AL to keep BNP under pressure

The ruling Awami League has decided to keep the BNP under pressure and not to allow the opposition men to launch any street agitations demanding Khaleda Zia's release from prison, say sources.

According to AL leaders, the BNP has failed to wage any tough protests following Khaleda's verdict on Thursday but might go for a movement in near future as “her stay in jail may linger”.

“We will adopt a tough stance. We will not allow them to take to the streets. If the BNP takes that path, we will face them,” an AL organising secretary told The Daily Star, wishing anonymity.

AL leaders said the party is now fully engrossed in election campaign but is also keeping an eye on the BNP.

Besides, the AL has devised a strategy to brand Zia family members as corrupt people, highlighting the court verdict in a graft case against Khaleda. Pro-government men are also criticising the BNP for making a "corrupt" Tarique Rahman the party's acting chairman.

Yesterday, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that BNP is a “self-proclaimed corrupt party”.

“By removing article 7 from the party's constitution in the dark of night, the BNP has proved that it is a self-proclaimed corrupt party,” he said while talking to reporters in Narayanganj.

Article 7 stipulates that no one can stay in a party committee if he or she is convicted by a court. The BNP amended its charter, dropping this section in 2016.

Obaidul Quader also said, “The court verdict is a warning for the corrupt politicians of Bangladesh.”

At another programme at the Jatiya Press Club, AL Presidium Member Mohammed Nasim said there is no political crisis in the country centring the upcoming parliamentary polls and there won't be any in future. 

He added that many from different quarters, including the BNP, are predicting that there will be a political crisis following the court verdict that sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to five years in jail.

The minister called upon the BNP not to create an unstable situation over the judgment and added that the Awami League never hatches conspiracy to keep a political party or person out of the electoral process.

The people who claim that the verdict was given only to keep Khaleda out of the election race do not believe in the rule of law and have no respect for court, he added.

"We want to hold the next general election with the participation of all political parties," he said.