A mournful atmosphere has been prevailing in the political arena at the sad demise of the late Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim. Hundreds of thousands of memories of leaders, activists and relatives are shining around his colorful political life and significant work. Born on April 2, 1948 and passed away on June 13, 2020, this political giant has a long life span of 72 years.
Although the grieved situation does not guarantee an appropriate environment for an objective assessment, even a thorough review of a long life cannot be done in the intensity of grief and emotion. Accurate assessment of the good and bad of an eventful life is a matter of time. However, the full assessment of Mohammad Nasim, a leader who witnessed and participated in many important events in the politics of Bangladesh, will be definitely assessed by his party and those concerned in due course.
In order to learn the true lesson of the rise and fall of the political history of Bangladesh, it is necessary to record the life, work and politics of Mohammad Nasim and other leaders like him at the national level. In particular, if you want to know about the movement, struggle and achievements of the mainstream of Bangladesh politics, Bangladesh Awami League, you have to know about the leaders dedicated to the party like Mohammad Nasim. Because, Awami League was the centerpoint of his whole life and work.
Today Awami League has become a strong political organization through a long struggle under the strong leadership of the nationalist Bangabandhu. Bangabandhu got a tradition of loyalty in his dynamic journey of Bangladesh from exploitation, oppression and subjugation of Pakistan, where national leaders Syed Nazrul, Tajuddin, Kamruzzaman and Mansur Ali were with him unconditionally.
In the absence of Bangabandhu, the success of the Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina was fortunately due to the tradition of loyalty and loyalty emanating from the blood and tradition of the four national leaders, of which Mohammad Nasim was one of the inheritors. Similarly there was Syed Ashraf and there are many more.
His father Mansur Ali, one of the organizers of the liberation war in Bangladesh, who served as the Prime Minister in the cabinet of the post-independent Bangabandhu government adopted the politics of his ideology. And that was the loyalty to the politics of the Awami League in loyalty to the leadership of Bangabandhu. In the absence of Bangabandhu, he has unconditionally expressed his loyalty to the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina.
After the war of liberation, Mohammad Nasim graduated from Dhaka's Jagannath College (now Jagannath University) with a degree in political science. Nasim, an activist in the student movement in the 1960s, became a member of the presidium of the Juba League in 1973 after independence.
After the assassination of Bangabandhu, when Mansur Ali was also killed in jail, Nasim became active in Awami League. Then he had to go to jail. Mohammad Nasim is one of those who were by the side of Sheikh Hasina when she took over the leadership of Awami League, the legacy of Bangabandhu's blood and politics.
He was active in the field of movement against the dictator Ershad and BNP under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. He shed blood on the streets of Dhaka but did not move from movement. He had taken the politics of Awami League forward being loyal to Sheikh Hasina's leadership with loyalty like a fearless fighter.
Nasim was elected the MP in 1986 for the first time. He then became the Chief Whip of the Opposition in Parliament. At that time he was the publicity secretary of Awami League. Later he became the organizing secretary of the party. He was always active in increasing the organizational base of the Awami League.
In his long political life, Mohammad Nasim held many responsible positions in the party as well as various posts of the government. He also worked in sensitive ministries.
At the end though he left the important work of the government and the party but he had worked for the political development of the Awami League. He was the coordinator of 14 tested allied parties with Awami politics. He formed a bridge between his party Awami League and friendly political organizations.
As much as he gained in politics, he had also lost a lot. He also lost his father. But he never lost the path shown by his father, his political beliefs and his ideological address. He had always cherished the ideals of Bangabandhu. He held Awami League for life. He was steadfast towards the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Mohammad Nasim is undoubtedly a shining example in the darkness of the selfish politics of the so-called third world somersaults. He had always followed the path of his father's political sacrifice with his best efforts and loyalty. He remained steadfast in the question of team leadership and ideology. His death is certainly a great loss for the politics of the Awami League. His departure is also painful for the politics of Bangladesh. However, his contribution will not end in his death. Because, the tradition of faith in the ideology and loyalty to the leadership that he had established, the leaders and workers of Awami politics will get inexhaustible inspiration from it.