BNP has been fallen into dilemma in their continuation of the effort to realize demand of holding 12th national elections under neutral government through conducting movement. BNP leaders, from central to district level, have been occupied by cases filed against them. The most important leaders including their secretary general are in imprisonment, while most of the rest others in concealment.
However, some like-minded parties announced to participate in elections as the demand of holding polls under neutral government wasn’t realized. In addition, the parties formed by former BNP leaders are also going to participate in elections. Furthermore, as some BNP leaders announced to go to elections independently, BNP has fallen into serious dilemma, indeed.
However, according to BNP leaders, these matters won’t effect on their movement as they think their current movements are marching towards success and without BNP the government won’t make the elections a successful one.
According to the sources, unrest observed among the like-minded parties and alliance engaged in simultaneous anti-government movement. After October 28, BNP is struggling in raising movements and maintaining the unity. To overcome this crisis, the party has been fostered diplomatic efforts along with strengthening movement. Their one of the main challenges now is to prevent the like-minded parties from participating in the elections.
After the announcement of the election schedule, the participation of some leaders of the newly formed party, the activeness of Trinamool BNP, and the participations of the long-time allies Kalyan Party and Bangladesh Muslim League in the elections have embarrassed the BNP. Doubts have been raised about the registered political parties’ involvement in the movement. BNP leaders consider defectors as professional and selfish.
Barrister Kaiser Kamal, legal secretary of the party, said some misguided-interested people joined BNP for power. BNP is not in power now. So they are going back to their old appearance for personal gain. It will not affect the movement.
Claiming that the government has resorted to bad tactics to increase the number of parties participating in the election by pressure or temptation, he said no election will be meaningful in the country without BNP.
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, another lawyer leader of BNP spoke in much the same tone. He said, “The Election Commission has undertaken the project of renewing the power of the current government. No matter how hard they try, the government will be forced to resign in the face of the movement.”
At this time, he assured not to go to the election again.
Awami League is moving towards the same conspiracy that Awami League did in 2014 and 2018 to form the government without voting, but this time they will not pass, he said.
Expulsion of two leaders: BNP national executive committee member and former Rajshahi district BNP general secretary Matiur Rahman Montu and Dhaka Dhamrai Municipal BNP president Dewan Nazim Uddin Manju have been expelled. In a circular issued on Friday, it was said that they have been expelled from all positions including primary membership of the party on the basis of clear allegations of involvement in activities against party discipline. Earlier, two members of the National Executive Committee, Khandaker Ahsan Habib and Fakhrul Islam, were expelled by the BNP for their involvement in 'activities against party discipline'. BNP decided to expel them in the evening after these two announced the formation of a new alliance named 'Swatantra Ganatantrik Mancha' to participate in the 12th Parliament elections on November 15.
Meanwhile, according to party sources, 15, 890 leaders and activists of the party have been arrested in connection with the clash of BNP's grand rally on October 28. There have been 394 cases, 4, 593 people were injured and 16 people died. In 27 cases, 9 leaders and activists have been sentenced to death and 419 people have been sentenced to various terms. Apart from this, since the announcement of the schedule, 125 cases have been filed across the country against BNP leaders and activists. More than 3, 875 leaders and
activists have been arrested in these cases. More than 14, 690 leaders and activists have been accused in these cases. At that time, three people died and 537 people were injured in the attack by the law enforcement forces and the leaders and activists of the ruling party. Moreover, at least 290 leaders and activists have been arrested in 10 cases across the country in last 24 hours. 1, 250 leaders and workers have been accused. One person was killed and at least 25 other leaders and activists were injured in the attack.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 25 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque)
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