Army officer-turned-diplomat-turned-politician Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury’s retirement from politics will not harm the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), but will embarrass it, party insiders said.
“The BNP is a big political party and was in power thrice. It has carved a place for itself in the hearts of the people over the last 35 years. The exit of a single person will not be a big loss,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, told reporters in Sylhet yesterday.
While most party leaders agreed with Fakhrul that Mubin’s retirement would not affect the party organisationally, they anticipate that his announcement would create scope for the ruling Awami League to play games with it.
They said Mubin’s resignation would raise many questions inside and outside the country. The party leaders would have to face those questions.
Mubin, a wounded freedom fighter and former diplomat, enjoys very good diplomatic connections.
Thursday’s sudden public announcement of retirement by Mubin, who cited ill health for his decision, would pave the way for the ruling party to play games with the BNP leadership, some commentators said.
Awami League leader Obaidul Quader yesterday claimed Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury’s resignation from politics was the “result of the BNP’s negative political practices.”
Mubin’s decision to bow out of politics comes at a time when the BNP has still not recovered from an unsuccessful anti-government movement, when the party chief is in London and when most senior leaders are either in jail or have gone underground.
The BNP has been in a forlorn state since it failed to oust the government from office in a violent movement that lasted from January to April.
The party has been out of power for nine years and thousands of its leaders and activists are facing cases and are on the run.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been in London for more than a month and a half. During her absence, several incidents of violence have taken place in the country. Her return to Dhaka has not been confirmed, but some are saying she may come on November 3.
Failing to secure anticipatory bail, many senior leaders of the party have kept a low profile and have remained largely politically inactive.
