Joy-Tarique want change in politics

S. M. Mizanur Rahman, DHAKA, Aug 4: The two undeclared crown prince, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajib Wazed Joy and opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman have now become active in politics at home and abroad respectively as national election is approaching nearer.
 
While ruling Awami League’s senior leaders welcomed Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s involvement in political activities, Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s front ranking leaders termed their party senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman as future Prime Minister of Bangladesh
 
However, while the leaders and workers of ruling Awami League are engaged in branding the Tarique Rahman as corrupt, the BNP termed Sajib Wazed Joy as a foreigner who does not have any affection and love for the country.
 
But talking to risingbd.com political scientist and former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University professor Emajuddin Ahmed welcomed the young leadership saying the country now needs young leadership like Joy and Tarique who have the new thought.
 
“In order to keep political situation stable and practicing democracy we need young leadership. The young leadership with their new thought will develop the country instead of mud sliding each other,” he added.
 
Emajuddin Ahmed said people from all walks of life should welcome the two and extend their all sorts of cooperation to ensure peace prosperity of the country.
 
“I think this two (Joy and Tarique) will be able to give a good shape in the country’s democracy,” the political scientist.         
 
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said Joy has a very good record and there is nothing to talk too much about it as he comes to politics openly.
 
Terming BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman as future Prime Minister of the country, BNP chairperson’s adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu asked the Awami League leaders to exercise restraint while making any comment about Tarqiue.
 
Recently Sajib Wazed Joy returned home and took part in different political meeting including a public at his home district Rangpur where his mother Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed as chief guest. Joy’s wife Kristine Wazed also attended the meeting.
 
Apart from this, Joy at a function said that he has information and survey report that Awami League would win the next general election again and he was seen giving interview at private television channel where he described the next course of action plan of Awami League.    
 
The district unit of the ruling Awami League wants Prime Minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy to contest the next general election from parliamentary seats under the district.   The AL unit also expects Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to formally announce that Joy will be a party candidate either from Rangpur-6 (Pirganj upazila) or Rangpur-3 (Sadar upazila).  
 
On the other hand BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon its leaders and activists to get ready for a strong movement to force the government to restore the caretaker government system.
 
“At this moment, it’s the prime task to establish a neutral non-party government before the polls. There’s no alternative to caretaker government for holding a free, fair and transparent election. So we should focus more on ensuring a neutral election than being election oriented,” he told an iftar party in London.
 
Tarique Rahman, elder son of Khaleda Zia, has been staying in London since September 11, 2008 after he was released on parole on medical ground.
 
AL presidium member Mohammad Nasim on Thursday demanded of the government to bring back Tarique Rahman and put him on trial.
 
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury on Thursday said tall talks do not suit those who left the country giving an undertaking not to do politics.
 
“On September 11, 2008, Tarique Rahman fled the country giving an undertaking of quitting politics. And Khaleda has whitened black money paying fine. Those who left the country giving an undertaking and whitened black money, tall talks don’t suit them,” she said.
 
But BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir shrugged off the Prime Minister and her son’s claim to have information about Awami League’s reelection saying they are telling this to bring back confidence in the demorlised party leaders and activists.
 
  “The Prime Minister and her son are making such remarks to enliven the demoralised party leaders and activists. They can do it but it won’t work,” he said.
 
On Saturday Mirza Fakhrul termed Joy as captain who has recently been deployed in the country to tackle the fall of the government.
 
“A foreign captain has been deployed in the country to protect the government and its fall. But the captain doesn’t have love and affection for the country,” he said.