I wrote an open letter to you which was published in this paper on 11 December, 2006. I am writing this open letter to you to express my views and feelings about the post general election situation.
There was a common belief that your party i.e. BNP would lose the December 2008 election, but the election outcome was a shocking surprise to many. People were expecting a balanced parliament so that no party could boast that people gave them a free-to-do-anything mandate. But unfortunately, thing happened that way and probably this is one of the demerits of democracy.
Anyway, it seems that you and your party have succeeded in digesting this humiliating defeat and are now going to reform the party. In this respect I would like you to consider the following facts that may help BNP to regain its lost strength and image. It is for democracy and the country that we need a strong opposition in the parliament.
The day you decided to appoint your elder son Tareq Zia as the Senior Joint Secretary of BNP, you also sowed the seeds of internal rivalry in the party that finally surfaced through the reform effort under the leadership of former Secretary General Mannan Bhuiya, who very reasonably believed that Tareq Zia was going to replace him. While your party was in power during 2001-6, you did not take any action against the widely known misdeeds of Hawa Bhavan where your son Tareq Zia was the C-in-C. People were referring to him as Mr. ten percent. You have closed down Hawa Bhavan, the alternate power control centre, but it is too late.
AL Chief Sheikh Hasina took a clever decision by punishing the reformers but keeping them in the party. But you did not take any step to unite the BNP when it was needed very badly for the national election for which your opponent was in a far better position.
It is good news that at last you are also thinking of bringing young and dynamic leadership at the helm. The BNP needs a young, dynamic and an impressive personality for the position of Secretary General. Also please elect other leaders following democratic processes. People do not make mistake in giving their verdict in an election and will do the same in future. So, please learn from your mistakes. Keep those around you who have the courage to differ with you and tell you the truth. Above all, please do not forget the day of final judgement.