BNP is thinking about launching a tough movement in mid-September or early October to mount pressure on the government to release its chairperson Khaleda Zia and hold the next national election under a non-party administration, reports UNB.
Talking to the news agency, some party senior leaders said they are considering action programmes like staging sit-in and enforcing countrywide blockade programmes as they see no ray of hope of having Khaleda Zia freed through a legal battle and forcing the government to change its stance on polls-time government without a decisive movement.
Before launching the movement, they said, the party will first give the government an ultimatum either from a rally or at a press conference to meet their various demands, including the release of Khaleda, installation of a polls-time neutral government, and withdrawal of political cases filed against their party leaders and activists.
If the government does not concede to the demands within the given ultimatum, the party leaders said they will not have any alternative to announcing the tougher action programmes.
To wage the movement, the BNP leaders said the party is now focusing on completing the formation of all the committees of its different units and associate bodies alongside forging unity with opposition parties that are out of the 20-party alliance.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who returned home on June 13 last from London, held several meetings with party policymakers and senior leaders and convoyed them party acting chairman Tarique Rahman's messages.
A senior party leader, who was present at such a meeting with Fakhrul, told UNB that Tarique instructed the party leaders to prepare for both election and a tougher movement by uniting people and other political parties alongside intensifying its diplomatic efforts to get support from influential foreign countries, including India, to the party's demands.
The BNP leader said Tarique also suggested forming a greater electoral alliance with most opposition parties, including Gono Forum, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob), Krishak Sramik Janata League, Nagorik Oikya, and CPB.
Contacted, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said their party still wants the government to take steps for holding a credible and acceptable national election under a non-party neutral administration and create a level-playing field.
"But the government is still trying to snatch people's voting rights by holding another lopsided election and keeping our chairperson and party out of the race. We won't let it happen this time," he said.
Fakhrul said Khaleda will have to be freed and an election-time neutral government must be installed considering the country's political culture.
"We're trying to forge a greater unity with opposition parties and organisations. We hope we'll get good response, and will be able to realise our demands through a united and strong movement in due time," he added.
Party standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said their party has been in a process of forging a national unity with the parties out of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance. "The fall of the government will be ensured through the national unity. Once the unity is forged, we'll come up with effective programmes at a suitable time for dislodging the current autocratic regime."
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said their party has been on a peaceful movement as per the directives by Khaleda and Tarique. "But our grassroots leaders and activists are pressing us to work out harsher action programmes."
BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said they have started preparing their party for initiating a movement with harsher programmes. "We're giving main focus on making our movement a success this time in the capital."
Asked what they mean by tougher action programmes, Dudu said they will work out all democratic programmes like sit-in, rally, hartal, gherao and blockade being observed by the country's political parties for a long time to realise their demands. "But, this time we'll come up with new strategies to enforce the programmes and get results within a short time."
A BNP standing committee member, who wished not to be named, said they are planning to launch the harsher movement either in mid-September or early October depending on situation and the government's attitude towards their demands.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
