‘BNP should maintain mature position, consistency’

‘Protests peaceful, but BNP may not contest the polls if crackdown continues’

Speaking at the Boithoki, BNP Vice-Chairman Enam Ahmed Chowdhury claimed that the people were with BNP. “It is clear that the people are joining our movement spontaneously.” “Not all of them are activists of our party. They like BNP and want to vote for it,” he said. “A mass public awareness has been created. The people are constantly with this movement.” Enam said their demonstration was peaceful. “There is no sign of turning it into a violent one. It is truly peaceful,” he said, adding that the party’s high command had strictly directed the activists not to be agitated. “This is why all the programmes have been peaceful,” Enam said. “But several thousand people have been arrested in the last several days. Given the way BNP activists are being arrested, it might not be possible for us to take part in the election.”

‘BNP facing temporary problem’

Economist Dr Mahbub Ullah has described BNP’s current crisis as a temporary one. “It will not be difficult to overcome it.” He said Bangladesh had people who believed in principles and ideals. “These people are the strength of BNP. They will helm the BNP,” he added. “People have some fundamental ideas, and those will help the BNP sustain,” Mahbub said. “The way BNP is able to create public awareness in a peaceful manner, shows that this public opinion will keep the party’s leadership ahead.” “Politics is a dynamic process... BNP had faced many problems in the past. After Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia strongly led the party even though she was a non-political woman. There was also a time when all the big leaders of Awami League were in jail,” he added.

‘BNP is not a true political party’

Awami League’s Organizing Secretary Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel said BNP was never a true political party. “It has organizational weaknesses. The way BNP is going right now raises questions about its morals,” he said. Nowfel said Khaleda had been kept in jail as she was convicted of corruption. “There are questions over how moral and logical it is to wage a demonstration to free a convict,” he added. “Maybe BNP understands that. They (BNP leaders) are in a wobbly state. Their moral position is very weak at the moment,” he added.

‘BNP is not facing moral crisis’

Addressing the roundtable, weekly magazine Saptahik’s Editor Golam Mortaza said he believed BNP was in a better position than before. He said there was no moral crisis in the party over the conviction of Khaleda in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. “The moral issue was never an important matter in the political parties. If it was, politicians like HM Ershad and the political parties could not have been in politics. “It is because the history of corruption by political activists is long. As a result, nobody has the moral high ground we talk about. This is why BNP has no moral crisis,” said Mortaza. He said the party’s organizational strength was much stronger than before. “The Awami League would have been at an advantage if BNP activists waged violent street protest after Khaleda’s incarceration. But we must admit that the BNP is leading a more mature movement.”

‘Demonstration on right track’

Harun Ur Rashid, the Bangla Tribune’s head of news, said that it was difficult to guess the future of any political party. “But I think the BNP’s movement is on the right track.” “The national election held in 2014 was not inclusive. Even the Awami League admits it. But Awami League had managed to technically put the blame on BNP since the latter had launched violent street protests across the country. “As a result, BNP could not cash in on the one-sided election. But things are different this time. Nothing of that sort (violent protests) took place this time after Khaleda Zia was sent to jail.” Harun continued: “I believe there is nothing called failure in positive political movement. Will success refer to BNP going to power? It is not like that. The style BNP is following in waging demonstration is its success. “People like it. The government cannot make mass arrests as BNP is not carrying out acts of sabotage. This is where BNP is successful.”