved.
Dr Hasan Mahmud was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting in the capital city Dhaka. Bangladesh Swadhinata Parishad organised the discussion on current politics in present day’s context at Bir Uttam Khwaza Nizamuddin auditorium at Shegunbagicha in the capital with its president Hasibur Rahman Manik in the chair.
Awami League Central Working Committee member Sujit Roy Nandi, assistant secretary of Awami League sub-committee Advocate Balaram Poddar and Barrister Zakir Hossain, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Hasan Mahmud said: Movement can’t be launched by setting date and time, which Begum Zia could realize at last. Question has been raised as to whether she is competent to lead a political party or not.
Criticising Begum Zia for her recent remarks that people of the country are not well now, the Awami League leader said: People of the country are well enough but Khaleda Zia is not. Her sons had to leave the country on charge of corruption. Obviously, there is no reason for her to remain well.
He said, “Conspiracy is going on centering Bangladesh. Militant outfits are active now. Their network has been spreading in different countries. And Begum Zia is their patron. She has floated an alliance with them. The country and its politics are not secured with their involvement.”
Hasan Mahmud said that faces of those who raised question on the legitimacy of the present Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) have become pale and thin with the election of Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury as the chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
In the backdrop of such comments, some of the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and political analysts think that in this complex situation the BNP may go for a powerful figure beside Khaleda Zia to make the party stronger for facing a very strong political party like Awami League.
In this connection political thinkers do not think about Coco for his ill health. To consider Tarique Rahman, known as Tarique Zia, for strengthening his mother’s hand, it seems that Awami League stalwarts are not feeling well about him. And Tarique is also recovering from his ailments allegedly caused by military-backed previous government.
Critics of Awami League and observers opine that the ruling party may not allow Tarique to make a comeback only for politics. They may shackle him based on some allegations.
In this circumstance, the new generation supporters of the BNP think about Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Tarique Rahman, to stand beside Khaleda Zia, not as the wife of her son but as a political comrade. Those who speak less about politics but understand a lot, offer a not by silence on this issue.
Talkative activists of BNP suggest quick arrival of Zubaida in the political arena of Bangladesh to strengthen democracy by reinvigorating the party standing beside Khaleda Zia. “Zubaida can build up a favorable situation for Tarique’s return by strengthening the party”, a political analyst opined on condition of anonymity. – Special Correspondent