'A clear signal against disorder': Zahid Hussain on Tarique Rahman's peaceful homecoming
"The way the massive crowd was managed peacefully, along with the overall choreography of the event, suggested that Tarique’s standing among the public appears clean," he says
The large and peaceful public gathering surrounding BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's homecoming has sent a clear signal against those seeking to create disorder and derail the election process, Zahid Hussain, former lead economist of the World Bank's Dhaka office, said today (25 December).
Speaking to The Business Standard this evening, Zahid said the way the massive crowd was managed peacefully, along with the overall choreography of the event, suggested that Tarique's standing among the public appears "clean".
He pointed to several symbolic gestures by Tarique after arriving at the airport – stepping onto Bangladeshi soil barefoot and holding the soil, choosing to travel by bus instead of a bulletproof vehicle, and addressing the public before going to see his ailing mother – as reflections of patriotism and a prioritisation of ordinary people.
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Zahid noted that Tarique's brief speech was grammatically sound and stood in sharp contrast to the tense and volatile political situation of the country just a week earlier. He said the BNP's arrangements and Tarique's message could contribute to restoring peace, harmony, unity and political stability.
"The message of harmony he delivered can be seen as the beginning of a return to a constructive and democratic political process," Zahid said, adding, however, that much will depend on how Tarique and his party act in the coming days.
According to Zahid, Tarique's speech appeared to have a "cooling effect" at a time of heightened political tension. He said it sent a signal not only to those attempting to create chaos and sabotage elections, but also reaffirmed Tarique's stated commitment to opposing violence and working to unite the nation peacefully.
The former World Bank official observed that while BNP is currently the largest political party, Tarique's rally drew not only party supporters but also a significant number of ordinary citizens.
This spontaneous public response, Zahid said, could send a message to political opponents that efforts to disrupt the electoral process may not succeed.
He, however, cautioned that this assessment is based on a single day and a single speech.
"If the spirit of harmony he spoke about is maintained, the country may see a smooth political transition in 2026," he added.
