It is inexplicable that the Awami League remains oblivious to the predicament of the political unrest in the country. Even more so, they refuse to engage in talks with the opposition party, BNP. Instead, AL has taken to blaming BNP for orchestrating international intervention. This has led both the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and various heads of state to reach out to Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to encourage them to engage in dialogue to end the political deadlock. While Khaleda Zia has repeatedly made overtures in an attempt to start a discussion, Sheikh Hasina has vehemently refused to cooperate. And now AL stalwart Tofail Ahmed has stated that he sees no reason to engage in talks, stating, “We are not talking about any dialogue. Rather, it is the foreigners who are talking about this.”
As elected leaders in an undemocratic election, Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League nevertheless have a responsibility to the citizens to do what is in the best interest of the country and its people. Unfortunately, AL seems to operate on a different wavelength – prioritizing Awami League first, and Bangladesh second – if at all.
In fact, before the AL’s ‘re-election’, senior AL leader and former Home Minister Mohammad Nasim urged the United Nations not to intervene in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. He claimed, “There is no chaos in Bangladesh. The people of the country live in peace and prosperity here.” Nasim even had the audacity to tell the United Nations (UN) that it should go to Egypt instead of Bangladesh to end its prevailing political crisis! His previous statement remarking on peace and prosperity in Bangladesh is reflective of just how out of touch the current government is with the needs of the people and the on-the-ground reality. For what kind of peace exists when the government routinely persecutes opposition members, and arrests critics? What kind of prosperity exists when the majority of Bangladesh’s population live at or below the poverty line? What kind of security does the Bangladeshi government offer when it allows rioters to destroy Hindu and Buddhist temples, homes and historic holy sites?
Such is the state of denial amongst the ruling regime. The Awami League does not seem to understand even the most basic needs of the people which must be met to guarantee the path to peace and prosperity. It is unfortunately not surprising then, that they do not understand the dire necessity of engaging in dialogue to resolve the political deadlock.
Ironically, while the AL recoils on any talks with BNP, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina previously communicated to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that the government always attaches great importance to dialogue for resolving any issue. Sheikh Hasina continues to sing the song of democracy and open communication while the nation is still struggling to deal with the deadlock between the two opposition parties. AL must realize that it is counterproductive and incendiary to blame BNP for inviting international mediation. In order to bring any semblance of peace and prosperity to Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has to take the first step in re-evaluating her agenda to prioritize the needs of her people and her country before all else.
