People taken for a ride?
There was a faint shadow of doubt in the minds of many citizens about the fruitful conclusion of the dialogue between Abdul Mannan Bhuiya and Abdul Jalil that began on 5 October. The shadow of doubt deepened after the two leaders left in a hurry without attending a press briefing at the end of the sixth meeting that was held on 23 October.
Understandably, it sent ominous signals that things were not going the right way. The air became thick with speculations that the dialogue was reaching a dead end. And it did on 24 October. Abdul Mannan Bhuiya gave the statement in a press briefing that as per constitution Justice KM Hasan will be the head of the next caretaker government and there can be no discussion on that issue. He informed all that the alliance government will now prepare to hand over power to him as the chief advisor of the caretaker government.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. On the other hand, Awami League and its alliance members made it clear that they would not accept KM Hasan in that position. So, a classic case of 'Catch 22' for the entire nation has developed and no one at this moment knows how this explosive situation can be defused without forcing the country on the path of civil strife or paving the way for any undemocratic forces to seize power.
It is only obvious that all sorts of questions are now being asked by political analysts and discerning people: Who is responsible for such a situation? What did the two senior politicians talk in the six meetings? How many of the issues on Awami League's long list have been accepted so far by the ruling party? Did Abdul Jalil at all have the opportunity to bring up those issues in the six meetings? If not then what did the two talk about in the meetings? Nothing substantial? Then why did Abdul Jalil and Abdul Mannan Bhuiya raise the hopes of the people by giving the impression that talks were going on satisfactorily and they would give the good news any day? On his part, why did Abdul Mannan Bhuiya make the show of a dialogue when he all along knew that his party chief would not budge an inch from the original stand with regard to appointing KM Hasan as the next caretaker government chief?
As the people grope in the dark for answers, they feel with great deal of resentment and disillusionment that both the leaders and both the political parties had taken them for a ride.
Political analysts may want to analyse whether Abdul Jalil knew all along which way the dialogue was heading, or is it that he had no inkling whatsoever thereby exposing his political immaturity. He agreed to join the dialogue knowing full well that BNP would not agree to their very first demand on the KM Hasan issue. Therefore, the dialogue was doomed to failure at the very outset.
On the other hand, Abdul Mannan Bhuiya will now show the world that the government had organised a dialogue as per demand of everyone but Awami League could not make anything substantial out of it. He will even say that he had proposed an alternative name as chief advisor but Awami League could not give any decision on that.
History will put both the political leaders and their parties in true perspective one day. But a lot of damage will have been done to this country by then.