The country’s main opposition BNP is planning to come back to politics with full strength after the 12th parliamentary election which the party had boycotted as its demands were not met.

Policymakers of the party are thinking about some issues including the release of the BNP leaders and activists from prison, changes in important posts of the party, forming all-party unity, strengthening diplomatic efforts, maintaining organizational discipline, and increase of public affiliation in the movement.    

Contacted, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moeen Khan said the country’s people have rejected the authoritarian government by the 7 January election. For this reason, the BNP would revive the movement on the street to restore democracy unitedly with like-minded and pro-democratic parties. Works are underway to fix the plan by discussion with all.

BNP sources said a long discussion was held in a recent meeting of policymakers about the success and failure of the anti-government movement. In the meeting, leaders of the party described the low turnout of voters as a moral victory and analyzed the failure of the street movement. 

Senior leaders of the party think people have given their moral consent to BNP's hartals and blockades. The party’s high command demands that a low turnout of voters a special message to BNP’s stance. The demand for a non-party caretaker government will be continued with this support from the party.

However, many leaders think this will be a big challenge. They don’t think alternative to street movement to meet their demands. They think a mass upsurge may happen in the country anytime due to ongoing economic turmoil. Many governments in the world have been ousted by the sudden movement. That is why, BNP wants to form plans and programmes after reading people’s minds.

Meanwhile, BNP’s Naya Paltan central office has been opened after 75 days of closure to speed up the movement. The chairperson’s Gulshan office has also been opened. All offices throughout the country are being unlocked in phases. Many leaders, who went hiding to avoid arrest, are now coming public. Besides, strong legal efforts are going on for the release of the party leaders and activists from jail. On the other hand, BNP may chalk out weeklong programmes on the occasion of the 88th birth anniversary of the party’s founder late President Ziaur Rahman.    

According to the party insiders, the release of the party’s leaders from prison is the priority of BNP. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who is now staying in jail, got bail in nine cases. Programmes including rallies in Dhaka will be given after the release of all senior leaders during normal situations.   

BNP leaders think that the statements of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the United Nations, and the European Union about the just concluded parliamentary election will help the party’s future movement as these statements are related to the main demands of BNP. Besides, the party will observe the actions taken by the Western world. 

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said, “BNP had kept confidence in the people. People have given feedback to it. For this reason, we salute the people. Holding this confidence is now the main challenge. We are not worried about the new government. None can assure that this government will stay for the next five years. Time will say everything. BNP won’t compromise in the question of peaceful and constitutional movement to restore democracy.”   

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on January 16, 2024 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.