Incident one: After the 12th national parliament election, a leader named Arzina Parveen Chandni of Palashbari, Gaibandha collected nomination forms to become an MP from Awami League’s (AL) side in the reserved women seat.
During that time, she said that her family has been associated with AL for long time. She claimed that her father, grandfather (Maternal), Grandfather (Paternal) were active in AL politics and herself was associated with Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Government Azizul Haque College in Bogra.
With the change in the political landscape after the fall of fascist Sheikh Hasina on Agust 5, 2024, she overturned her political stance and became the president of Palashbari Upazila Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal.
Incident two: Golam Motiur Rahman Mukta, member of the Kulia Union AL in Melandaha Upazila, Jamalpur and the headmaster of Tanki Jobaida Jabbar High School.
He used to act with authority carelessly as he was close to the central and district AL leaders. After the change in country’s political landscape the AL leader became BNP leader of the union, igniting anger amongst field-level BNP leader and activists.
After the uprising of the students and the public, that AL leader has now become the leader of the BNP. Kulia Union has become the number one member of the BNP. This has caused extreme anger amongst BNP leaders and activists from the Grassroots level.
Incident three: Recently, three brothers were hacked in a clash that took place in the Purbachal, Dhaka over land for a housing project called Mega City. One of them is still undergoing treatment in the ICU at a hospital in capital. With the support of AL, the Mega City operated its activities.
Following topple of AL, those AL leaders and activists are now claiming of being BNP leaders and activists.
Tuhin Akhand, the joint general secretary of Ward No 8 BCL, Daudpur Union, is now the leader of Jubo Dal. Jubo League leader Shahin Akhand is now the leader of Jubo Dal. AL leader Erman Hossain is now the leader of BNP. Jubo League leader Riaz Uddin is now the leader of Jubo Dal. Chhatra League leader Nahid is now the leader of Jubo Dal. Chhatra League leader Sohag Molla is now the leader of Jubo Dal. Jubo League leader Ashad Fakir is now the leader of Jubo Dal.
Incident four: Salam Ali was the mastermind of the Uttara student-public massacre and an active worker of former Dhaka-18 MP Habib Hasan.
After August 5, Salam has not only become active in BNP politics, but Salam Ali has already declared himself the presidential candidate of Uttara West Thana BNP and has provided opportunities for leaders and activists of Turag and Uttara AL, Jubo League and BCL to infiltrate the BNP.
Among them are AL leader Alauddin Al Sohel, banned organization Chhatra League leader Abu Sayeed, Sabbir Hossain, Musa, Jubo League leader Manik, Al Amin, Gonder Sohel, Jubo League leader Ripon, Alam, Kamal and West Thana Jubo League leader Selim, and it is alleged that Salam Ali is trying to rehabilitate several leaders and activists of BCL and Jubo League into the BNP.
The scenario is almost same across the country. Leaders and activists of AL, Jubo League, Krishak League, and the banned BCL are changing shells and now some are joining the anti-discrimination students’ group, some are joining the BNP, and some are joining the Jamaat-Shibir.
Some are maintaining close connection with theses political parties even if they do not join directly. Some are moving with influential BNP-Jamaat leaders in the area. They are attacking the houses of AL leaders and activists to gain ‘trust’.
The shell changed’ AL men are filing various lawsuits. Just as some leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement were in BCL politics before the July Revolution, the leaders and activists of the banned BCL are also walking the same path. AL, Jubo League, Krishak League too are maintaining close connection with leaders and activists.
With the announcement of the roadmap for the parliamentary elections, many AL members are preparing to change shells and join BNP-Jamaat. The new hybrids that joined the BNP are leading attacks on the homes, offices, or party offices of AL leaders and activists to test their own ‘faith’.
Talking to AL’s grassroots level leaders and activists, it has been learned that some are joining BNP to escape lawsuits and attacks, some to stay safe. Many are also changing their sides, thinking that there is no ‘future’ in AL politics.
For this reason, some have already appointed lobbyists. While most of them have family ties with BNP’s influential leaders, some other have business ties with BNP. They are looking for a way to waive punishment using that relationship as an excuse.
Some say that they are advising AL leaders who have family ties with BNP leaders to wait until the elections. Because, they think that it is not possible to give any facilities to anyone during the tenure of the student-public interim government. AL leaders who have family ties with BNP leaders through family ties and business ties think that they will enter the field on BNP's side if the election roadmap is announced.
However, the most dangerous thing is the infiltration of BCL and Jubo League activists into the anti-discrimination student movement or the National Citizens’ Committee. A BCL activist wishing to be unnamed said: “The way they entered our organization before the July Revolution, we have instructions to enter their organization just like them. We are working in that way.”
BNP Vice Chairman Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad told Bangladesh Pratidin: “People from the fascist government have no chance to become BNP activists again.”
“The acting chairman of the party has clearly announced that those who have killed BNP leaders and activists, tortured them through attacks and cases should not be able to enter BNP in any way.”
Those who are talking about announcing a new party are being conspired with by fascist AL people, the former minister said, adding that he observed this in his constituency Muradnagar, Comilla. They will have no chance to infiltrate to BNP.
In this context, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal told Bangladesh Pratidin: “Our party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman has instructed that no new members can join the party after the change in the context. BNP's doors are closed to AL fastidious and its associates. That message has also been conveyed to the grassroots.”
Anti-discrimination student movement coordinator Rizwan Rifat told Bangladesh Pratidin: “There is no opportunity to give a place to those who took a stand against us in the July uprisings.”
“Even then, if someone enters by hiding their name and identity and specific allegations are made against someone, in that case, we are taking immediate action by verifying through our cells,” he continued.
Translated by Afsar Munna
