Awami League seniors in hiding track Tarique Rahman’s return

Kolkata: While the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, returned to Bangladesh after 17 years amid a massive show of BNP's strength in Dhaka on Thursday, Awami leaders in exile felt that Rahman's return would only give "political legitimacy" to the foreign powers trying to control the country's polity. They also hoped that Rahman, who is enjoying a "vibe and hype" now, would try to reconcile Bangladesh's strained relationship with India during the regime of the interim govt in the country.Rahman, during his speech at Purbachal in Dhaka, pledged for a Bangladesh that is safe for every community — Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. Awami League leaders, who have already started noticing a shift from his earlier hardline stance, pointed out how he has been omitting oft-quoted BNP slogans reminding of Pakistan's influence. "He is not saying the Bangladesh Zindabad slogan — a replica of Pakistan Zindabad — as he knows that it has already become stigmatized," said an Awami League neta.
While the BNP is seen as the frontrunner in the upcoming election, Rahman is expected to assume the top political role in the country. "It is not yet certain if there will be a free and fair poll in Bangladesh. We are not sure if they are serious about holding an election in Feb or are trying to give it a political flavour. Moreover, the country is being run by an interim govt which will finally decide on such issues," said Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, former education minister of Bangladesh.According to Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury, member of Parliament from Feni district, the last date for submission of nomination papers has been scheduled on Dec 29, and there is no effort to include the Awami League in the electoral process. "How can the country have a free and fair election in the absence of the Awami League? In such a scenario, there can only be a transfer of power. It is quite evident that Jamaat E Islami and the National Citizen Party are not in favour of holding the election," said Chowdhury."When Sheikh Hasina was the prime minister, BNP participated in the election in 2014 and 2018. They abstained from the polls in 2024. But the Awami League never restrained them," said a senior AL neta.Awami League netas on Thursday felt that Rahman would have to "put a leash on anarchic forces" while changing the anti-India rhetoric soon. "People in Bangladesh are not anti-India. It is a gimmick from the political forces that do not have any long-term perspective. Rahman will have to balance Bangladesh's relations with neighbours," said Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury.

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