The BNP is making a final plan focusing on the capital as the center of the movement to realize one round of demands.
Encirclement of various important establishments, mass sit-ins, strikes, blockades, and even declaration of tough programs like 'non-cooperation' are contemplated. All levels of leaders and workers of Dhaka Metropolitan (North and South) BNP and surrounding districts have been asked to be fully prepared. However, the BNP and its allies will not go for any strict program before Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.
According to several sources of the party, the work of forming full committees of all units of BNP in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Manikganj districts is almost finished to make the Dhaka program successful. The government is expected to give an ultimatum to accept the 'one-point demand' from the public meeting held in Dhaka on October 18. If the demand is not met within the stipulated time, the BNP will announce the last phase of the strict program before announcing the schedule of national elections.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Have done many road marches and rallies. No more road marches. From now on everything will be in Dhaka. The government must be overthrown in the capital itself. Before Durga Puja, we do not go for any strict program, but in the meantime, if the government does not resign and hand over power to a neutral non-partisan government, the people will take over that power.”
According to multiple sources of BNP, the party has also completed a series of meetings with like-minded alliances and top leaders of various parties, including the Gonotontro Moncho, in addition to the meetings of the National Standing Committee, the highest policy-making forum of the BNP, on the final program of the movement.
In those meetings, international pressure on the government and the implementation of the US visa policy were discussed in detail about the program of the last phase of the ongoing movement. Although the international pressure on the government is in favor of the opposition, the top leaders agreed that they have to play a tough role on the streets to bring the fruits of the movement home.
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told Bangladesh Pratidin, “There will be no use in moving here and there. The government's time is over. Nothing will work, inside out or upside down. They have to say goodbye. People's patience is over. People from all walks of life are now waiting for their release. Hope there will be a change in a very short time.”
Talking to Bangladesh Pratidin, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Colonel (retd.) Dr Oli Ahmad said, “Politics is going through a very difficult time. It is very dangerous for the government. If the stubborn attitude of the government is not avoided immediately, it can cause serious danger for the country.”
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Considering the overall situation, it seems that the time of the ruling government is near. No fancy talk will do. Because people really don't want to see this government in power anymore.”
According to sources, keeping in mind the bitter experience of failure in the 2014 and 2018 movements, all the programs of the last phase of this movement are being arranged in the capital Dhaka. Apart from this, the policymakers of BNP think that the fall of this government is not possible without a strong movement in Dhaka. Keeping these bitter experiences of the past movement in mind, the capital is being given the most importance this time.
(The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on October 8 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
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