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The recent spate of clashes between the Awami League and BNP supporters across the country has political analysts and observers wondering whether Bangladesh’s is veering towards confrontational politics. Since the BNP announced its protest programmes in early September, a series of clashes took place either between BNP and ruling Awami League or between BNP and police. In some places, BNP alleged that its leaders and activists came under attack from AL and police jointly. Already, a number of BNP activists were killed in the clashes in Narayanganj and Munshiganj. BNP alleged that its activists were killed in police firing but police have rejected the allegation and brought counter allegation that they were killed by brick chips hurled by BNP activists.
BNP is trying to create a new polarisation in politics with anti-Awami League forces. On the other hand, the Awami League is trying to keep its political strength intact against any move by BNP to mobilise its leaders and activists in the name of “resisting anarchy”. This time, it seems BNP wants to show off in a different way. It re-organised protest rallies where it faced resistance from arch-rival Awami League. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused BNP of “creating anarchy” in the name protest rallies during her USA visit.
BNP refuted her accusation and reiterated its stance on ‘no election under Awami League’, and continued demanding holding of next general election under a neutral caretaker government and rejected the Election Commission’s decision to use electronic voting machine (EVM) in the polls.
Meanwhile, many political observers believe that the Jatiya Party (Ershad) is trying to distance itself from ruling Awami League as part of political polarisation. JP Chairman GM Quader relived party advisor Raushan Ershad from the post of chairman of parliamentary party.
AL, BNP clash in Pallabi
A huge clash took place in Mirpur’s Pallabi on Sep 15 when supporters from both sides were attending rallies in close proximity. Police intervened with tear shells and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.
The BNP and its supporters gathered to protest against the rising prices of daily commodities including fuel oil at the Mukul Fauz field near Muslim Bazar at Section-6. The Awami League and its supporters, on the other hand, met at Eidgah ground at Block D of Section-12 to mourn the death of their leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury.
Parvez Islam, in-charge of Pallabi Police Station, said the clash occurred after 2pm and it took police one and a half hours to control the situation.
No casualties have been reported. A stone thrown from the BNP group toward the Awami League as the two sides were making their way to the rally venues sparked the clash, Parvez said.
The arrival of police transformed the clash into a three-way skirmish, blocking off traffic and forcing the stores shut. Inspector (operations) Uday Kumar Mondol said the Awami League meeting started around 2:30pm and ended an hour and a half later but the BNP crowd never returned after dispersing.
Aminul Haque, a BNP member secretary, claimed that the leaders and supporters of the party arrived there “with the permission of police” and upon their arrival, the supporters of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League began “assaulting with sticks”, while police fired tear shells.
Aminul said the clash was a testament to the Awami League’s efforts to quell the BNP’s demonstrations against rising commodity prices.
Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, the president of Awami League’s Dhaka North unit, said their rally was “planned” and the BNP later announced a gathering there as well. Though the BNP later changed the location, it was not too far away.
The Awami League leader mentioned that they were “instructed” to avoid altercations with the rallies being held at such close distances. “But some overenthusiastic people got involved in a mess.”
100 injured in Munshiganj police-BNP clash
At least 100 people, including journalists and police officers, were injured in a clash between security forces and BNP activists in Munshiganj on Sep 21.
Among those injured, an additional superintendent of police and two BNP men, were in critical condition.
The clash took place at a protest rally in the Ferryghat area of Mukrarpur, pre-announced by the BNP and in line with the party’s 17-day demonstration programmes, which have taken an aggressive turn in recent days following repeated crackdowns by security forces.
BNP leaders say that apart from obstructing their protests, police are intimidating party members by going to their houses, supposedly for information.
“The action of the police is a blatant interference with the personal liberty of the citizen, which is a clear violation of Articles 31, 32 and 43 of the constitution. Even the Code of Criminal Procedure, Police Act or any other law do not support this,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference in Gulshan on Sep 21.
Tarikuzzaman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Munshiganj Sadar Police Station, claimed the police were trying to control the pre-announced rally when BNP activists attacked them suddenly and police charged batons to disperse the group.
Jubo Dal Man Injured In Munshiganj Clash Dies
Jubo Dal activist Shahidul Islam Shaon, 27, who was injured during a clash between BNP men and police in Munshiganj died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was on life support with head injuries, said his younger brother Sohag.
Shaon is survived by his wife and one-year-old son.
Meanwhile, over 1,700 people have been sued in two cases filed over the violence.
Mohammad Mainuddin, sub-inspector of Munshiganj Sadar Police Station, filed a case accusing 313 named and 1,200 unnamed people accusing them of “attacking cops on duty and attempting to rob their firearms”.
Abdul Malek, leader of Sramik League, a pro-Awami League workers body, lodged the other case accusing 52 named and 200 unnamed of being involved in “violence, damaging public properties and setting fire to vehicles”.
The sheer number of the unnamed accused has sent most local BNP leaders and activists into hiding, reports the Daily Star.
Md Mohiuddin, convener of BNP’s Munshiganj Sadar upazila unit, said almost all party leaders and activists were on the run as police were raiding their homes.
Meanwhile, criminals allegedly set fire to a spinning mill owned by former general secretary Md Nizamuddin of the district BNP in Mireshworai area. Nizamuddin is also the nephew of BNP’s Munshiganj district unit convener Abdu Hai.
Locals said they woke up to the smell of something burning around and found the factory ablaze. “On information, we rushed to the spot and doused the fire after around two hours of efforts,” said Nirmol Chandra of Fire Service and Civil Defence in Munshiganj.
The fire department could not say how the fire began.
Nizamuddin alleged that ruling AL men had set fire to his factory and that all machines and products were gutted.
He also alleged that he sent a person to the local police station to file a general diary, but police did not record it.
Suman Dev refuted the allegation and said police were supposed to record the GD.
BNP Won’t Form Govt Alone If It Wins
BNP would not form a government alone, even if it wins the majority in the next general elections, party members have said.
BNP wants pro-democratic forces to unite and form a government that would represent its people in order to repair the current state system, BNP Media Cell highlighted the party’s stance at a meeting organized in Rajshahi on Sep 24.
The party wants to form an anti-fascist government with all the political forces, and alliances that will win the next polls, reports Bangla Tribune.
In this regard, Member of Parliament Rumeen Farhana said that government institutions have been destroyed, and the party which has the majority of power becomes a dictator at one point.
“So we don’t believe that a mere shift in power will lead to a fundamental change in the system. Therefore, we want to build a bicameral parliamentary system with all small and big parties,” she added.
Member Secretary of BNP Media Cell Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie mentioned that to ensure Bangladesh’s citizens regain their power, an urgent repair is needed in the state system.
BNP wants pro-democracy forces to form a strong, effective state with a government that would actually represent the country’s people, he added.
Meanwhile, speakers at the meeting said BNP leaders have failed to play their role. If BNP leaders had spent their time organizing rather than forming teams among themselves, the party would have prospered.
‘No Scope To Change Govt Without Polls’
Drawing the attention of the BNP leaders, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that there is no scope of changing government without holding elections.
“People’s mandate and holding elections are the only way to change any particular regime of the government,” he said, addressing a press conference at his office in the Secretariat on Sep 25.
Criticising BNP Secretary General Fakhrul for frequently demanding resignation of the government, the ruling party leader asked the BNP leaders why the government will resign and who will accept the resignation.
Quader said: “The government has been elected for a certain tenure and the next elections will be held in the scheduled time. BNP must return to positive politics, if they [BNP] want to change the government. Otherwise, it will be useless to create chaos for materializing the goal of changing the government.”
Referring to BNP’s demand of bringing back the caretaker government, the ruling party general secretary said the caretaker government is a settled issue and nothing will be achieved by repeatedly raising the issue.
“Ruling Awami League is always confident that people are with them for its development and achievements. So, BNP’s dream to capture power in an undemocratic way will come to an end soon,” said Quader.
BNP: People Ready For Final Movement To Oust Govt
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said the country’s people are ready for the ‘final’ movement to oust the current government, braving bullets and repressive acts.
“Prime Minister, you can no longer suppress the power of the people with your anger, rifles and guns. You don’t know in which direction rifles and guns will turn now. There’s still time to hand over power to a caretaker government,” he said at a human chain protest on Sep 25.
The BNP leader said people have got fed up with the misrule and repression of the government.
“People across the country have become agitated and you can’t resist them by putting up any barricade. The awakened people are just waiting for the final push and they’re ready to do it,” he said.
Bangladesh Labour Party arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting against the unusual price hikes of daily essentials and demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s unconditional release.
Rizvi accused the government of misleading people by spreading propaganda that Jubo Dal activist Shaon was killed by a brick chip thrown by BNP leaders and activists.
“Those who are talking nonsense and trying to confuse people in various ways after killing people won’t be spared from the anger and outrage of the people,” he warned.
The BNP leader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was talking against war and advocating for peace by addressing the UNGA while law enforcers were killing people in Bangladesh.
“While talking about the Rohingyas, she’s crying at a time when blood was flowing in Bangladesh. This contradiction suits Sheikh Hasina. She buried her country’s democracy and freedom of speech and enacted the Digital Security Act to control the media,” he observed.
Reacting to Quader’s comment that BNP wants to go to power by doing the politics over corpse, Rizvi said their party has been holding their programme peacefully, but police and the ruling party activists are attacking those intentionally.
He said four leaders and activists of BNP’s different associate bodies have been killed in police firing since July 31. “Even after that, Quader says BNP does the politics of corpse. They’re lying and making unguarded and inhumane comments only to appease Sheikh Hasina.”
Describing the current Election Commission as a worthless and subservient one, the BNP leader said it is not capable of holding a fair election. “They (current EC) are the servants of Sheikh Hasina. If she asks them to call a day as the night they will say it a night.”
Ranga: Will Rejoin The Party If They Call For Me
Jatiya Party leader Mashiur Rahaman Ranga has said he will rejoin the party if he gets called again.
He made the statement at a press conference at Nasrul Hamid Hall of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Sep 22.
Ranga said: “Is it my fault? I don’t understand why our chairman, who is my relative, did this. The way I have been relieved from the party is not democratic. If there is no democracy in the party, then how will we fight for democracy?”
“There are some futile people around our chairman and I have been removed from the party on their ill-advice. They are dividing the party now,” he added.
Wishing for the Jatiya Party to run unitedly as one he said: “It doesn’t matter whether I am in the party or not, I don’t want the party to be divided or defamed. I want the team to run smoothly or else I will not be in the Jatiya Party.”
Asked whether the Jatiya Party will go for BNP, Ranga said, “It is up to our senior leaders, they will decide which party to select in the election.”
Nothing To Be Worried, PM Assures BNP
Prime minister Hasina addressed a press conference at Bangladesh Permanent Mission in the United Nations in New York on Sep 24 where she reiterated that election process only becomes transparent in the tenure of the Awami League (AL) government which was not in the past.
She also said AL always comes to the power through the people’s votes.
“AL never ever came to the power through rigging votes rather AL always comes to the power through the votes of the people,” she said.
Responding to a question she said: “Who are those people who wanted to raise questions regarding elections? AL always fought to establish democracy in the country.”
Sheikh Hasina categorically said that people will cast their votes freely in the elections and assured de facto opposition BNP that there is nothing to be worried.
“I think they (BNP) are really worried when there will be a transparent election, as they are not going to get the scope to be in the power through vote rigging and keeping 1.23 crore fake voters in the list. Otherwise there is nothing to be worried,” she said.
The prime minister said that she doesn’t know what is there to give so much importance on those people’s question regarding the election those who never came to the power by getting votes from the people.
“People cast their votes in the election freely in 2009, 2014 and 2018 elections held under such environment,” she added.
Talking about the participation of BNP in the election, she said, BNP didn’t participate in the 2014 elections. It was their party’s decision, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said, “They knew that they don’t have any possibility to come to the power through an accurate election process. They are habituated to come to the power through killing, coup and conspiracy. That is the reality.”
Sheikh Hasina also claimed that the AL government has put the election process of the country on the right track which had been derailed during the military regimes and BNP-Jamaat tenures.
The prime minister firmly said that the AL government has ensured the people’s right to vote.
Sheikh Hasina also claimed that the AL government has put the election process of the country on the right track which had been derailed during the military regimes and BNP-Jamaat tenures.
About Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs), she said that EVM is a modern system and used in many countries around the world.
“We saw that the elections where the EVM was used got quicker election results and people could give their votes freely,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, however, said that it is right that there are some people against this EVM.