Jalil's trump card and Fakhrul's fall of government after Eid

Today is April 30. A popular date in the political arena of Bangladesh. On this day 2004 the then General Secretary of Awami League Abdul Jalil officially declared this day as the day of fall of the government. It is inconceivable to throw away a government by announcing days and dates. It is inconceivable for a government to be thrown away with a few days and dates. But the Awami League general secretary did that unimaginable thing. At a press conference in early April, Abdul Jalil announced that the BNP-Jamaat coalition government would fall by April 30. Abdul Jalil said that he has a trump card which will bring down the government. There were various discussions in the political arena about the Trump card of Jalil. But the Awami League leaders and workers did not like the announcement of the general secretary of the party. Following the trump card theory of the Awami League General Secretary, the Awami League announced various programs aimed at toppling the BNP-Jamaat government. A two-day strike was called on April 7 and 8, 2004. On 15th April, people observed 'People's Distrust Human Wall' program in many districts of the country.  On April 25, members of the opposition handed over a memorandum to the Speaker to dissolve the parliament. On the same day, the Awami League started a motion of no-confidence. Two days before April 30, the Awami League observed a two-day strike from April 28. But on April 30, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government remained in power. On that day no major political unrest was observed in Dhaka or anywhere in the country. Life was normal. In the afternoon, the BNP held a press conference and asked the Awami League to apologize to the nation.

The government did not fall on April 30. On this pretext, the BNP increased the level of torture on the Awami League. Panicked by the Trump card, the BNP started mass arrests of Awami League leaders and activists. Awami League leaders and activists were attacked by the police all over the country. On 6 April, police fired indiscriminately at an Awami League procession in Rajshahi. 20 leaders and activists were shot. Along with the police, Chhatra Dal and Juba Dal started rioting all over the country. On 18 April, Chhatra Dal cadres attacked the BCL's human chain program in Bogra. More than 50 workers were injured. Chhatra Dal and Juba Dal undertook a program to siege 'Sudha Sadan' the residence of the then Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina. But there was a strong negative reaction among the people about this program. The BNP was forced to withdraw the program in the face of strong public objections. The main thing is, after the announcement of Abdul Jalil's Trump card, there was a slight tension in politics. But the fall of the government is far from over, no discomfort has been created for the government. Awami League is a political party that grew up dealing with movements. The leaders and workers of this party have had to endure unbearable torture at different times to realize the rights of the people. Through struggle the Awami League has led the liberation of the Bengali nation. Established the state Bangladesh. How come a political party that grew out of movements make such a hasty announcement in 2004? And give birth to a joke in the politics of Bangladesh?

Abdul Jalil was a very gentle politician. Soon after the 2001 elections, BNP-Jamaat riots started across the country. Awami League workers, the minority community loses everything in an instant. Their houses were set on fire. The Awami League leaders and activists were brutally tortured all over the country. The BNP-Jamaat alliance government led by Begum Zia was sworn in on October 10. After that the BNP leaders started talking without any restraint. "The Awami League will be wiped out." "The Awami League will not be able to come to power in one hundred years." People of the country started getting victims of noise pollution due to the tyranny of words by the BNP leaders. Homeless Awami League leaders and activists took shelter in the party office. 23 Bangabandhu Avenue turned into a refugee camp. After '75, the Awami League faced another crisis. To overcome this crisis, the Awami League formed a party council in December 2002. Through this council, Abdul Jalil was given the responsibility of general secretary. Abdul Jalil took charge of the second important position of the party in difficult times under adverse circumstances. The terrible situation the Awami League was then cannot be imagined now. Those who have become Awami League in the last 10-12 years, will never know about the demonic oppression of BNP-Jamaat that time. In such a hostile environment, Abdul Jalil became the general secretary of the party. Abdul Jalil was a very hardworking man. And she was loyal to Sheikh Hasina. But how did he predict like an astrologer that he would overthrow the government on April 30? It is a wonder in politics. Besides being the general secretary of Awami League, he was also the chairman of Mercantile Bank. He had a well-arranged room in Motijheel. He stayed there till noon. Leaders and workers used to giggle. Jalil always cooperated with the upset leaders and workers.

I asked him more than once, how did he give the April 30 ultimatum? What is a trump card? He often claimed that April 30 was the creation of the media. The media made him say that. I have met and talked with him at various times till One-Eleven. Every time I talked to him about April 30 and Trump card. Sporadicly, he said something suggestive about it. Some important leaders of Awami League at that time also knew something about Trump card. If all their information is added, the matter would be as follows - Kazi Faruk Ahmed of Proshika was behind it. Proshika then distributed micro loans to large NGOs. They had networks and cadres all over the country. The trump card had two parts. First, millions of Proshika workers from all over the country will come to Dhaka and take up positions. You will sit where you are. The position will remain until the fall of the government. The second part was the motion of no confidence in Parliament. The majority of BNP MPs will bring a no-confidence motion against Begum Khaleda Zia. That's why we talked to them. The late Abu Hena was one of the members of parliament who initially agreed to the motion of no-confidence. Abu Hena said in a coffee chat one day later that it was not a serious plan. I was told to do it. I did not agree nor did I disagree. However, Proshika's employees did not manage to occupy the roads in the end. No sign of them was found on April 30. And even the BNP MPs could not show the heroism of the rebellion in front of Begum Zia. In the end, Abdul Jalil's trump card turned into a political joke. But if it had succeeded, the political consequences of Abdul Jalil might have been different. 

Politicians get reckless not only when they are in power but also when they are in the opposition. They do not consider anything. Reality, context, preparation nothing. A party wants to perpetuate such power while it is in power. They think this is life and they will never be deposed again. Police, bureaucrats, businessmen, teachers all flatter those in power. Flatterers giggle like bees. Those in power are surrounded in such a way that they do not even see their own mistakes. If you are in power, you have everything. And there is nothing if not in power. Police beat them when they are not in power. The bureaucrats ignore them. Traders avoid them. That is why a party out of power always suffocates. Gets illusions even by someone’s little assurance. They rejoice even in the minor failures of the government. They dream of the fall of government. That is why politicians like Jalil were also deceived. He did not realize that NGO workers could not be as bold, omnipotent, and fearless as political activists. The leadership structure of the major political parties in Bangladesh is such that criticizing the main leader is a crime like 'Kabira Gunah'. There is no forgiveness for that crime. In such a culture, it is unrealistic for BNP MPs to vote on a motion of no-confidence against Begum Zia. It’s unreal. 

Being in power does not only confuse those in power. Opposition parties also have a fading illusion. People do not talk delusions just by being overwhelmed by the happiness of power. Politicians also delve into the pain and suffering of powerlessness. As Abdul Jalil said in 2004. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is now the secretary general of BNP. Mirza Fakhrul has now surpassed Abdul Jalil's trump card in incoherent speech. Lately he has been talking in such a way that the government will fall tomorrow. Listening to him, sometimes it seems that he is not form this planet. He has now surpassed even Abdul Jalil in political jokes. The BNP secretary general roars every time in Ramadan. Announces intense movement after Eid. This time also there is no exception. He says the fall of the government is inevitable. A few days ago, he said, "The government is groundless." I saw in the newspaper that day that Mirza Fakhrul had said, "The footsteps of the fall of this government are being heard." On Tuesday, in Thakurgaon he said, "Strict program will be given in future. If necessary, a strike will be called. Now it is obvious that 'Mirza Fakhrul is suffering from depression due to powerlessness.

The Awami League has been running the country for more than 13 consecutive years. The Awami League has successes and failures. There is achievement, there is abandonment. The Awami League is praised for many good deeds. Again condemned for a lot of work. But what has the BNP done as an opposition party in the last 13 years? Both the ruling and opposition parties are important in building a democratic state. Democracy is not complete without a responsible opposition. A few days ago, the Prime Minister expressed her frustration in this regard. The reaction of the BNP secretary general after this statement of the Prime Minister is quite funny. He said, "Soon the wish of the Prime Minister will be fulfilled. He will see a strong opposition party." Does Mirza Fakhrul wants to stay in the opposition then? Now he is really weak as an opposition party. He says he will soon make the BNP a strong opposition party. Is there any method of fattening in politics like cows and goats that Mirza Fakhrul will apply in BNP? Just as cows are made fat overnight before sacrifice in a special process, will the BNP secretary general make the BNP strong like that? Just as fish cannot survive without water, the BNP, which was born in the womb of power, has been dying for staying out of power for so long. And the desperate secretary general of the dying party has therefore forgotten the basic grammar of politics. The lifeblood of a political party is its staff, organization and committee and this is not possible in one day. It develops step by step. But the restless Mirza Fakhrul wants to strengthen the organization overnight. Does he also have a trump card? From Abdul Jalil to Mirza Fakhrul. 2004 to 2022. Both are restless and walked on the wrong path. Politics is the reality of the most uncertainty. Like Abdul Jalil could not do anything to the BNP by applying a special dose (trump card) for one month. He got played by himself. Similarly, Mirza Fakhrul's 'movement for the fall of the government after Eid' has now become a joke. He probably doesn’t believe that statement either. 

We often say that power is not permanent. The Awami League has been in power for three terms. This does not mean that it will be in power forever. There is no denying it. It is also true that there is no shortcut to removing a government in a democratic way. Going to a foreign embassy and complaining does not bring down a government. Criticism does not bring down the government. Conspiracies against the government sitting on another country do not bring down the government. Making ugly lies against the state and the government through social media does not bring down the government. The BNP and the opposition often say that this government has no confidence in the people. This government does not belong to the people. On Wednesday, the BNP secretary general said, "the government has taken a stand against the people." That's good. Does the BNP or the opposition party trust the people? Do they believe in the power of the people? Opposition parties that believe in the power of the people will never conspire. They will never swear in foreign embassies. Will never complain in foreign countries. They will present allegations against the government to the people. Will organize the people. Give justice to the people. The people will give their verdict through voting. Aren’t the opposition party also detached? Isn't this an omen for politics? Those who are saying that this government is not for the people, does they ever think how much this opposition party belongs to the people?