PM Tarique Rahman’s Success Must Not Be Allowed to Fade

Last Thursday night, several hundred people attacked and demolished the MCH-FP health center in Mirpur-1 in the capital. A day later, on Saturday, more than a hundred people attacked an office built on 35 kathas of land in the Satmasjid Housing area of Mohammadpur. They vandalized the office and tried to seize the land.
These two events have sparked wide discussion and criticism across social media and the whole country. People allege that ruling party members took part in both incidents. Police say they will not consider anyone’s party or social identity in this matter, and they will bring the culprits under the law.
Both incidents involve disputes over land ownership. Observers say the parties could have resolved these disputes through legal means. Attacking a property by night or day to seize it can never be acceptable.
Senior police officials say the government does not want such unwanted incidents to happen. Officials are working to bring those involved under the law. Police have already arrested four people linked to the Mirpur incident and sent them to jail. Police say they are reviewing CCTV footage to identify and arrest others involved.
After the mass uprising toppled the autocrat Sheikh Hasina, some areas saw land grabbing during the interim government’s time. The people who seized land then claimed that members of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations had earlier taken their land. They said they were simply reclaiming it.
In many cases, this claim held truth. During the past fascist rule, Awami League members had widely and illegally seized other people’s land, homes, and businesses. Still, attacking and vandalizing property to reclaim it can never be justified.
A true owner can legally reclaim land by presenting the proper documents and deeds. If such incidents still happen under an elected government, they reveal the arrogance of power among ruling party members. This damages the image of both the government and the party.
Widespread allegations of extortion under the ruling party’s name have already surfaced across the capital and other parts of the country. The opposition has raised these allegations as well and turned them into a political issue. The ruling party in turn calls the opposition BNP a party of extortionists.
Yet the party’s chairman, PM Mr. Tarique Rahman, sternly warned party members against extortion even before the election. He sent a strong message that the party would take organizational and legal action against anyone involved in extortion.
At that time, the party expelled nearly seven thousand leaders and workers linked to extortion and other misdeeds. In some cases, the party itself handed over extortionists to the police and filed cases against them. These actions earned the party praise from ordinary people.
However, after BNP came to power with a huge election victory, this culture of extortion did not stop. Instead, it has grown worse. Now large groups of people attack and vandalize property to seize land.
Such incidents are unwanted, and they also damage the ruling party’s reputation. It goes without saying that PM Mr. Tarique Rahman attended the UN General Assembly and held bilateral meetings and interviews with heads of government from powerful nations, leaders of major institutions, and world renowned business figures.
Through this, the country’s image and honor reached a unique height on the world stage. Yet while PM Mr. Tarique Rahman brought such success to the country on the international stage, a section of party leaders and workers is dimming that success through extortion and land grabbing.
Media outlets and social media have already widely reported and criticized these two incidents, and the news has reached international audiences. The opposition is turning these misdeeds into a political issue and making public statements about them. This damages the dignity of the prime minister and the government.
It can never be acceptable for the government and the party to face disgrace because of the actions of a few. Although a handful of people benefit from this land grabbing, it has ultimately become a major loss for the party.
Local government elections are approaching, and they matter greatly for strengthening political parties at the grassroots level. Opposition parties have already been working in the field for a long time to prepare for this election. They have finalized candidates and are working to win public support in their areas.
There is no doubt that the ruling party lags behind in this effort. A section of the party stays busy angering people instead of winning their hearts. Reports of internal conflict over candidacy are also emerging in many areas.
Given this situation, news of extortion and land grabbing by some party leaders is making headlines and spreading across social media before the election. This will likely have a strong negative effect on the coming local elections. Observers say BNP relies more on broad public support than on a small base of dedicated workers, and this public support forms the party’s main foundation.
The misdeeds of some leaders and workers are weakening this foundation, and ordinary people have grown frustrated. If the party performs poorly in the local elections because of this, no one should be surprised.
The party must rein in immediately those leaders and workers whose extortion and land grabbing threaten major damage to the party. It must show zero tolerance toward them. The success PM Mr. Tarique Rahman has achieved must not be allowed to dim because of their actions.
Law enforcement agencies must act on these crimes under the law, without considering who belongs to the ruling party or who holds power. No leniency should be shown in this matter.