Half-educated leadership poses danger to Party and the Country

Half-educated people pose a greater threat to the well-being of a country compared to the uneducated or illiterate. An uneducated person is aware of their limitations, leading them to be receptive to the counsel of others. They give due importance to the advice offered by educated people and refrain from imposing their decisions on others. In contrast, semi-educated individuals lack an awareness of their limitations. They perceive themselves as superior, exhibiting disrespect towards wise individuals. Despite their limited knowledge, they exude immense confidence and consider themselves scholars. Unfortunately, these half-educated individuals disregard valuable advice from others, potentially placing themselves, their families, society, and the state in significant crises.

These thoughts crossed my mind after watching the video message from Tarique Zia, the current acting chairman of BNP who is a fugitive in London. Begum Zia's educational qualifications are widely known, and she was well aware of her own limitations. Consequently, she maintained a reserved demeanor, speaking less and listening more. While leading the party, she relied on the advice of others and served as the Prime Minister for two terms. During cabinet or crucial party meetings, she would attentively listen with her hand on her cheek, ultimately making decisions based on her own thoughts. This approach played a key role in strengthening BNP after the passing of Zia. Under her leadership, the party also formed the government twice. Unfortunately, Begum Zia's misfortune lies in the fact that neither of her two sons learned to embody true humanity. I do not want to discuss Arafat Rahman Coco's education. It's neither dignified nor worthwhile. However, Begum Zia's elder son, Tarique Zia, has actually established himself as a 'semi-educated' person. Tarique Zia's father, Ziaur Rahman, was also perplexed about him. It is unclear where and what education he pursued – a mysterious aspect. However, personally, I believe that an individually educated person tends to be much brighter and enlightened than someone with formal education. Globally, there are many eminent personalities who are self-taught and revered. From Rabindranath Tagore to Mahatma Gandhi, and from Bill Gates to Steve Jobs, each has learned from life itself. But Tarique Zia has not chosen that path. Instead, he has sought to establish himself as a semi-educated politician through practices like corruption, nepotism, and oppression. People acquire the teachings of power, ethics, and morality from their families. I do not know what Tarique Zia has learned from his family, but as a politician, he has largely established himself as a symbol of corruption and terrorism. Tarique Zia has created a new dimension in politics by rejecting the eternal truths of politics.

I understand politics as working for the welfare of the people, serving humanity, and sacrificing for the well-being of the people. It involves showing the right path for the country and its citizens. However, Tarique Zia, since the year 2001, has given a new meaning to politics, considering it as a 'shortcut' to becoming rich. Tarique Zia used politics to build the 'Hawa Bhaban' and employed a commission-based approach in everything, from business to jobs, from tenders to ministerial positions. He created a state for Bangladesh where everything revolved around money. Instead of establishing a positive example in politics, he used it to ruin everything. Tarique devised the strategy of increasing the Chief Justice's age and appointing him as the head of the caretaker government to ensure the BNP's continued grip on power. The idea of appointing a loyal individual as the head of the army, to control the army by disregarding seven officers, is the brainchild of Tarique Zia. Numerous examples like these can be cited. He takes politics on a terrifying path. All these are old stories. Due to Tarek's irresponsible actions the country faced one-eleven leading to Tarique's subsequent arrest. At one point, Tarek was granted bail in a compromise with the BNP. He went to London with a pledge not to do politics. I have seen in the lives of many people that challenging circumstances have transformed their lives. Such voluntary exile has provided many with the opportunity to purify themselves. Many have discovered themselves. I thought that by going to London, Tarek would have the opportunity for self-purification, to see himself in the mirror. He will study, rebuild himself anew. However, the psychological world of some people is so stubborn that they do not change; rather, they become even more violent, heinous, and terrifying. Tarique is like them. Despite spending 17 years in London, Tarique has not changed; rather, he has become more distant. The mainstream of politics and Tarique ‘s philosophy is contradictory and completely counter-intuitive. In politics, there is no shortcut. Politics is like a constantly flowing river. However, Tarique's politics is about becoming a big shot through shortcuts or injuring the opposition, forcefully occupying power through shortcuts. To become a big shot through shortcuts, Tarique had built the Hawa Bhaban. To injure the opposition through shortcuts, Tarique orchestrated the grenade attack on August 21. Now, to forcibly seize power through shortcuts, Tarique is attacking innocent people on the moving train, setting fire to buses. 

If Tarique were uneducated, the country wouldn't face so many problems. BNP wouldn't engage in such destructive politics if Tarique went to the polls. If Tarique were well-educated, he might have repented and quit politics by the age of 18. However, Tarique is semi-educated. That's why he considers himself a seasoned player in the field of politics. He disrespects senior leaders and lacks the minimum etiquette towards senior individuals. Despite being semi-educated, Tarique holds a key role in the party. There are no central committee meetings in the party, and the standing committee is powerless. In BNP, those associated with Tarique only care about their personal interests. BNP is now under the control of a feudal system, with semi-educated feudal lords dominating the party. The recent examples of BNP's election boycott and the non-cooperation movement demonstrate the dangers posed by the semi-educated feudal lords within the party.

The latest decision of the BNP was the announcement of non-cooperation movement. The best example of how semi-educated people can become great experts in violence is the video message of the BNP's incumbent chairman last Wednesday. In a country where the opposition cannot organize a proper strike, the call for non-cooperation movement sounds like a farce. In that video statement, what Tarek said is essentially treason. Can a responsible person make such an irresponsible announcement? After watching the video message for more than 10 minutes, I feel like he is governing the people, intimidating them. The stench of arrogance in the form of words is evident.

Does Tarek know what non-cooperation movement means? I humbly ask this question to BNP leaders and workers. With utmost humility, I would like to pose this question to the leaders and workers of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). In recent times, it has become evident from video messages and similar conversations that Tarique Zia's actions are detrimental to his family, party, and the country. His mother, Begum Zia, is not safe under Tar Tarique eq Zia's influence. For the consequences of Begum Zia's predicament, there is only one person responsible - her son Tarique Zia. The current unfortunate state of the BNP is solely attributed to Tarique Zia. Bangladesh is not secure under Tarique's influence. If someday this human-shaped violent threat finds an opportunity, it will wreak havoc on the country. Therefore, say ‘NO’ to half-educated Tarique Zia

 

Syed Borhan Kabir, Executive Director, Poriprekkhit

Email: poriprekkhit@yahoo.com