In 2001, BNP-Bangladesh Nationalist Party came into power, and their government continued up till 2006. You, of course, can remember the subsequent two years when Bangladesh fell under the army-backed so-called caretaker government.
And, from 2001 to 2009, up to the end of the caretaker government, was the commencement period of an unfortunate phase of 21st-century Bangladesh.
Can you, just, make a comparison of that period with the tenure of the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina lead governments from 2009 to 2023? What differences do you notice?
Surely, you see all three terms of Sheikh Hasina with a journey of the country’s progression and graduation!
But, what about the stance of the BNP and its like-minded parties in Bangladesh in the 21st century? Take a look on the following and do the comparison!
Oppression and Repression on the pro-Awami League
People of Bangladesh can recall the killing and vandalism throughout the country from 2001 to 2006. Minority rights! looting, raping and killing of minorities were the regular picture. Thousands of pro-Awami League leaders and activists had been killed by BNP terrorists. You can get pictures from world media.
Patronising terrorism
Patronising terrorism was the prime agenda of BNP that you noticed through creating the brand of ‘Bangla Bhai’ and such in different parts of the land of Bangladesh and blasting a series of bombs in more than five hundred places in the country. That was national terrorism within the border.
Beyond the border patronising international terrorism by facilitating the different terrorist groups, including northeast India was evident through ‘Ten Truck Arms’ transiting to and crossing the border, and the Islamic terrorist group in Afghanistan and other countries.
Random corruption
Corruption was usual in all sectors and negatively manipulated the administration, even the army administration. You can remember the electricity situation in the country. For example, expensed a huge amount of money on this sector, but produced little. Their party premiers had been convicted because of corruption and illegal money-making.
Capturing power illegally
Election manipulation with evil deeds was severe during the different terms of BNP. They designed a blueprint for the elections of 2006, and though they failed to do that, the country went down the illegal administration of the so-called caretaker government.
Fire-terrorism
The country’s people and the international community did, definitely, not forget the fire terrorism of BNP that materialized in the land of Bangladesh. They killed hundreds of people, vandalised the property hugely by throwing petrol bombs and setting fire, and destroyed public property.
Money-making game with Elections
The last few elections were the medium of money-making for the premier of the BNP. Whether they taking part in elections or not, the party premier in charge made money by conducting nomination business. Now, elections are the money-making game for them.
Refraining from elections and blame game
In terms of elections, another thing is the blame game. They are trying to blame the government because of not making the level-playing field for elections. But, they do not interested in playing a role in making that field. To get the level-playing field one must have to take part in the election process. Basically, they want prior confirmation of winning the elections.
Diverting good sentiment to bed and patronising incompetents
Because of their incapability, BNP and their like-minded political parties are diverting the people towards a non-democratic process. Rather than participating in the election process, they are supporting some incompetent candidates in the elections underground that virtually spoils the merit of the elections and democracy.
Spreading misleading information internationally
The current agenda of the BNP and its like-minded parties are spreading misleading information and propagating news negatively within the country and in the international communities. Supplying fall news to foreign missions is another agenda of theirs by which they are destroying the country’s fame.
How to conclude?
Hence, now, you can make a comparison between the activities of the BNP (including their friends) and the development works of the Bangladesh Awami League and Sheikh Hasina-lad government in Bangladesh.
You can relate to the words iterated by Sajeeb Wazed Joy the “five years of Bangladesh’s going backwards” during the period 2001-2006 (albd.org).