Tarique Rahman: A Real Leader with Extensive Vision

Mohammad Zainal Abedin

Mohammad Zainal Abedin   

Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of BNP has stressed the need to collectively rebuild and ensure the safety and dignity for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation or religious identity or ethnicity.

He has called for national unity among all the people irrespective of their religious belief and ethnicity who live within its geographical territory. 

Earlier, on the anniversary of the mass uprising Tarique Rahman said, he expressed deep respect and gratitude to all the martyrs, the oppressed students, people, especially the political activists, workers; as a result of whose hard work, today we have got a new potential environment in Bangladesh. He also expressed his deep gratitude to all those who played an important role in the great liberation war of 1971 and glorified our national identity and dignity by establishing the state of Bangladesh. “In this regard, I also express my gratitude to those who have played a struggling role in the political movement against dictatorship and fascism during last 17years” he added. Tarique Rahman during his speech attached great importance to national unity. He also mentioned the same term ‘unity’ earlier on other occasions.

This term (unity) reminds us an old proverb: united we stand and divide us fall. The Bengali speaking people of this part of the world (current Bangladesh) experienced bitter tragedy of disunity and its horrific consequences.

It (our history) shows when we were not united, we faced disastrous consequences. Due to internal conspiracy and disunity, the British traders intruded during the time of our forefathers in the 18th century that led to the fateful War of Plassey in 1757.

The British East India Company had only 3,000 (most of whom were local recruits), while Nawab Siraj-ud Duallah over 50,000. Historians recorded many reasons for the defeat of Siraj-Ud-Duallah. Among all of his advisors only one named Mir Jaffar Ali Khan (Shia) was Muslim. He was the husband of Siraj-Ud-Duallah’s Aunt Ghosheti Begum (eldest sister of Siraj-Ud-Duallah’s mother). There were Hindus who secretly collaborated the East Company Headquarters in Kolkata and planned how to ensure his defeat, which consequently encaged us under the chain of the British Imperial cage for 190 years. Mohan Lal, a junior Hindu commander was faithful to Siraj-Ud-Duallah and he was killed in the battle field. Shedding blood and sacrificing innumerous lives though we ousted the British in 1947 and became independent as a part of Pakistan. We had to fight again in 1971 to liberate East Pakistan and create a new country named Bangladesh.  Unfortunately, the country that helped us our friend in 1971 emerged as an expansionist and an exploiter. It installed its trusted agent Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh which indiscriminately imprisoned, tortured and killed innumerous innocent people of Bangladesh.

Our heroic people again became united and ousted autocrat Sheikh Hasina, which paved a new horizon to build a democratic self-reliant prosperous Bangladesh. We were hopeful that our unity will persist for a longtime to build a peaceful country. But frustratingly a clique’s lust for power cracked our unity and according media reports and the opinion of the analysts India clandestinely fuels the group. 

This is a danger signal for Bangladesh. Bangladeshis in general are very cautious and careful about their independence and sovereignty. They may favour such a leadership to safeguard its national interest and its independence and sovereignty that needs  strong unity.  But such unity became a far cry as Jamaat-i-Islami initially and abruptly named the 300 candidates and finally formed an alliance for election keeping BNP out. Jamaat even denied sitting with BNP for any negotiation for making joint nominations.  It was disclosed in the media that Jamaat had secret understanding her when Sheikh Hasina was in power. It is also disclosed Awami League will entirely vote for Jamaat as Awami cannot run in the election.

 All these happenings have now made it clear that BNP is the lone patriotic party that stands for Bangladesh its independence and sovereignty. It is also proved that Tarique Rahman most frequently mentions “Bangladesh first”, and “BNP does not have any power outside Bangladesh”. By hobnobbing with India, Jamaat very nicely proved once again Tarique Rahman will never sell out Bangladesh to any country. May Bangladesh live long. 

January 1, 2026

(Mohammad Zainal Abedin, Freedom Fighter `71, journalist & researcher, Lansdale, PA, USA.)