Khaleda’s call for national unity

BNP plans nat’l convention soon

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has channelled her current activities towards forging national unity to fight against the rise of terrorism and militancy that threatens the very fabric of society in Bangladesh, according to party sources. “Three separate teams on political, diplomatic and intellectual fronts will work together to materialise the plan. The former premier herself will lead all the teams, while party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will act as the coordinator,” said a senior party leader. The leader said the formation of the teams would be finalised after discussions with people from different walks of life. As part of the initiative, Khaleda has already initiated formal and non-formal talks with political leaders, intellectuals and diplomats about forging national unity against militancy.

The party leader said the BNP chairperson considers that the current political impasse, and the threat of militancy and terrorism could only be resolved by uniting people from all sections of society to forge national unity.
“If the government does not respond to the call of the former premier to forge national unity, the BNP believes that it will ultimately pave the path for a national election under a neutral government,” he added.
Senior BNP leaders said the party has no plan to sever its tie with Jamaat-e-Islami, a major component of the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance, at this moment, considering its political importance in elections, despite serious opposition from some of the alliance partners.
A source close to the BNP chairperson said Khaleda had made it clear at the meeting of the 20-Party Alliance on Wednesday that Jamaat would stay in the BNP-led alliance. Khaleda had, however, told Jamaat to remind the government that it was with the Awami League during its anti-BNP movement when the BNP was in power, the source added.
The Jamaat representative at the meeting made snide remarks about those alliance partners that have been asking the BNP to snap ties with the Islamist party and instead join hands with other like-minded parties.
“What is the polling status of the parties that want to join the unity process by dropping the Jamaat?" the source quoted the Jamaat representative as having said.
In reply to the Jamaat representative, the BNP secretary general argued that even if those parties have no major status in terms of polling, their leaders are well known in society and politics.
Leaders of the 20-Party Alliance backed the call of Khaleda Zia to forge national unity and recommended holding a national convention at a convenient time.
Bangladesher Jatiya Party chairman Andalib Rahman Partha told the meeting that if Jamaat has any militant connection, the government may cancel the registration of the party. "The government has accused the Jamaat of siding with militants. The government can ban the party if this is the case. But it is only issuing political statements instead of taking any real action or presenting the proof," he said.

 

 

Khaledas call for national unity

BNP plans natl convention soon

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has channelled her current activities towards forging national unity to fight against the rise of terrorism and militancy that threatens the very fabric of society in Bangladesh, according to party sources. Three separate teams on political, diplomatic and intellectual fronts will work together to materialise the plan. The former premier herself will lead all the teams, while party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will act as the coordinator, said a senior party leader. The leader said the formation of the teams would be finalised after discussions with people from different walks of life. As part of the initiative, Khaleda has already initiated formal and non-formal talks with political leaders, intellectuals and diplomats about forging national unity against militancy. The party leader said the BNP chairperson considers that the current political impasse, and the threat of militancy and terrorism could only be resolved by uniting people from all sections of society to forge national unity. If the government does not respond to the call of the former premier to forge national unity, the BNP believes that it will ultimately pave the path for a national election under a neutral government, he added. Senior BNP leaders said the party has no plan to sever its tie with Jamaat-e-Islami, a major component of the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance, at this moment, considering its political importance in elections, despite serious opposition from some of the alliance partners. A source close to the BNP chairperson said Khaleda had made it clear at the meeting of the 20-Party Alliance on Wednesday that Jamaat would stay in the BNP-led alliance. Khaleda had, however, told Jamaat to remind the government that it was with the Awami League during its anti-BNP movement when the BNP was in power, the source added. The Jamaat representative at the meeting made snide remarks about those alliance partners that have been asking the BNP to snap ties with the Islamist party and instead join hands with other like-minded parties. What is the polling status of the parties that want to join the unity process by dropping the Jamaat? the source quoted the Jamaat representative as having said. In reply to the Jamaat representative, the BNP secretary general argued that even if those parties have no major status in terms of polling, their leaders are well known in society and politics. Leaders of the 20-Party Alliance backed the call of Khaleda Zia to forge national unity and recommended holding a national convention at a convenient time. Bangladesher Jatiya Party chairman Andalib Rahman Partha told the meeting that if Jamaat has any militant connection, the government may cancel the registration of the party. The government has accused the Jamaat of siding with militants. The government can ban the party if this is the case. But it is only issuing political statements instead of taking any real action or presenting the proof, he said.