Chhatra Dal’s Nasir urges Opposition to act responsibly when criticising govt

Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has urged the Opposition to avoid voicing dissent with the government merely for the sake of opposition.

The leader of Chhatra Dal, the ruling BNP’s student wing, asked opposition parties to leave behind the tradition of “narrow politics blind opposition” practiced by previous Opposition Parties.

Taking to Facebook on Saturday, Nasir particularly drew attention to NCP Convener Nahid Islam’s denial of the government’s success in ensuring peace and security during the recent Durga Puja festival.

The Chhatra Dal leader said Nahid’s comments in this regard reflected nothing but a narrow and mean-spirited mindset, as the government’s success in Durga Puja arrangement were “praised both home and abroad.”

Nasir’s full statement, available on his Facebook profile, is as follows:

Under the strong and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, this year’s Durga Puja was celebrated across the country in an unprecedented atmosphere of security, peace, and festivity. This achievement in upholding communal harmony and maintaining law and order is now widely recognised and praised both at home and abroad.

Yet, it is deeply regrettable that Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), remarked, “The government deserves not even the slightest credit for the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja.” Denying the government’s clear success in this manner, from the standpoint of a responsible political actor, reflects nothing but a narrow and mean-spirited mindset.

In the post-July Mass Uprising period, the people of the country are hoping for a new and positive political culture in which the BNP government respects every reasonable opinion expressed by the opposition. At such a time, this narrow outlook and irresponsible commentary from the opposition run counter to public aspirations and political decorum.

Recognising the government’s achievements while offering reasonable criticism of its shortcomings is the hallmark of modern and constructive politics. Following the July Mass Uprising, everyone hopes that a positive change will sweep not only through the politics of the ruling party but also through that of the opposition.

Therefore, I urge the opposition to move beyond the old practice of opposing merely for the sake of opposition, abandon the narrow politics of blind opposition, and play a more responsible role in the journey toward building a New Bangladesh.

Bangladesh First!