In this month of national mourning, the sanctity associated with memories of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman must be upheld across the country and by all irrespective of party affiliations. Nothing of a partisan note, nothing that is a reminder of parochial politics, should come in. It is a sentiment which Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam voiced a few days ago and one we agree with wholeheartedly. The Father of the Nation, let us make it clear, is above all narrow, partisan politics and nothing should be done, now or at any time, to undermine his reputation as the liberator of Bangladesh.
In light of the above, it is our feeling that Health Minister Mohammad Nasim ought not to have turned an interaction with the media on Wednesday in Gopalganj, where had gone to show respect to the Father of the Nation, into a polemical debate on the matter of whether or not the Bangladesh Nationalist Party will join the national elections scheduled for 2019. The minister has not only asked the BNP leadership to join the elections but has also held out the vow that the Awami League-led fourteen-party combine will defeat the BNP and its allies. Interestingly, Minister Nasim was speaking soon after laying wreaths at the grave of the Father of the Nation. We believe any talk of Bangabandhu or any visit by anyone to his final resting place is a somber occasion which must not be marred by talk of mundane political realities. In the past couple of weeks, all discussions related to the assassination of Bangabandhu and the terrible ramifications consequent upon the tragedy have scrupulously maintained the seriousness of the matter. We will expect our public figures, especially those whose loyalty to the ideals set by Bangabandhu in his lifetime has always been beyond question, to bear these thoughts in mind.
While on the subject, we will also expect those political quarters whose policies are at a remove from those of the ruling Awami League to show proper respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation. In these past many years, we have observed with dismay, indeed with a sense of outrage, the uninhibited manner in which the birthday of the BNP chairperson has been celebrated on the very day when the nation remembers the conspiracy which felled Bangabandhu forty years ago. The point here is not whether the BNP chief, or anyone else for that matter, has her or his birthday falling on the day of Bangabandhu's martyrdom. Of course there are and will be people born on the day. However, given the enormity of the tragedy which befell the country on the day in 1975, it is only proper that those for whom the day bears personal significance observe it in a way that does not detract from the sobriety associated with it.
The bottom line should thus be one of observing a day in a way in which the grief of a nation is not trifled with. Ruling party figures should not inject partisan politics into their show of respect for Bangabandhu. Likewise, those opposed to the present ruling circles should steer clear of any inclination toward observing the day in a way that could be misconstrued as being insensitive towards the sentiments of the larger community.