An unacceptable move from a leader
IN her most recent press conference, Khaleda Zia, leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), read her prepared statement by stating the significance of March in Bangladesh's history. She respectfully remembered the sacrifices of the millions of people for the birth of our beloved Bangladesh. She mentioned how the founder of her party BNP, her late husband Ziaur Rahman, started our Liberation War with his declaration of independence. Khaleda Zia's opening remarks were well accepted by the members of the press present there.
But is this what we have witnessed lately in her actions and activities?
February 21 holds deep meaning and significance for the Bangla speaking population around the globe. Since that fateful day of 1952, Bangalis around the globe have celebrated February 21 ('Ekushey') every year, as a day to celebrate the Bangla language, culture, and traditions. It has been customary that our head of state and all key political leaders, along with thousands of people, pay their respects to the Language Movement martyrs.
However, for the first time ever in BNP's history, its leader did not visit the Shaheed Minar this year. In the past three decades or so that Khaleda Zia had been its leader, BNP has always maintained its presence on this national event and day in Bangladesh's history and tradition. Khaleda Zia paid due respect to the martyrs of Ekushey when she was a PM, when she was a leader of the opposition, and even when her party got relegated to neither the ruling nor the opposition in the parliament. She and her party cited her safety as the key reason for this action, or rather inaction. Interestingly, it is her party-led 20-party alliance that has called the blockade and hartals since the beginning of January 2015. The newspapers have reported that all the violence committed since then has been primarily by her party members and supporters. However, as Khaleda Zia is never keen on having a question and answer session after her 'press conferences,' the journalists attending the event could not ask her about this. The leaders of BNP need to understand the difference between a press conference and a prepared statement reading that could have been easily e-mailed to the media, or read by a party clerk.
To make matters worse, Khaleda Zia decided not to visit the National Memorial -- Smriti Shoudho -- in Savar to commemorate our Independence Day on March 26 this year. This was more than shocking for Bangladeshis all around the world, as our independence goes beyond the political narrowness of leaders regardless of their party affiliations. She again cited "unnatural" conditions in the country for this inaction.
This utter sense of disrespect and disregard for the birth of Bangladesh is by no means acceptable or excusable for a two-time prime minster. One wonders how she came to this decision, or who gave her such advice, or why she stayed in her office in Gulshan rather than go to the National Memorial to pay her respects to the millions of martyrs of our Liberation War. Khaleda Zia, in complete disregard for the emotions and nationalism of the 160 million Bangladeshis, chose to abstain from going to Savar.
We categorically deplore this. It is an insult to the memories of our martyrs of 1971 and their families, and to the millions of Bangladeshis across the world. She has shown utter lack of common sense and patriotism with her inaction. She needs to know that it is okay to protest the corruption and mismanagement of the current Awami League government as she and her party sees it. This is every citizen's democratic right to do so. But it is a profoundly disrespectful act to ignore our Independence Day.
Khaleda Zia needs to know that her fight should be against whatever grievances her party and its alliance may have against the ruling government and not the people of Bangladesh. The killing and bombings her party is continuing in the name of political protest is nothing short of terrorism against Bangladesh. And her refusal to attend the National Memorial on our Independence Day is unbecoming of an ex-PM of the country.
As a candidate for leading the country in future, Khaleda Zia should realise her blatant error in judgment, and make amends as soon as possible. The mayoral election is around the corner.
The writer is Assistant Professor, Zayed University, UAE and Co-researcher & Content Supervisor, Center for Bangladesh Genocide Research (CBGR).