Third Party in Politics: Blessing or Curse?

There is a high probability of taking place of national parliament election at the end of December this year, according to Bangladesh Election Commission. Some political personnel distanced from mass people and so called agents of “civil society” are becoming pro-active as usual facing the national parliament election ahead.

However, political history and reality of Bangladesh poses a question on the justification for the rise of such third party. Politicans who prefer comfort to active participation in root level politics are mainly daydreaming to take over the power. The two prime name behind the rise of third party in politics are Gonoforum president Dr. Kamal Hossain and Bikalpadhara president B.Chowdhury.

Dr Kamal Hossain came into politics with the help of Bangobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was nominated as candidate for national election from East Pakistan in 1970. However, when the war starts in 1971 all other members participated in the war except Dr Kamal Hossain and escaped to Pakistan. It should be noted that, he married a Pakistani girl and his father in law was a famous businessman in Pakistan.

Lately, when Bangabodhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutually murdered with his family, Kamal Hossain ran away to London instead of protesting against this. By analyzing the history of Bangladesh it was found that, this cunning politicians was never present in crisis situation of Bangladesh.

Another main culprit behind the upsurge of third party is founding general secretary of BNP and current president of Bikalpadhara B. Chowdhury. He was brought to politics without any notice who was an unfamiliar face back in 1978, when Ziaur Rahman established BNP. When Ziaur Rahman was murdered in Chittagon he was with him and surprisingly B. Chowdhury survived. For this reason, number of members doubt that he is related with the murder of Ziaur Rahman.

When BNP came into power in 2001, B Chowdhury was selected as president with the help of Khaleda Zia under their banner. However, he failed to fulfill demand of BNP. Other than Dr Kamal Hossain and B. Chowdhury, there are some additional members like Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of Nagorik Oikkyo; Abdur Rab of Zasad.

The main culprit behind the curtain was Dr. Yunus. Using ‘good’ image, Yunus advertised this so called ‘third party’ in international platform. Yunus forced rural people to take loan from his microcredit and charged them with high interest rates.

All the forces under the banner of third political party has a common point- none of them has minimum public mandate. They don’t have the sacrificing mentality for the sake of politics. Moreover, the persons behind this party are all expired politicians of BNP and Awami League.

There is saying in English- ‘with the help of intentional political u turn, never comes positive outcome’. However, because of no public interactions such political activities will not see the face of success- as predicts the political adhering.