Begum Raushan Ershad, Bangladesh's current parliamentary opposition leader and formerly the country's first lady by virtue of being the wife of military dictator General Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
The lady maintains a quiet life out of focus of the media, who have possibly ignored her without realising an important role she played in Bangladesh's political history. She speaks no more than is needed even within her close circles.
I know her from my childhood as Gen Ershad is my father's military colleague, although he is a few years junior. But they were a very popular couple in the Pakistan army.
During my visits to his home with my mother, Begum Raushan Ershad was always very warm and nice, unlike many others in those days when one is at the helm of power. The Sena Bhaban was beautifully furnished.
I write this today, as it struck me that Begum Raushan Ershad, whom I call "aunty" (chachi) in private, indeed has played a major role in Bangladesh's political history positively despite her husband's games of indecision or pranks with side-changing. She has proved herself to be more stable and mature than Gen Ershad and no one laughs at what she does or says.
She has given the opposition Jatiya Party some respect that it deserves at a time when people want to label it as a "Jatra Party" (Circus Party).
When the BNP-Jamaat decided to stay out of the national elections of 2014 to force out pro-liberation forces through riots and chaos, the nation looked lost. We knew as journalists that efforts were underway to keep the constitution intact and hold elections, without bowing down to the illogical demands of the rightwing alliance which had been accused of patronising terrorism in Bangladesh.
It was around this time that an announcement came that the Jatiya Party under the leadership of Begum Raushan Ershad would join the elections. It came on the heels of widespread violence and uncertainty, with many predicting another round of full or pseudo military rule --- meaning democracy faces another stumble.
Gen Ershad tried to gain from the situation by giving out most immature statements as someone who had ruled Bangladesh with an iron hand for nine years. Once he was in with the Awami League led alliance and again shifted to the BNP-led Islamist alliance.
Finally Begum Raushan Ershad told the media that the Jatiya Party would definitely contest the elections and it was to help democracy flourish.
She has in fact accepted the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her endeavours for keeping democracy strong as well as doing away with Islamists who were against the basic fundamentals on which Bangladesh was born.
It was heartening for me, as I was assigned to Begum Ershad as her reporter from the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency.
I travelled across Bangladesh with her, sometimes on a helicopter, to remote areas where she would be on humanitarian missions.
One day the President's Press Secretary, Mr Toab Khan, telephoned me and ordered that from that day onwards Begum Raushan Ershad should be addressed as "First Lady." Since then it was so, but at the news desk I faced many questions as if I were at fault.
I just remember telling Mr. Mahbubur Rahman, the deputy press secretary, that to sell her story I would not follow the traditional style, but that featurised stories would do the job. That too faced objections from the desk as it was not the practice. Then my Chief News Editor Mr Hasanuzzaman Khan rescued me and praised my story. Mr Toab Khan called after it was released and asked why I had done the story in such a manner but appeared to have understood my reasons.
Next morning, the story scored, including in the Sangbad newspaper, which silenced all criticisms. Begum Raushan Ershad was very happy too.
The other thing is her love for children. I wrote in my book a long time back about this and I want to repeat that she would not bother to change even if an orphan baby had soiled her dress. She would only say that children will do these.
During her recent visit to London, she blessed me and as we shared the topic of difficult political times, Begum Ershad said, "You know I faced big threats on life ... but I knew that my decision is important to save the country from chaos."
Now, for a pro-liberation parliament we have the Jatiya Party, but they must, under Raushan Ershad's leadership pay their respects to Bangabandhu at Tungipara as the Father of the Nation and continue to support the development efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina much more strongly.
The JP has ministers in the cabinet and must do this to bring about harmony in the country and as a force which defies the rightwing Islamist alliance led by the BNP. If the JP can do this, Begum Raushan Ershad will surely have earned a berth in the country's golden history.r
Nadeem Qadir, an eminent journalist, is Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission, London
