POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Sept 1,2021 : Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) a major oposition Leader M Nasser Rahman thinks that the Rohingya problem has become a source of frustration for Bangladesh due to the kowtowing foreign policy pursued by the government.
Back in 1978 the forced deportation of Rohingya’s also ensued during the rule of the martyred President Ziaur Rahman. But he handled the matter so deftly and with iron hand that then Burmese military dictator Gen. Ne Win kowtowed to Ziaur Rahman, came to Dhaka and signed a treaty not to deport Rohingyas ever again. But the present problem may become a more complicated matter for Bangladesh in the near future.
In an interview, he said the present illegally ruling, voterless Awami League government is very desperate to cling on to power by any means. Seeing the vast popularity and patriotism of Begum Khaleda Zia, the power holders are very scared of her.
He said that by not allowing the three-time former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to go abroad for better treatment, has only exposed the fear psychosis of power holders. The ruling party is trying to hold onto power by banning street processions and rallies by the BNP and by filing relentless false cases against the leaders and activists of the BNP.
The forceful gripping of power by the ruling party has rendered democracy as useless..The people of the country are repeatedly being deprived of their right to vote in a free and fair elections. Yet the ruling party shamelessly call themselves to be democrats.
Mr. Rahman said “the role of the opposition is to consolidate democracy under a democratic dispensation. There is no alternative to opposition in multi-party democratic system. But the opposition is completely muzzled and muffeled by the power holding party”.
Talking about his own party, Mr. Rahman said the BNP remains a strong political opposition party. It is the biggest political party in the country. In a free and fair elections under a neutral caretaker govt. the BNP will easily sweep 80% of the total votes and seats in Parliament without an iota of doubt.
If people’s right to vote is restored which is only possible under a Care-taker interim administration, then the BNP will surely return to power as the single majority party with three fourth majority. And this is what has made the ruling party very uncomfortable and uneasy and everyday two Ministers are blurping out false propaganda against the BNP like parrots.
Referring to relations with India, Mr. Rahman said, BNP wishes good relations with India but by safeguarding the national interests of Bangladesh.
BNP will not have relations with any country where that countries interests would seem more prominent at the expense of our country. India has put all it’s eggs in only one basket. It needs to put some eggs in the BNP basket as well to have good relations with the party which will be a confirmed winning party in a free and fair election any day elections may be held by a caretaker administration.
Besides India also needs to change its views and perceptions about our new top leader Mr. Tariq Rahman in order for us to take forward our relationship further.
M Nasser Rahman, is the son of three times former finance minister Mr. M Saifur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh’s open market economy and monetary policy who was also one of the ten official founding members of the BNP back in 1978.
He is not a central leader of the party but holds vast knowledge on national and international relations politics. He is the longest serving president (19+ years) of a district unit of the party.
Mr. Rahman said my father M. Saifur Rahman had a very good relationship with former Indian Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh. He had good relations with former President of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee as well. Both were Finance Ministers of India during different stints of Congress government.
With regard to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis in the country Mr. Rahman said the BNP, even though out of power for 14 years, have done a commendable job of distributing food and essentials to millions of people all over the country. “I have distributed food among several thousand of poor people from by own private funds to help the jobless destitutes. Such efforts are ongoing now and then whenever funds are collected.”
