The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr. M. Saidul Islam

The result of the just concluded general election is a puzzle for both the winners and losers. The unprecedented victory of 14-party alliance came through a humiliating defeat of the 4-party alliance. Despite Begum Khaleda Zia's complain of election engineering, this poll with about 80% turnout has widely been accepted as free and fair, and will remain as a model not only for Bangladesh but also for many nations of the world. People with new voter ID exercised their power.

The questions are: Why did people make this history? Why did 4-party alliance suddenly fall from "sublime to ridiculous"? Why and how did 14-party alliance get such a massive victory, which was even beyond their imagination? The simple answer is: it's a reflection of people's power.

Critical analysis shows that people did not vote for the 14-party alliance; they voted against massive corruptions and mismanagement of the BNP-led government. People were suffocated with sky-high price for daily necessities, massive corruptions, and various unaccepted mismanagements. The grievance against 4-party alliance mounted and finally reached to its extreme verge. Poverty-ridden farmers failed to get fertilizers even though they were ready to pay the high price. BNP cadres in this critical juncture took opportunities to become rich. Poor farmers were not only deprived, but also cheated and humiliated. Crisis of electricity added another fuel to their grievance. BNP-led alliance grossly failed to address these basis problems of people. People were thus waiting for a moment to punish the 4-party alliance.

The right moment was grabbed by the Awami League-led alliance. Shaikh Hasina promised to the nation that she would reduce the price of rice to 10 taka per KG, manage to provide free fertilizers to the farmers, and provide at least one employment in every family. One might have serious doubt whether these promises can actually be met in a country like Bangladesh; but he/she cannot dispute that these promises captured the imagination of millions of people. Therefore, this election was less about the fight for idealism (secularism vs. nationalism) but more about the question of survival, basic necessities, and punishing the corrupted folks.

Despite having many notable achievements of the BNP-led government, they failed to focus on those due to the massive crackdown by the CTG. During the time of election, BNP as a party was massively disorganized and was not ready at all to face the election. Most of its leaders were in jail, and the onus of campaign was largely shouldered by Begum Khaleda Zia herself. She tried her best, but the overall climate was not in her favour. The news of her two sons' massive corruptions just few days before the election posed another massive blow in her campaign. The 14-party alliance got another momentum, and with the help of media they used it massively and perfectly.

For BNP and its alliance, the time has come to do self-assessment as to why this powerful alliance is what it is today. One key lesson is that people won't forgive if any alliance bluffs with them. The 14-party alliance should be proud of its achievement, but should not be arrogant. The greatest challenge it to meet the promises it made; and if it fails, it has to embrace the same doom as 4-party alliance has embrace today. Because, people has power.

( The author is a Visiting Assistant Professor (Sociology) in The College of William and Mary (University), Virginia, USA.)