The AL national council held a few surprises for party loyalists
The Awami League held its national council and announced a series of new names to bring in young leadership, but despite demands to bring in grand-children of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the party mantle, it did not happen.
New party Secretary General Obadiul Quader is the right choice, as he is active, committed, and a man of humour, as far as his comments are concerned.
I wish him good luck in his challenge to infuse energy into the party and win the 2019 general elections.
I was told by many that Sheikh Hasina would bring in Bangabandhu’s grand-children into the party in some capacity or the other.
Yes, that is natural and was expected.
What was not expected was that they would be left out totally with gracious explanation by the prime minister herself.
She said that both the grandsons of the Father of the Nation — Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Radwan Mujib Siddique — were already in important positions doing their jobs.
Joy is the ICT adviser to the PM, and Radwan runs the important think-tank, CRI.
But history in the sub-continent has been a history of the family tree.
I was told by many that Sheikh Hasina would bring in Bangabandhu’s grand-children into the party in some capacity or the other. Yes, that is natural and was expected. What was not expected was that they would be left out totally with gracious explanation by the prime minister herself
Sheikh Hasina has picked up the role of leadership after her father’s assassination because the Awami League needed a unifying leader.
She has not only unified the party, but also ended rebellions, and after 21 years in political wilderness, bought the Awami League to power for the first time in 1996.
Even more, Sheikh Hasina is the statesperson Bangladesh needed with her economic success story, diplomatic wizardry, and outwitting of political opponents.
A major achievement has been the trial and execution of 1971 war criminals, ignoring international pressure or even threats.
India’s Gandhi family and Pakistan’s Bhutto family have maintained the family tree, whether it resulted in dividend or not is another question.
Rahul Gandhi is making no headway and Bilawal is not so visible, which means the family roots are not helping them in popular politics.
Far-sighted Sheikh Hasina kept the grand-children of Bangabandhu out of the spotlight, but where they should work to become future leaders when required. Even her younger sister and Radwan’s mother, Sheikh Rehana, has stayed away from mainstream politics and, as she told me, she loved to spend time with her grand-children.
Look at slain president Ziaur Rahman’s family tree. His wife rose to become prime minister from just a house-wife in 1991, but it did not take long to see the house crumbling down.
As she glowed in the political spotlight her sons were busy creating “Hawa Bhaban” and earning illegal money.
The result could not have been more obvious and sad.
Unfortunately, the younger son, Arafat Rahman, died prematurely. On the other hand, Tarique Rahman lives in self-imposed exile in London and is too scared to face the courts back home in Bangladesh.
The easy reach of power and glory, in fact, destroyed the Zia clan, which analysts say have practically no political future other than making awkward and nonsensical comments, including against Bangabandhu, which many, even in BNP, disregard.
Both missed proper education and upbringing.
The opposite is the case for Bangabandhu’s family. Well-educated, well-mannered, and decent in their dealings with the party men and people, despite belonging to the country’s most revered family.
Whether in power or not, they know the practical world as they grew up abroad after 1975 with a lot of difficulties.
They had to struggle like their iconic mothers to be where they are, and it was no short-cut.
Sheikh Hasina, I believe, understands that, and will only bring in Bangabandhu’s grand-children when the country needs them as capable leaders.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
Dhaka Tribune is a stooge to AL. The Tribune is playing one clan against the other. In fact, a clan is running the country now. Sheikh Mujib was a dictator so is Hasina. Bangladeshis are a weird bunch if they think they have democracy. It is one party system now as it was in 1974.