The ongoing movement of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the aim of overthrowing the government has been in progress since the formation of the grand alliance government in 2009. They have continued their movement for more than a decade, but what have they achieved in the end? The answer lies in front of BNP itself, as well as in front of its allies. The 12th parliamentary election is coming. According to some, green lights are shining at the outer signal.

The time is approaching when the election train will arrive at the platform. The question now is whether BNP will align with other political parties. Since the 2008 election, in which almost all political parties participated as part of the grand alliance, the Awami League won 230 seats, while BNP managed to secure only 30 seats. In the 2014 elections, BNP did not participate.

For a long time, people have been hearing phrases like 'the government's time is up,' 'a little push will bring down the government,' 'a slap or a push is enough to topple the government.' However, no one has been seen giving a 'push.' No one has understood the meaning of a 'push' so far, just as no one has discovered the formula for a 'slap.'

In this situation, BNP and their allies have had to resort to political strategies to maintain their political existence. Though they have the 'formula for desperation,' they have adopted various tactics. In this vein, on December 10, BNP presented a ten-point demand from the playground of the Golapbag in Dhaka. After just two weeks, they announced the 'framework for the repair of the constitutional structure' with 27 demands. The chain of political rhetoric has begun. BNP has stated that this will be their one-time movement, which is the movement for the overthrow of the government. They will not go back until the government falls.

But who will run the country after the government falls? Does BNP want another one-eleven? Does it want a caretaker government based on constitutional provisions? BNP is not present in the parliament. Since the Awami League is the majority in the parliament, they will not go along with them. So, who will be the supporting force for BNP and their alliance??

BNP had its hopes set on external powers. After the recent Eid-ul-Azha, there were talks of starting the movement for the government's overthrow. There was even talk of announcing a one-point movement for the government's overthrow. However, they backed out of that announcement. Why? Because two delegations from the United States and the European Union, who were here for more than a decade, have stabilized their visit to Dhaka. BNP wondered what these two delegations were up to. BNP believed that these two delegations would question the government in a big way, and even force it out of power. News came through the media that BNP's path would be determined based on the decisions of these two delegations.

However, the opposite happened. It has been discussed for more than five decades in both countries about their significant involvement—information shared by the American Undersecretary of State said, 'Bangladesh will determine when elections will be held. We are all in favor of dialogue. However, we have no direct involvement in this matter.'

The American Undersecretary of State further mentioned that the United States wants to strengthen its relationship with Bangladesh to create a more open and unobstructed Indo-Pacific. Bangladesh is an essential stakeholder in achieving this goal. Therefore, this visit was disappointing for BNP. It was like BNP's 'hope is not fulfilled.'

BNP realized this beforehand. That's why they announced a gathering on July 12. The next day, they declared 31 demands at a press conference.

But who supports them? Last Saturday, at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka, at a business conference organized by FBCCI, the Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan stated that the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated her leadership and experience over a long period of time, which is why the country needs her even in the future. Sheikh Hasina is the only alternative. And for this reason, from businessmen to the entire population of the country, everyone has confidence in Sheikh Hasina. He mentioned the mandate of the business community and the government and Prime Minister. Referring to the one-eleven government in 2007, he questioned the concept of a technocratic government, whether it meant the same one-eleven government. He also stated that no one benefits from the dream of a technocratic government.

Neither the international community nor the conscious citizens of the country are leaning towards BNP. Even Jamaat-e-Islami, who used to be BNP's long-time ally in politics, has distanced itself from them. Then, what does BNP have in its hands?

Let's end with a joke. A home tutor was hired for a weak child in mathematics. The tutor was teaching him addition. He asked the child, 'How do you add 15 and 15?' The tutor said, 'When you add 5 and 5, it becomes 10. The zero of this 10 should be placed below.' The child wrote zero (0). The teacher asked, 'What do you have in your hand?' The child replied, 'A pencil.' The astonished teacher asked, 'Then what is the sum?' The child answered, 'Zero.'

When we add up BNP's 10 demands, 27 demands, one demand, and finally 31 demands, according to political numerology or political arithmetic, the sum is zero. Despair is held in hand."

Let's end with a joke. A home tutor was hired for a weak child in mathematics. The tutor was teaching him addition. He asked the child, 'How do you add 15 and 15?' The tutor said, 'When you add 5 and 5, it becomes 10. The zero of this 10 should be placed below.' The child wrote zero (0). The teacher asked, 'What do you have in your hand?' The child replied, 'A pencil.' The astonished teacher asked, 'Then what is the sum?' The child answered, 'Zero.'

When we add up BNP's 10 demands, 27 demands, one demand, and finally 31 demands, according to political numerology or political arithmetic, the sum is zero. Despair is held in hand."

Writer: Journalist, rhymer