joining parliament

Frequent shift in stance ‘confuses’ BNP leaders

RAFIQUL ISLAM AZAD and ABU JAKIR, Dhaka

Frequent changes in the decision to join parliament have left the BNP rank and file confused.

Senior leaders, including some standing committee members of the party, are at a loss over as to why the previous decision of not joining Jatiya Sangsad was reviewed at the last moment on Monday, the last day to take oath.

The unwillingness of party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to take oath compounded the confusion. Fakhrul’s parliamentary seat was finally declared vacant yesterday evening as the BNP secretary general neither took oath nor had he sought time.

A senior party leader, however, said that the decision to allow five party lawmakers-elect was strategic. Even Fakhrul's decision to refrain from joining Parliament was part of the same strategy, he claimed.

“The decision to let the five lawmakers-elect to join the House may bring loss to the party to some extent. But Fakhrul's decision will benefit it,” observed the leader requesting anonymity.

Many BNP leaders and activists said that the party was compelled to join Parliament to thwart a possible split and facilitate the release of party chief Khaleda Zia.

Political observers also said that there was no option for the BNP other than joining Parliament to avert a possible split in the party.

The BNP secretary general on Monday at a press conference said: “Considering the critical juncture in the political arena, we have decided to join Parliament as part of the movement to restore democracy and secure the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.”

Earlier in the evening, four party lawmakers-elect had taken oath, claiming that they

had taken the decision after consulting the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman through a Skype conference. On Thursday, another party lawmaker-elect, Zahidur Rahman Zahid of Thakurgaon-2, had taken the oath in violation of the party’s previous decision and was expelled from the party.

In the latest development, Fakhrul, who is also a party lawmaker-elect the from Bogura-6 constituency, however, told The Independent yesterday that he was not going to join Parliament. “I am not taking oath on strategic grounds,” he explained, saying that he did not even write to the Speaker seeking time to take oath.

A standing committee member of the BNP, preferring anonymity, questioned the reason as to why the party secretary general would not take the oath when the party finally reviewed its decision to join Parliament. He said it was not clear why the party’s decision had been changed. He, however, expressed hope that the party acting chairman would explain the matter in the next meeting.

The senior leader saw no logic in refraining from taking oath by the party secretary general since it was, after all, a party decision. “Being the second-in-command in the party, he (Fakhrul) should obey by the decision,” he observed.

When asked whether joining Parliament by the BNP would undermine the party’s image, the leader parried giving a straight answer. He said he could say how it would not damage the image of the party, but asserted that it would not do anything good to the party either.

Another standing committee member, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, declined to comment on the matter. “I don’t know anything. I will not make any comment. Since the party secretary general is our spokesperson, you should talk to him,” he said. BNP vice-president Shamsuzzaman Dudu termed the decision as strategic. “It's true that the decision to join Parliament has frustrated some leaders and activists. But the party regained its position through the decision of party secretary general not to join it,” he added.

“We want to observe the attitude of the government. If necessary, it will not take time for our lawmakers to resign,” he said.

Former election commissioner Brig. Gen. (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said there might be many reasons behind the BNP's decision to join Parliament, but the party had no other option. He also said the BNP was facing a vulnerable situation in the absence of the party’s top leaders.   The party may have decided to join Parliament to avert a possible split, he added.

“If the party refrained from taking oath, the internal problem might have worsened,” he observed. He, however, sees no qualitative change in politics with the BNP's decision to join Jatiya Sangsad.

Pro-BNP intellectual Prof. Imajuddin Ahmed felt it was not necessary to evaluate the party’s decision to join Parliament if it had been taken in consultation with the party policymakers. He, however, said the previous decision to not join Parliament was a far cry from being perfect.

Imajuddin Ahmed, former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, said BNP lawmakers should have joined Parliament together after taking the decision at the party forum. On Mirza Alamgir’s decision not to join, he said it might not be his personal decision.

BNP and its allies in both the 20-Party Alliance and Jatiya Oikyafront took part in the December 30 parliamentary election, where the BNP bagged only six seats and Ganaforum two. The Oikyafront turned down the election results, alleging 'massive vote robbery' and decided not to join parliament.

The Awami League (AL) has described the BNP's latest move to join Parliament as positive for democracy. It said the BNP lawmakers’ participation in Parliament will make it more effective and functional.

AL leaders felt the BNP’s allegation of a one-sided Parliament would not work anymore. Some senior AL leaders thanked the BNP MPs-elect who took oath and join the current Parliament. Only six BNP leaders were elected in the December 30 election. Of them, five leaders took oath, except BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Talking to this correspondent, AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said: “We welcome the BNP leaders who took oath and joined parliament.

“It is a positive sign for parliamentary democracy. We want all political parties to join Parliament and do constructive criticism of the government,” he noted.

AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said good sense dawned upon the BNP leaders, prompting them to join Parliament.

joining parliament

Frequent shift in stance confuses BNP leaders

RAFIQUL ISLAM AZAD and ABU JAKIR, Dhaka Frequent changes in the decision to join parliament have left the BNP rank and file confused. Senior leaders, including some standing committee members of the party, are at a loss over as to why the previous decision of not joining Jatiya Sangsad was reviewed at the last moment on Monday, the last day to take oath. The unwillingness of party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to take oath compounded the confusion. Fakhruls parliamentary seat was finally declared vacant yesterday evening as the BNP secretary general neither took oath nor had he sought time. A senior party leader, however, said that the decision to allow five party lawmakers-elect was strategic. Even Fakhruls decision to refrain from joining Parliament was part of the same strategy, he claimed. The decision to let the five lawmakers-elect to join the House may bring loss to the party to some extent. But Fakhruls decision will benefit it, observed the leader requesting anonymity. Many BNP leaders and activists said that the party was compelled to join Parliament to thwart a possible split and facilitate the release of party chief Khaleda Zia. Political observers also said that there was no option for the BNP other than joining Parliament to avert a possible split in the party. The BNP secretary general on Monday at a press conference said: Considering the critical juncture in the political arena, we have decided to join Parliament as part of the movement to restore democracy and secure the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia. Earlier in the evening, four party lawmakers-elect had taken oath, claiming that they had taken the decision after consulting the partys acting chairman, Tarique Rahman through a Skype conference. On Thursday, another party lawmaker-elect, Zahidur Rahman Zahid of Thakurgaon-2, had taken the oath in violation of the partys previous decision and was expelled from the party. In the latest development, Fakhrul, who is also a party lawmaker-elect the from Bogura-6 constituency, however, told The Independent yesterday that he was not going to join Parliament. I am not taking oath on strategic grounds, he explained, saying that he did not even write to the Speaker seeking time to take oath. A standing committee member of the BNP, preferring anonymity, questioned the reason as to why the party secretary general would not take the oath when the party finally reviewed its decision to join Parliament. He said it was not clear why the partys decision had been changed. He, however, expressed hope that the party acting chairman would explain the matter in the next meeting. The senior leader saw no logic in refraining from taking oath by the party secretary general since it was, after all, a party decision. Being the second-in-command in the party, he (Fakhrul) should obey by the decision, he observed. When asked whether joining Parliament by the BNP would undermine the partys image, the leader parried giving a straight answer. He said he could say how it would not damage the image of the party, but asserted that it would not do anything good to the party either. Another standing committee member, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, declined to comment on the matter. I dont know anything. I will not make any comment. Since the party secretary general is our spokesperson, you should talk to him, he said. BNP vice-president Shamsuzzaman Dudu termed the decision as strategic. Its true that the decision to join Parliament has frustrated some leaders and activists. But the party regained its position through the decision of party secretary general not to join it, he added. We want to observe the attitude of the government. If necessary, it will not take time for our lawmakers to resign, he said. Former election commissioner Brig. Gen. (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said there might be many reasons behind the BNPs decision to join Parliament, but the party had no other option. He also said the BNP was facing a vulnerable situation in the absence of the partys top leaders. The party may have decided to join Parliament to avert a possible split, he added. If the party refrained from taking oath, the internal problem might have worsened, he observed. He, however, sees no qualitative change in politics with the BNPs decision to join Jatiya Sangsad. Pro-BNP intellectual Prof. Imajuddin Ahmed felt it was not necessary to evaluate the partys decision to join Parliament if it had been taken in consultation with the party policymakers. He, however, said the previous decision to not join Parliament was a far cry from being perfect. Imajuddin Ahmed, former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, said BNP lawmakers should have joined Parliament together after taking the decision at the party forum. On Mirza Alamgirs decision not to join, he said it might not be his personal decision. BNP and its allies in both the 20-Party Alliance and Jatiya Oikyafront took part in the December 30 parliamentary election, where the BNP bagged only six seats and Ganaforum two. The Oikyafront turned down the election results, alleging massive vote robbery and decided not to join parliament. The Awami League (AL) has described the BNPs latest move to join Parliament as positive for democracy. It said the BNP lawmakers participation in Parliament will make it more effective and functional. AL leaders felt the BNPs allegation of a one-sided Parliament would not work anymore. Some senior AL leaders thanked the BNP MPs-elect who took oath and join the current Parliament. Only six BNP leaders were elected in the December 30 election. Of them, five leaders took oath, except BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Talking to this correspondent, AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said: We welcome the BNP leaders who took oath and joined parliament. It is a positive sign for parliamentary democracy. We want all political parties to join Parliament and do constructive criticism of the government, he noted. AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said good sense dawned upon the BNP leaders, prompting them to join Parliament.