BNP turns 38 and looks aimless

It failed twice to force the Awami League government to hold a general election under a non-party administration. The failure made it pay heavily.

The party boycotted the national election under the AL-led government held on January 5, 2014 but could not resist it. All it got from the polls boycott was being kept out of parliament for the first time since restoration of the parliamentary democracy.

It waged violent street agitations from January to March this year to force the Hasina administration to call an early polls. Again it failed.

Both the occasions brought nightmares for the party leaders and activists. Huge numbers of the party men are facing cases or behind bars, many grassroots leaders are still on the run in the face of stern action by the law enforcement agencies. Many senior leaders facing cases chose to remain silent.

According to many of its leaders, the party is going through its most critical phase since its formation in 1978.

Under such a situation, the BNP is celebrating its 37th founding anniversary today.

To mark the occasion, the party has no plan to organise even a march as in the previous two years. 

BNP's activities have come almost to a halt after its pullout from anti-government agitation. Except for some media briefing and indoor meetings occasionally in the capital, there is no other noticeable activity of the party right now. 

Contacted, BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said over 20,000 BNP leaders and activists are now behind bars in around 22,000 cases across the country. He also said over 4.5 lakh BNP men were accused in different cases.

“From this statistics, you can easily imagine what sort of torture and obstacles we have been facing for the last several years,” he added.

“It's true that BNP is now going through a very critical juncture. But we are confident of overcoming the situation after reorganising the party comprising those who truly bear the ideal of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman,” BNP Standing Committee Member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said.

The party also needs to get rid of the elements who don't believe in BNP's ideals and are causing trouble for party with their politics driven by greed.

Talking to The Daily Star, a number of BNP stalwarts said the party should hold regular meetings at different levels to ensure transparency and democratic practices within the party.

Some BNP leaders say BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman's controversial speeches on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his interference in party activities from London are also responsible for the present condition of the party, at least to some extent.

Following the debacle in the three-month's movement, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has taken initiative to reorganise the party -- from grassroots to the central tiers -- to inject fresh blood before coming up with fresh agitation programmes.

The party is also making preparations for holding its sixth national council by November, party leaders said.

The BNP chief on August 9 instructed the party's 75 district units to form fresh committees comprising dedicated and competent leaders through councils by September 30.

“The process of reorganisation so far didn't get full momentum and could not boost the morale the frustrated party men,” a BNP central leader engaged in the revamp process, said.

Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of BNP standing committee, said the revamp process got obstructed by the government as it has started afresh harassing BNP men and filing “false” cases.