From the recent comments of some BNP leaders I think they are taking
the wrong lesson from this election debacle. The people did not vote
for the AL because they started suddenly believing what the party
stands for or that the public have adopted an irrational hatred for
the BNP.
The BNP simply should not have participated in these elections in such
a unprepared and disorganized manner. What would have been the problem
waiting things out? The result could not have been worse than it is
now. Those who advised Khaleda Zia to succumb to pressure have a lot
to answer for but it seems that they are still at the helm of affairs
in the party. These pseudo intellectual types should be immediately
removed from their positions.
However the real reason for the scale of the defeat is something
entirely different and this the AL have realized. It is probably the
AL who are now more worried since the size of their majority puts an
immense responsibility and burden on their shoulders. Simply put the
people of this country are hungry and desperate. Hasina and her party
have made some wild promises and pledges which will be near impossible
to keep without great cost to the nation. If the AL are not able to
deliver within a reasonable time the mood will change very quickly and
retribution could be swift especially if prices continue to go up.
It was largely the female voters and new voters who swung this
election. It is this segment of the population who are most concerned
at the price increases since they have to balance their family
budgets. The BNP corruption and the war criminals issue certainly
played a part but this does not explain the size of the defeat.
The BNP should not make itself the target of the AL by being a
nuisance since public ire will be again directed at it and be even
more unforgiving. The public wants to see the AL deliver on its
promises. The AL will attempt to do so but will eventually make a mess
of things as they usually do. It is then the BNP should act and gain
popular support. Hunger and desperation is now the defining issues for
the public.
In the meantime the BNP should do away with its old advisors and
reorganize the party top to bottom. I had given Khaleda Zia a 10 point
program for the elections. Most of it concerned internal issues that
she can still be implemented. The other issues in the 10 points were
to seek forgiveness and to choose better candidates. The first she did
too late and the second was ignored probably due to time constraints.
Most people I have talked to have said that if madam had sought
forgiveness 1 month earlier then the people would have voted for her.
The problem of the choice of candidates was insurmountable and so the
BNP should have taken more time and not participated in the elections.
By participating the BNP have legitimized the elections process and
the results also. It is no point crying foul now. They will get little
sympathy from the country.
MBI Munshi
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