Cometh the Hour

Even public figures have a right to a private life and to not have their every action or utterance subjected to microscopic scrutiny, especially in times of distress and bereavement. 

As such, we are hesitant to comment too harshly on Tarique Rahman's continuing absence from Bangladesh, even as his mother former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia lies critically ill on life support at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

A family’s decisions at such a time are and should be a private matter, and too much speculation as to the whys and the wherefores of their decision-making would be unseemly.

However, when one aspires to the highest office in the land, then one has to accept that there will be some measure of scrutiny, even for the most private and difficult of decisions, and that the Bangladeshi people have some claim on explanations for your actions.

Indeed, since the question of Tarique’s return to Bangladesh predated his mother’s latest relapse, it is fair to say that the current speculation is in fact political in nature and therefore well within the bounds of political discourse.

Even prior to the current situation there had been significant criticism of Tarique’s refusal to return to Bangladesh after 15 years in exile. 

Most commentators felt that his presence on the ground could only help the fortunes of the BNP and that the party was sorely missing the leadership and discipline that only his arrival could bring.

But we could also accept the calculus that returning after the announcement of the election schedule would perhaps maximize the party’s momentum moving into the election and that there was some merit in not jumping the gun and risking a dissipation of the wave of emotion that his return would engender.

The current scenario however upends all previous calculations and brings the issue of his continued absence into sharp relief. 

The first point we will make is that the Bangladeshi people are entitled to a clear communication as to why Tarique would delay his return at such a time.

The vague and nebulous statements made by him and other party leaders are in no way a satisfactory explanation for his delay, and indeed have done nothing except muddy the waters and lead to even more feverish speculation, that serves no one.

Tarique in his personal capacity owes no one any kind of explanation for the most private of decisions he takes. But if he wishes to be prime minister and lead this country, then he owes the Bangladeshi people an open and honest accounting of why he is acting as he is. 

Unfortunately, these are simply the rules of the game of public office.

More importantly, what one cannot do is to be transparently evasive and unclear in one’s communication, all the while claiming that one has given a satisfactory accounting of oneself. 

There are any number of reasons why Tarique may choose to delay his return to Bangladesh that have been bruited: from PTSD to security concerns to issues with his asylum status in the UK, and more. No one knows for sure. 

But the common denominator as to all the theories making the rounds is that they call into question his fitness or ability or inclination to lead the country, something that any presumptive prime minister in waiting fails to address or allay at his peril. 

In the past 15 months, Tarique had quietly impressed, with his measured public statements and actions. He had begun to be seen as a future leader of the country.

Now, unless he wants to take a serious hit in the eyes of the public and leave himself open to withering critique from his opponents, it behooves him to come clean with the Bangladeshi people as to what is holding him back.

Even better, he should get on the next plane home. The elections are now only two months away. If not now, then when? 

And whatever it is that is holding him back, he can rest assured that the outpouring of support he will receive will more than make up for what he is losing or risking.

If Tarique wishes to be prime minister and lead this nation, as his mother and father did before him, then a time comes when he needs to step up and stand up, and show the nation that he too is made of the stuff of leaders.

This is such a time.