BNP hesitant to go for tough political action, admit leaders

“Party hesitant to go for a tougher political course of action to avoid exposing its leaders and activists to more police cases”

The BNP is still struggling to make a turnaround in its political fortunes after the major debacle in the December 30, 2018 general election, which the party claimed was “manipulated and unacceptable”.

The party could win only six parliamentary seats out of the total 300 and joined Parliament only after around six months of the polls, backtracking from its earlier decision to not do so.

Though the BNP has concentrated on the reorganisation of the party and its front organisations and carrying out occasional programmes, it is hesitant to go for a tougher political course of action to avoid exposing its leaders and activists to more police cases, according to party insiders.

Talking to The Independent, senior BNP leaders admitted that the physical absence of top party leaders, including chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman, and indecision among party bigwigs proved hindrances for the party in making a turnaround.

They also alleged that continued repression of party leaders and activists by implicating them in false cases by the use of the police and other state machineries also obstructed their plans for political activities.

A senior leader expressed regret that there was pressure from the party rank and file to take to the streets by taking risks, particularly to free party chairperson Khaleda Zia. He, however, added that BNP party central leaders were 'mysteriously' following a go-slow policy.

“If the BNP leaders follow such a policy, the party chairperson can never be freed from jail,” he said on condition of anonymity.

The leader said the party high command must empower a dynamic leader to take timely and befitting political action and promote young faces and dedicated leaders in the front line of the party.

BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said the party was passing through a tough political juncture and accused the government of trying to establish autocracy in the country by using all state machinery, including the administration and judiciary.

“Political parties are not being given any space here, and their leaders and activists are implicated in false and fabricated cases. Thus, it is a big thing that the opposition still exists in the country,”

he said. Tuku also said that despite all the obstacles, the BNP was emphasising on the need to reorganise the party and its front organisations.

BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said the prevailing political situation and government attitude should be taken into consideration to evaluate the party’s political course of action.

He said Bangladesh was passing through the worst-ever situation in the past 50 years of independence and alleged that the country was under autocratic rule at present. “The opposition is now facing such a number of repressions and attacks that it is tough for them to carry out their regular political activities. There is nothing to evaluate about political activities when permission is needed even to hold an indoor meeting,” he observed.

Dudu mentioned that over one lakh false cases were filed to implicate over 30 lakh opposition activists under the Awami League government, which is “unprecedented in the country’s history”.

The BNP leader expressed hope that despite the troubles they were facing in carrying out their programmes, they will take the right political course of action in time.

BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossian Alal felt that the party leadership was following a strategy of not pushing party leaders and activists towards more risk. As it is, hundreds of partymen have already become the victims of enforced disappearances, killings, and false cases, he added.

There is pressure from grassroots to launch a tougher movement to free the party chairperson, but the central leaders do not want to put them in further risk, he observed.

Alal also said that despite the repression and attacks by ruling party cadres and policemen, they are carrying out their work to reorganise the party.

He believed that the party would certainly turn around because “the people are with BNP and they would take to the streets to free the former premier”.

Khaleda Zia, who had been sent to jail in a graft case on February 8, 2018, is now undergoing treatment at a prison cabin of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, while party acting chairman Tarique Rahman in now living in London in self-exile.

BNP hesitant to go for tough political action, admit leaders

“Party hesitant to go for a tougher political course of action to avoid exposing its leaders and activists to more police cases”

The BNP is still struggling to make a turnaround in its political fortunes after the major debacle in the December 30, 2018 general election, which the party claimed was manipulated and unacceptable. The party could win only six parliamentary seats out of the total 300 and joined Parliament only after around six months of the polls, backtracking from its earlier decision to not do so. Though the BNP has concentrated on the reorganisation of the party and its front organisations and carrying out occasional programmes, it is hesitant to go for a tougher political course of action to avoid exposing its leaders and activists to more police cases, according to party insiders. Talking to The Independent, senior BNP leaders admitted that the physical absence of top party leaders, including chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman, and indecision among party bigwigs proved hindrances for the party in making a turnaround. They also alleged that continued repression of party leaders and activists by implicating them in false cases by the use of the police and other state machineries also obstructed their plans for political activities. A senior leader expressed regret that there was pressure from the party rank and file to take to the streets by taking risks, particularly to free party chairperson Khaleda Zia. He, however, added that BNP party central leaders were mysteriously following a go-slow policy. If the BNP leaders follow such a policy, the party chairperson can never be freed from jail, he said on condition of anonymity. The leader said the party high command must empower a dynamic leader to take timely and befitting political action and promote young faces and dedicated leaders in the front line of the party. BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said the party was passing through a tough political juncture and accused the government of trying to establish autocracy in the country by using all state machinery, including the administration and judiciary. Political parties are not being given any space here, and their leaders and activists are implicated in false and fabricated cases. Thus, it is a big thing that the opposition still exists in the country, he said. Tuku also said that despite all the obstacles, the BNP was emphasising on the need to reorganise the party and its front organisations. BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said the prevailing political situation and government attitude should be taken into consideration to evaluate the partys political course of action. He said Bangladesh was passing through the worst-ever situation in the past 50 years of independence and alleged that the country was under autocratic rule at present. The opposition is now facing such a number of repressions and attacks that it is tough for them to carry out their regular political activities. There is nothing to evaluate about political activities when permission is needed even to hold an indoor meeting, he observed. Dudu mentioned that over one lakh false cases were filed to implicate over 30 lakh opposition activists under the Awami League government, which is unprecedented in the countrys history. The BNP leader expressed hope that despite the troubles they were facing in carrying out their programmes, they will take the right political course of action in time. BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossian Alal felt that the party leadership was following a strategy of not pushing party leaders and activists towards more risk. As it is, hundreds of partymen have already become the victims of enforced disappearances, killings, and false cases, he added. There is pressure from grassroots to launch a tougher movement to free the party chairperson, but the central leaders do not want to put them in further risk, he observed. Alal also said that despite the repression and attacks by ruling party cadres and policemen, they are carrying out their work to reorganise the party. He believed that the party would certainly turn around because the people are with BNP and they would take to the streets to free the former premier. Khaleda Zia, who had been sent to jail in a graft case on February 8, 2018, is now undergoing treatment at a prison cabin of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, while party acting chairman Tarique Rahman in now living in London in self-exile.