Think That Jamaat Lost the Election? Think Again.

Good morning, New Bangladesh!

Today marks the beginning of a new journey on the path of democracy.

Congratulations Mr. Tarique Rahman, and congratulations to all the people of the country.

In 2001, the country had a 64-seat opposition party.

In 2008, there was a 29-seat opposition party.

After that, we had a token opposition symbolized by the Plough sign.

This time, there is an opposition of nearly 80 seats -- with some Members of Parliament capable of making a real impact.

Those who are disappointed with Jamaat’s result have not yet had their basic lessons in politics.

Jamaat has delivered an exceptionally good result.

Previously, the party that formed the government had clean-swept Dhaka city. This time, Jamaat secured seven seats in Dhaka. Jamaat had never even seriously considered contesting Dhaka city before.

In nearly 53 seats, Jamaat lost by a margin of only about 5,000 votes -- including three in Dhaka.

There was even neck-to-neck competition with Mr. Tarique Rahman in Gulshan.

Those who do not understand the significance of this have no idea how small Jamaat traditionally is compared to BNP, and how deep-rooted BNP’s organizational base is.

In our Sitakunda and Mirsarai, Jamaat had never received more than 10-15,000 votes before. This time, it received nearly 90,000 votes in both.

In one constituency in Barguna, a doctor received 83,000 votes and lost by just 2,000 votes. In a previous election, he had received only 216 votes.

I was in Daganbhuiyan in 2012. Even then, people used to say there wasn’t a single family there that hadn’t benefited from Abdul Awal Mintu. How does one compete against Mintu? Yet Fakhruddin Manik still secured 100,000 votes.

More than 150 BNP candidates are former MPs multiple times over, major businessmen and industrialists who have helped thousands of people through government funds and personal resources.

This is where Jamaat lags behind. This is the difference from student union elections -- figures like Abid Hamim did not have a 30-year legacy there, nor could they have.

Anyway, as expected, BNP has won.

It is true that prior to the election, Jamaat created hype and predicted that it woud win the election outright.

That's the name of the game. Without that hype, would the election have been competitive? Would people have come out in large numbers to vote?

If Jamaat had not created a perception of a real possibility of winning, it might not have secured even five seats.

No voter wants their constituency to remain in the opposition.

This hype was necessary. But winning the election was never a realistic possibility for Jamaat. As it was, the Jamaat performance has exceeded all expectations and all precedent.

Now it is BNP’s time.

Until now, blame could be placed on Yunus.

Now, if someone is robbed on the street, the blame will fall on Tarique Rahman. If there is a fire anywhere, or if sugar prices increase by 10 taka, all responsibility will be placed on him.

Running this country is like carrying fire in one’s hands.

That is why the winners must be more cautious, more humble, and seek help from Allah.

Above all, one wish remains: may peace prevail in the country, may people live well, and may a smile appear on the faces of the suffering people of this poor nation.