Messi couldn't do it alone, can Sheikh Hasina do it?

Dilip Barua is a lucky politician. Even if he does leftist politics, he moves around power. When the BNP-Jamaat alliance was in power, he visited China as a travel companion of the then Prime Minister Begum Zia. When the Awami League government was formed in 2009, he was given the responsibility of Ministry of Industries. The technocrat served as minister for five years. He is the everything of his communist party. No staff, no seats, yet he had the rare fortune of becoming a minister. Since the 2018 elections, the Awami League has followed the policy of walking alone. Therefore, the leftist party leader is alone. Worn out and abandoned. Anyone who is in such trouble should be upset. So was Dilip Barua. That's why he gave an angry interview to BBC. In that interview, he said, "Considering the national and international situation, there are many limitations to have fair elections in Bangladesh. There may be no election at all". Barua is a veteran politician. In an interview with the BBC, he spoke about his disdain for the Awami League government, just like the apprehension he spoke about the election, it cannot be dismissed. Rather, he spoke frankly and openly about the fear of the future in the politics of Bangladesh.  

The twelfth national parliament election in Bangladesh is scheduled to be held in January 2024. A year and two months before the election, the political arena in the country is slowly heating up. Western countries, including the United States, are openly talking about the election. The civil society is sleepless worring about the election. The Election Commission has announced that they are determined to prevent elections like Gaibandha. In everyone's initiatives, arrangements, anxiety and speech, it seems that the main goal of a collective power is to thwart the next election, not to hold a fair election. The main and infallible weapon to oust the Awami League government is just not to allow the election to take place. Even some of the ruling parties are active so that the next parliamentary elections do not take place. Even in the administration, the evil power of disrupting the elections has spread. For the sake of argument if we assume that eventually the election was not held, then what will happen? According to the constitution of Bangladesh, national parliament elections are supposed to be held every five years. It is a constitutional obligation. If this election is not held, a constitutional vacuum will be created in the country. Unconstitutional forces will get a chance to come to power. The constitution will be torn apart again. An undemocratic and unelected government will come to power. Is there a concerted effort to create such a situation? Is there another one-eleven in progress in the country?

Awami League has won all the last three elections. Among them, the 2008 election is one of the best elections in the history of Bangladesh. In the 2014 elections, BNP boycotted the elections demanding a non-partisan caretaker government. More than half of the constituencies were elected as members of parliament without a vote. The Jatiya Party partially participated in those elections. But BNP could not prevent that election. A total of four elections were held in Bangladesh without the participation of major parties like in 2014. BNP boycotted the May 7, 1986 elections. Awami League participated in that election. In the face of certain defeat, the ruling Jatiya Party leader Ershad, a military hero, stopped announcing the election results. Later, he fabricated results and then broadcasted that on radio and television. That election is known as media cue election. The life of the parliament formed through the election of 86 was only one and a half years. The first session of that Parliament was held on July 10. But on December 6, 1987, the President dissolved Parliament in the face of intense opposition. Neither Awami League nor BNP took part in the parliamentary elections of March 3, 1988. A coalition of opposition parties led by A. S. M. Abdur Rab and the Freedom Party, the fascist party of the self-confessed murderers of the Father of the Nation, took part in that election. There was no voting in that election. Mock results are declared. The first session of the Parliament was held on 25 April 1988. On December 6, 1990, this parliament was abolished by the fall of Ershad. Another election was held on 15 February 1996 without the participation of all major political parties. In the wake of unprecedented rigging in the Magura, Mirpur by-elections, the Awami League started a movement demanding a non-partisan, neutral caretaker government. At that time, BNP said 'No one is neutral except madmen and goats.' Begum Zia remained steadfast in her election decision despite the intense mass agitation. Almost all political parties of the country including Awami League, Jatiya Party, Jamaat boycotted that election. Apart from BNP, Freedom Party, a group of self-confessed murderers, took part in that election. In the face of intense mass agitation, there was actually no vote on February 15, 1996. 49 candidates of BNP were elected unopposed in the election. Without a vote, the commission announced a shocking result, dividing the seats between the BNP and the Freedom Party. The commission took 5 days to do this. The Parliament was convened on the night of March 19 by publishing a gazette notification. The lifespan of this parliament was only 7 days (4 working days). This parliament was dissolved by passing the non-partisan Caretaker Government Bill. One such concept that the parliament cannot complete its term without the participation of any major political party was established in the politics of Bangladesh. This was the main source of motivation for BNP's election boycott in 2014. Not only BNP but also most of the leaders and candidates of Awami League thought that this election is an emergency measure. Another fresh election will be held soon. That is why Awami League candidates tend to win without votes. Most of the Awami League candidates refrain from campaigning and spending money. Attempts are made to dismiss the opponent with a small amount of money. In some places, the opposition was removed from the election by using the administration and threatening. As a result, there was no voting in more than 150 constituencies. Voters were not enthusiastic even in the polling places. A strange thing happened after that election. The parliament formed on January 5, 2014 completed its term. The reason for this was the negative politics of BNP. The people of this country expressed mistrust against BNP's incendiary and destructive politics by accepting that election. However, there was another thing behind it. Good governance and development by the Awami League from 2009 to 2013. People's lives were getting easier. Trade was expanding. People didn't agree to change that. Didn't want to jump into the sea of uncertainty. The 2018 election was a conspiracy to tarnish the Awami League. Even if that election was the best fair election in the world, Awami League would have won. BNP participated unconditionally in the 2018 elections. to protect the existence of the party. Accepting Dr Kamal Hossain as the leader, BNP participated in the election knowing the sure defeat. But some overzealous sycophants strangled the prospect of a fair election under a party government. Those who did this in that election, they are actually the enemy of democracy. If that election was good, this crisis would not have happened today. Western countries would not have had the opportunity to talk about elections like this. Now BNP has got an opportunity. They want to take Bangladesh in an unconstitutional tunnel in the name of boycotting elections. Now the real game of politics is the fight to not hold the election. Here the field fight is only a show. The real game is behind the scenes. Whereas Awami League is always clumsy and immature. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader is now branding the slogan 'Khela Hobe' every day. Invented by Shamim Osman, marketed by Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal, what game is the general secretary of Awami League talking about by saying this much-talked-about slogan repeatedly? Is he shooting at the wrong target? Because this time the game is not a competition of who will win the election but a game of no election. The game of protecting the constitution. Who will win this game?

Now the whole country is trembling with World Cup fever. Arguments on who will win the world cup? Who is a better team? Brazil or Argentina? Just as sport is uncertain, so is politics. On Tuesday, after a meeting and came to the office around four in the afternoon. As soon as I entered the office, I saw a commotion. Then I learned it was about Argentina-Saudi Arabia match. That's why my colleagues were so excited. Justin, Rifat and others were watching the game wearing Argentina jerseys. The gap between Argentina and Saudi Arabia is huge. Argentina's football heritage is amazing. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia's big achievement is to play in the World Cup finals. No one had any doubt that Argentina was going to win. The thing to be seen was how many goals Argentina scores. Lionel Messi is one of the best players in the world after Pele and Maradona. A living legend of football. Apart from the World Cup trophy, there is no other achievement in football that Messi has not achieved. Many enlightened sports critics say that Argentina should win the World Cup trophy for Messi. If Messi does not win a World Cup, it will be a misfortune for football. Lionel Messi's Argentina went undefeated in 36 consecutive matches before coming to the World Cup. Therefore, Argentina has come to Qatar on a mission to win the World Cup for the third time. After the start of the game, it seemed that the world's third football power would easily win against Saudi Arabia. Within 10 minutes after the start of the game Messi scored and made a a unique record.  The football wizard entered the elite club having scored in four consecutive World Cups. But who knew then that many surprises were yet to come. Just 5 minutes of the second half changed everything for Messi's Argentina. Saudi Arabia won by creating one of the great upsets in the history of World Cup football. In the first match, all the Argentinian players, except Lionel Messi, looked dull and lifeless. Messi is lonely. His teammates are not supporting him. This game made one thing clear, that a superhero cannot bring victroy alone. A coordinated team work and everyone’s contribution is required. Just like sports, politics also requires team work. A leader needs trusted, tested, competent allies. It requires compromise, understanding and coordination. After watching the Argentina-Saudi Arabia game, the picture of Bangladesh politics appeared in my mind. Messi was alone in that game. He was not getting enough support by his teammates. Similarly, I think that Sheikh Hasina is alone in the politics of Bangladesh. There are no qualified people to help her in the government or in the party. Awami League government is running the country for three consecutive terms. In 14 years Bangladesh has reached a unique height and this achievement belongs to only one person. That is Sheikh Hasina. She is alone taking the country forward. There were also a few visible allies in the first and second terms. But coming to the third term, it seems that Sheikh Hasina is fighting alone.

The second most important person in a government after the Prime Minister is the Finance Minister. Boris Johnson appointed him (Chancellor of the Exchequer) as Finance Minister. As Finance Minister, he was widely praised for his innovative initiatives during the Corona period. In an interview with the BBC at the time, Rishi said, "The most sleepless, anxious and unhappy person in the world is the finance minister of a country." Jamie Hunt is the new finance minister in the Rishi government. On Tuesday, he said in an interview with the Guardian, "No finance minister in this world has a chance to breathe." Joe Biden has created a surprise by being elected as US President. Appointed Janet Yellen as Finance Minister (Secretary of Treasury). She is the first woman finance minister in US history. The United States has recently been plagued by severe economic crisis and inflationary pressures. In an interview with the Washington Post, Janet Yellen said, "This responsibility is such that you can't think about yourself for a moment." This is the situation of the finance ministers around the world. But things are quite different in our country. Receving any news from the finance minister is a big deal now a days. A 'missing notice' can be issued for him at any time. He has no role in overcoming the crisis. He does not even know why he is the finance minister. Commerce Minister has no control over the market. His words carry no weight and value. There is a lot of discussion within the Awami League about how big a burden the Minister of State for Power is for the government. The railway minister has made his own constituency the headquarters of the railways. Despite his bride's interference in ministry work, he refuses to consider it a breach of oath. He did not realize the need for resignation. The foreign minister is now teaching journalism. Bangladesh have never had such a talkative foreign minister. Messi lost against Saudi Arabia. With all these players (ministers), will Sheikh Hasina be able to defeat the 'election boycott' conspiracy? What will these ministers do in a bigger crisis? Some of the ministers (not all) are causing more trouble to the government. The government is getting discredited because of some people. Sheikh Hasina knows more than what we know about the qualifications and limitations of the ministers. She knows that the job of the ministers is now to cut the ribbon, sit on the decorate seat and give speech as the chief guest at various events. Getting the job done by the bureaucrats. If the house helper once understands that the people of the house are helpless without him, he will definitely take advantage of it. Their demand continues to grow every day. When the bureaucrats realized that the ministers were 'incompitent' (borrowing the language of late Suranjit Sen Gupta), they started to increase the list of demands every day. They are building a wall between the government and the people. There is a fundamental difference between politics and sports. In football or cricket, the fans have no role except to clap their hands or shout loudly. Fans can't make their team win. But in the game of politics, supporters are real. Supporters are the power. Only the supports came make the team win. And to create supporters requires organization and good work. Supports increase when the organization is strong. The party becomes popular. And if there is no organization, even great leaders also disappear. The most recent example of this is the recent defeat of Mahathir Mohamad, the founder of modern Malaysia, in the Malaysian elections. Mahathir was defeated for the first time in his 53-year political career. Because he had no organization. This 92-year-old veteran politician could not build the new political party properly. Awami League is still surviving, because of the organization of the grassroots. But now looking at the district and upazila mass gathering, does it seem that the organization of Awami League is in order? Or the opportunists have taken over the Awami League. There is no triumph of youth in the organization. Those controversial old faces are coming back again and again. Will this organization be able to support Sheikh Hasina in the electoral game? This game is going to be hard. This game will not be like 2014 or 2018. In the game of the field and the game of politics, one thing is exactly the same. Miracles. Many legends single-handedly changed the fortunes of the game. For example, Maradona in the 1986 World Cup. Even in politics sometimes great men emerge. The people are excited at the tilt of his finger. All conspiracies are thwarted. For example, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib. Sheikh Hasina has his blood in her veins. Whenever there is a disaster, whenever there is darkness covered with black clouds, Sheikh Hasina has come forward as a beacon. Dealt with the crisis alone. Maybe this is her strategy. She saw 1975, 2001 and 21 August of 2004. Saw one-eleven. May be this is why she wants to take the risk alone. The word "faith" disappeared from her mind. She alone wants to win Bangladesh and its people. Messi couldn't do it alone, can Sheikh Hasina do it?