The political situation in Chittagong city is likely to be unstable in the coming days as the BNP is set to launch a tougher movement in the port city, while the ruling Awami League has vowed to resist them.
However, a number BNP leaders stressed on the formation of a full-fledged committee for the party’s unit in the port city.
They claimed the recent agitation programmes announced by the party’s central committee had not succeeded because the port city BNP had had a committee of only four members for the past four years.
Dr Shahadat Hossain, general secretary BNP in Chittagong city, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had formed a special squad of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal and Shechchhashebok Dal in each of the city’s 41 wards to make the programmes to be announced by the central committee soon.
“We organised iftar parties for leaders and activists of different units during throughout Ramadan, and Eid reunion in the past week,” he said.
Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury, president of the BNP in the port city and a former minister, said Chittagong had played a vital role in every national movement, adding that this time would be no different.
“We should proceed our movement in association with the mass people in a systematic way. But if the government tries to take away our democratic right, the movement will take a different course,” Khashru said.
However, AJM Nasir Uddin, general secretary of Awami League’s Chittagong city unit, said the BNP was not in a position to launch a tougher movement in Chittagong.
He said the Awami League would respond in kind if the BNP tried to create anarchy in the name of movement.
Meanwhile, a section of BNP leaders expressed confusion over the success of the movement and agreed that the party needed a full-fledged committee.
“It is necessary to form a proper committee before launching a tougher movement,” said Abdus Sattar, former joint secretary of the BNP in Chittagong city, adding that the previous programmes announced by the central committee had failed due to the lack of one.
Shahadat Hossain said they had sent a proposal of a full-fledged committee to the party chairperson and the secretary general two years ago, which was not approved due to reasons unknown.
He said they were optimistic of forming a full-fledged committee for the city unit immediately.
Abdullah Al Noman, vice-chairman of the BNP, said the process to form the unit committees was already underway.
He also said he was hoping the full-fledged committee of the party’s Chittagong city unit would also be formed immediately.