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Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is planning to launch an all-out movement from March-April to oust the Awami League government. To achieve the goal, it has again started movement at the grassroot level, chalking out an action programme at the union level at the rural and urban areas across the country. As part of the plan, the BNP observed the “Nationwide March” programme on February 11. As a countermeasure, Awami League brought out “Peaceful Rallies” at union-level across the country. In many places, the activists of the two arch-rival parties locked in clashes leaving many injured. Through the incidents, it became clear in the political arena that days coming ahead will not be peaceful. Rather, days will be tougher than ever. BNP wants to remove the government through a mass movement while Awami League does not want to give any space in the politics by allowing opposition movement. The question is who will be the winner in this political game—will it be the BNP or Awami League? Or any third force?
Why does the BNP consider March-April a suitable time for movement? When asked, the policymakers of BNP said that the people are fed up with the increased prices of essentials including fuel oil, electricity, and gas. The economic crisis will deepen in the coming days—especially during and after the Ramadan and the time will be March-April. BNP considers this period as an important time for a big movement.
Recently, the party leaders reviewed the economic situation of the country in the virtual meeting of its Standing Committee. According to their analysis, the economic condition of the country will worsen in the next few months. If the movement gets momentum, it can move towards Dhaka with a big programme even during the fasting month.
They believe that due to various crises in the country, there will be a lot of people’s involvement in the grassroots march. This will give an impetus to the movement. If a series of anti-government action programmes are executed, this will create a context for a greater big movement where people will be willingly involved. Such involvement was observed during the divisional public meetings last year.
BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said, “Last year’s public meetings’ target was not the fall of the government. But this time we have simultaneously started the movement to overthrow the government. Step by step the movement will be concentrated towards Dhaka from the grassroots.”
More March In Dhaka
BNP announced a march programme in Dhaka on February 9 and 12. The party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan on February 7.
Fakhrul said that a march would be held from Brothers Club ground to Jatiya Press Club on February 9 at Gopibagh at the initiative of Dhaka Metropolitan South. It will be organised by Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP. BNP’s Dhaka Metropolitan North unit organised a march from Shyamoli Club ground on February 12 to Basila via Ring Road, Shia Mosque, Taj Mahal Road, Nurjahan Road, Mohammadpur Bus Stand.
However, the February 9 programme was later rescheduled to show solidarity with the earthquake-stricken people of Turkey and Syria.
Responding to a question from journalists, Fakhrul said, “Now we have again gone to the union level. The main reason for this is that we want to take this movement to the final stage by involving the entire people of the country. Our ultimate target is to force this government to resign through the spontaneous participation of the people.”
Joint declaration of minimum demands on the cards
The work of making a joint declaration of minimum demands, summarising the demands of BNP and the parties involved in the simultaneous movement, has started. Liaison committee of BNP has met with the liaison committee of other parties and alliances regarding this.
On December 10, BNP announced 10-point demands from the Dhaka Divisional Mass Rally. On the same day, other like-minded parties also raised their demands. A final joint announcement will now be made to concentrate on a single demand for government’s registration before the general election.
Member of BNP Liaison Committee, Joint Secretary General of the party Moazzem Hossain Alal said other like-minded parties have been engaged in the process to make the joint declaration of the main demand. A proposal has been prepared and sent to the Standing Committee of BNP.
Like-mind parties, allies want big programme
Recently, Fakhrul held a series of meetings with the parties and alliances participating in the simultaneous movement. In these meetings, the leaders of the partner parties and alliances have advised him to give major programmes before the Ramadan. For this, they have proposed various programs including a long march towards Dhaka, road march, siege of Dhaka, mass march towards Dhaka, siege of the secretariat.
Abu Taher, President of NDP, a like-minded party, said that BNP has discussed with them about giving a programme of major movement towards Dhaka in the next few months.
Awami League’s fear
The ruling Awami League fears that at some stage of the anti-government movement, the BNP and like-minded opposition parties may sit down with a large number of people in Dhaka. And once the BNP can sit down, then the party can go on a continuous sit-in programme demanding the fall of the government. Awami League is on the streets with a counter programme to prevent that.
The assessment of the ruling Awami League is that the BNP has not been able to create such a situation as the Awami League has taken a strong position on the streets as a counter to the opposition’s strategy. It is still unclear whether BNP will take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections or not. In that case, if they continue the movement until the polls, Awami League will retain control of the streets in the same manner. The party workers will be strong. Besides, preparations for the election will also be done.
The party as well as the government has an internal assessment of the political situation. It is said that during the 14-year rule of the government, BNP has never been able to take control of the streets of the capital Dhaka. This is considered to be a major reason behind the current government’s uninterrupted power for a long time.
If the BNP takes a stand in Dhaka ahead of the upcoming national elections, it can shake the confidence that the government has in the administration. The governments may become weak or it will fall—such a perception may be created among the common people. Then ordinary people who are angry with the increased price of essentials can also join the programme. It will be difficult for the government to handle such a situation.
Apart from this, Awami League is seeing the interest of some influential foreign countries in BNP’s movement program this year. Perhaps the influential countries also want to see the strength of the opposition, including the BNP. For this, Awami League has strengthened the guard through a counter rally as an advance warning. The leaders of the party say that through this, on one hand, BNP is being put under pressure and on the other hand, it has also been shown that Awami League is strong on the streets as well as the government.
For 14 years, BNP has not been able to create any impact on the streets. So why do you feel such fear? Responding to this question, two central leaders of Awami League said on the condition of anonymity that there is some pressure on the government to organise a fair election, not to obstruct the democratic programme of the opposition party and to ensure the participation of all parties including BNP in the election. For this reason, the government does not want to suppress the movement of the BNP with law enforcement forces. In addition, US sanctions against seven RAB officers and talk of more sanctions to come have also played a role in the somewhat restrained use of law-enforcement forces. For this, it has been emphasized to deal with the opposition as much as possible politically.
Those leaders also said that if the BNP still leaves the government in disarray, the Awami League’s counter programme will be used effectively as well as the law enforcement forces. For example, BNP created an atmosphere of panic around December 10. For this, the party and law and order forces entered the field simultaneously. US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu did not pressure the government that way when he visited Bangladesh. From this it is understood that Awami League’s strategy is successful.
Awami League presidium member and Jatiya Sangsad deputy leader Matia Chowdhury said that the people of the country have not forgotten the past activities of BNP including arson. How can the Awami League be safe by leaving them? In addition, they are constantly lying. It needs to be answered. He said, Awami League program is far away from BNP. There should not be a problem if BNP does not start a fight.
The next President of Bangladesh
Awami League Advisory Council member Md Shahabuddin Chuppu is set to become the next President of Bangladesh as the ruling party on February 12 nominated him as the party’s presidential candidate.
An Awami League team, led by the party’s general secretary Obaidul Quader, submitted the nomination paper to the Election Commission.
“There is no reaction now. This is Almighty Allah’s will,” Shahabuddin told reporters after submission of the nomination paper at the Election Commission.
Shahabuddin, a retired district and sessions judge, served as a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Commission.
“Two applications have been submitted to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner and Presidential Election Officer at 11:00am and 11:05am for the same person. These two applications will be scrutinized on February 13. The chief election officer will inform you tomorrow after scrutinizing the nomination papers,”said Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam.
The EC set February 19 for presidential election, but it will not be held as Shahabuddin is the lone candidate.
The ruling party’s nominee will be declared the next president of the country as no other political party with representation in parliament proposed any name for the presidential election.
Shahabuddin was born in Pabna in 1949 and was one of the first members of Pabna district Chhatra League, Awami League’s student wing. He would eventually become the unit’s president.
In 1971, he was the convenor of the Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad in Pabna, and took part in the Liberation War.
He became the president of the Pabna district Jubo League in 1974.
He was imprisoned following the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. He was later appointed as the Law Ministry’s coordinator in the Bangabandhu assassination case.
In 1982, he joined the BCS (Judicial) Department, and in 1995, he was elected General Secretary of the Judicial Service Association.
He served as the chairman of the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which investigated murders, rapes, thefts, and other crimes by BNP-Jamaat alliance’s activists and leaders following the 2001 general election.
The commission set February 14 as the final date for withdrawing nominations.
According to the constitution, a new president has to be elected within 90 to 60 days prior to the end of the incumbent president’s tenure.
The previous presidential election schedule was announced on January 25, 2018.
Abdul Hamid was elected president unopposed for the second term on February 6 though the election was slated for February 18.
President Hamid is set to complete his tenure on April 23 this year
BNP has no interest
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on February 12 said their party has no interest in the presidential election.
“We do not want to comment on what this government is doing or not doing,” he told reporters at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office as they sought his comment on the ruling party’s nomination for the presidential election.
The BNP leader said the purpose of their press conference was to inform the media about the attacks and obstruction by the police and the ruling party activists during their party’s countrywide march programme at the union level on February 11.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said they are least bothered about who is going to be the next president of the country as their main focus is now on the ongoing movement for realising their 10-point demand, including the restoration of the government, dissolution of parliament and holding the next polls under a caretaker government.
