BNP to announce prog tapping into movements of students, teachers

FE Team | Published: July 08, 2024 00:00:11

As public university campuses have become heated with separate movements by teachers and students, the BNP is readying to heat up the political landscape with a series of anti-government street programmes focusing on three specific issues, reports UNB.
The BNP policymakers at their recent meeting proposed announcing action programmes protesting widespread corruption and anti-state MoUs with India alongside those demanding Khaleda Zia's release, aiming to exert serious pressure on the government and garner public support.
The party has already observed a three-day programme in the capital city, as well as in all other cities and districts, demanding the unconditional release of its chairperson, Khaleda Zia.
Taking to the news agency, a BNP standing committee member, wishing anonymity, said they think now is the right time to intensify the anti-government movement on the streets, aligning it with the ongoing protests by university students and teachers on campuses.
In their last meeting, he said some standing committee members proposed action programmes like demonstrations, human chains, sit-ins and rallies in Dhaka and all other cities, districts and upazilas on the three specific issues.
"However, the programmes have not yet been finalised. The programme is likely to be finalised in our next meeting on Monday. We're trying to work out some more innovative and effective programmes," the BNP leader said
As per their initial plan, he said BNP will observe the programmes demanding Khaleda's release independently while the programmes against corruption and MoUs with India will be observed simultaneously with other opposition parties.
Another BNP standing committee member said his party's some policymakers, during their last meeting, opposed announcing direct political programmes against India and MoUs with the country due to geopolitical considerations. "They also prefer that BNP does not launch the movement on a full scale until September, considering the rainy season and flooding in some areas."
He also said most policymakers, however, argued that their movement is directed against the ruling party, not against India.
Earlier, the party observed a three-day programme--on January 29 in Dhaka, July 1 in all other metropolitan cities, and July 3 in all district headquarters, demanding the unconditional release of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
While the party was able to conduct the programme peacefully in metropolitan cities, it faced obstructions and attacks in some districts.