Look back at 2017

BNP toes cautious line, warms up for polls

The BNP pursued a politics of checks and balance through much of 2017 but, towards end of the year, took up measures to rejuvenate of the party ahead of the next general elections. Clearly, the objective was to overcome the debacle that followed the suppression of non-cooperation movements launched by the BNP-led 20-party alliance one year after the January 5, 2014 elections boycotted by most political parties.

BNP leaders say they foiled the provocation of the ruling quarters by refraining from taking up any violent programmes. The party pursued this strategy—which it considered correct—right through the year. However, the extra ordinary speed at which the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against party chairperson Khaleda Zia has progressed has become a cause for concern for the party leaders.

Khaleda has had to appear before the court even three days in a month over the past few months, a development party leaders termed as unprecedented.

The BNP leaders, however, admitted that they were unable to carry out reorganizational activities properly during the year due to what they described as obstruction by the ruling party and the administration.

BNP leaders say that, during much of the year, the party was not allowed to hold outdoor programmes, while party leaders and activists were subjected to repression, many of them being implicated in fresh “false cases”.

BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said

despite continued repression and obstruction by the ruling quarters during the year they tried to raise their voice on every important issue within their limited scope.

“It is true that we did not have any major programme of action in the year in the face of the government’s repressive measures and not allowing us to hold rallies and meetings. But we raised our voices on each issue despite our limited and constrained situation,” he said.

The elderly leader claimed that the party’s public support had increased during the year despite “the repression on the party rank and file”.

“Several programmes organized in the recent past proved that the support of our party had increased sharply. The government could not create panic among the party leaders and activists and demoralize them,” he said.

On organizational strength, he said, the party would not have succeeded in holding big programmes like Victory Day and National Revolution Day rallies, if it had not gained strength.

He accused the government of keeping the BNP outside the January 5 elections by hatching a conspiracy.

“Since our party is formally not the opposition party, we could not fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people accordingly,” he said.

The former minister termed the year 2017 as a year of frustration for the people, for, he claimed, the government had destroyed the three main pillars of the state—the judiciary, executive and legislature. Another standing committee member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman described the year 2017 as a difficult time for the BNP because, according to him, the government continued its repression on party leaders and activists and implicated them in new cases.

He, however, claimed that despite the ongoing crises, the party had been reorganized to some extent. “The party is reorganized to some extent at this moment. However, it is still facing crises,” he added. Vice president Mohammed Shajahan said they passed the year 2017 amidst torture and repression unleashed by the government on party leaders and activists.

He said they could not carry out the reorganizational process fully because of hindrances posed by the government preventing them to hold meetings and rallies. “We, along with the people, have passed the year through an adverse situation and amidst uncertainty,” he said.

The BNP leader claimed that they had so far reorganized over 50 districts committees out of 87 organizational districts.

He hoped the party would be able to reorganize the other district committees and front organizations, thus becoming organizationally stronger.

Joint secretary general Advocate Mojibur Rahman Sarwar said the BNP had followed the tactics of checks and balance and did not take any hardline programme to overcome the losses the party suffered after the previous movements.

He admitted that the party should complete the reorganisation of the committees at different levels despite obstruction by the ruling party and police administration. The BNP leader said they were aware that the “government is setting traps against the party”.

The BNP rank and file appeared to have been invigorated by the victory of Monirul Hoque as the mayor of the Comilla City Corporation in the March 30 election. But the party faced a debacle in the just concluded Rangpur city polls on December 21. The BNP was mostly busy with indoor programmes like holding discussion meets and press conferences in the absence of police permission to hold outdoor events. The party activities slumped during BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s three-month visit to London.

The former premier stayed in London for three months for treatment of her eyes and legs and celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with her family members. After her arrival, she was given a big reception in front on the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on October 18. The party staged three more show of strength during Khaleda’s visit to Cox’s Bazar by road later in October, at the November 12 rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan, and at the December 17 Victory Day rally in the capital.

Look back at 2017

BNP toes cautious line, warms up for polls

The BNP pursued a politics of checks and balance through much of 2017 but, towards end of the year, took up measures to rejuvenate of the party ahead of the next general elections. Clearly, the objective was to overcome the debacle that followed the suppression of non-cooperation movements launched by the BNP-led 20-party alliance one year after the January 5, 2014 elections boycotted by most political parties. BNP leaders say they foiled the provocation of the ruling quarters by refraining from taking up any violent programmes. The party pursued this strategywhich it considered correctright through the year. However, the extra ordinary speed at which the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against party chairperson Khaleda Zia has progressed has become a cause for concern for the party leaders. Khaleda has had to appear before the court even three days in a month over the past few months, a development party leaders termed as unprecedented. The BNP leaders, however, admitted that they were unable to carry out reorganizational activities properly during the year due to what they described as obstruction by the ruling party and the administration. BNP leaders say that, during much of the year, the party was not allowed to hold outdoor programmes, while party leaders and activists were subjected to repression, many of them being implicated in fresh false cases. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said despite continued repression and obstruction by the ruling quarters during the year they tried to raise their voice on every important issue within their limited scope. It is true that we did not have any major programme of action in the year in the face of the governments repressive measures and not allowing us to hold rallies and meetings. But we raised our voices on each issue despite our limited and constrained situation, he said. The elderly leader claimed that the partys public support had increased during the year despite the repression on the party rank and file. Several programmes organized in the recent past proved that the support of our party had increased sharply. The government could not create panic among the party leaders and activists and demoralize them, he said. On organizational strength, he said, the party would not have succeeded in holding big programmes like Victory Day and National Revolution Day rallies, if it had not gained strength. He accused the government of keeping the BNP outside the January 5 elections by hatching a conspiracy. Since our party is formally not the opposition party, we could not fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people accordingly, he said. The former minister termed the year 2017 as a year of frustration for the people, for, he claimed, the government had destroyed the three main pillars of the statethe judiciary, executive and legislature. Another standing committee member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman described the year 2017 as a difficult time for the BNP because, according to him, the government continued its repression on party leaders and activists and implicated them in new cases. He, however, claimed that despite the ongoing crises, the party had been reorganized to some extent. The party is reorganized to some extent at this moment. However, it is still facing crises, he added. Vice president Mohammed Shajahan said they passed the year 2017 amidst torture and repression unleashed by the government on party leaders and activists. He said they could not carry out the reorganizational process fully because of hindrances posed by the government preventing them to hold meetings and rallies. We, along with the people, have passed the year through an adverse situation and amidst uncertainty, he said. The BNP leader claimed that they had so far reorganized over 50 districts committees out of 87 organizational districts. He hoped the party would be able to reorganize the other district committees and front organizations, thus becoming organizationally stronger. Joint secretary general Advocate Mojibur Rahman Sarwar said the BNP had followed the tactics of checks and balance and did not take any hardline programme to overcome the losses the party suffered after the previous movements. He admitted that the party should complete the reorganisation of the committees at different levels despite obstruction by the ruling party and police administration. The BNP leader said they were aware that the government is setting traps against the party. The BNP rank and file appeared to have been invigorated by the victory of Monirul Hoque as the mayor of the Comilla City Corporation in the March 30 election. But the party faced a debacle in the just concluded Rangpur city polls on December 21. The BNP was mostly busy with indoor programmes like holding discussion meets and press conferences in the absence of police permission to hold outdoor events. The party activities slumped during BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias three-month visit to London. The former premier stayed in London for three months for treatment of her eyes and legs and celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with her family members. After her arrival, she was given a big reception in front on the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on October 18. The party staged three more show of strength during Khaledas visit to Coxs Bazar by road later in October, at the November 12 rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan, and at the December 17 Victory Day rally in the capital.