Political tension mounts as AL, BNP plan to take to streets on Feb 8

BNP is making all-out preparations to be present on the streets in Dhaka on February 8, the day a Dhaka court will announce the verdict in a graft case against Khaleda Zia, while the Awami League is reportedly planning to resist them, triggering fresh political tensions. BNP insiders said party leaders have already given directives to members to take position around the makeshift special court set up in Dhaka's Bakshibazar area on the day, defying all obstacles in order to stage a massive demonstration if Khaleda is convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. However, party men have been asked not to indulge in any violence, but only to resist attacks by the police and ruling party activists. Awami League senior leaders said they have also instructed their party leaders and activists to be vigilant on the streets that day so that their main rival party activists cannot create any “chaos” over the court verdict. Police officials at a meeting led by new IGP Mohammad JavedPatwary on Thursday evening decided not to allow BNP members to create any trouble in the city on February 8, no matter what the court judgement is. A huge number of police will be deployed in and around the special court areas and all the entry points of the city. In the meantime, the movement of vehicles will be restricted to prevent BNP leaders and activists from gathering at any point to stage demonstrations. Meanwhile, police drives are in progress to arrest BNP leaders and activists in three cases filed with the police over the January 30 attacks on law enforcement officials near the High Court. Police have already arrested over 250 BNP leaders and activists, including Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, in this regard. When contacted, Awami League Joint General Secretary MahabubulAlamHanif said by attacking the police, the BNP has shown that it could not yet do away with “subversive activities”. "So, they may try to indulge in violence on February 8, and the police will handle any such move with an iron hand." He said ruling party members need not take to the streets as the police are capable of handling BNP activists. An Awami League Presidium member, requesting anonymity, said their party members would be out on the streets alongside the police to resist the BNP's anarchic activities, if any. Maruf Hossain Sardar, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna zone), said they would take strong security measures so that no one can indulge in any violence or disorder on February 8. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said their party leaders and activists together with people can register their protest in a peaceful manner if their chairperson is “unlawfully” convicted in a “false” case. "BNP doesn't believe in the politics of violence. But the government is trying to create a volatile situation with its provocative acts. We also conducted our movement in a peaceful manner in the past, but the ruling party carried out subversive acts to malign us and shift the blame onto us," he said. Fakhrul said they are aware of the government's plot and already instructed their party men not to respond to any provocation of the ruling party activists and police. Under the circumstances, the BNP is going to hold its National Executive Committee meeting at Hotel Le Méridien in Dhaka today. The party has invited 700 party leaders to solicit their opinions about the party's next course of action, and will give them necessary directions to remain united under any circumstance and carry out the movement peacefully as well as take preparation for next general polls even if Khaleda is convicted. Meanwhile, Khaleda along with party senior leaders have already worked out some plans as to how the party will be run in case she is imprisoned. As per their plan, the Standing Committee members, led by senior most member KhandakerMosharraf Hossain, will run the party and take major decisions in consultation with Tarique Rahman, now in the UK. Tarique, the BNP vice-chairman, will become the acting chairperson of the party as per the party constitution in the absence of Khaleda. The party has also started sending letters to the foreign ministers of different influential countries to mount pressure on the government so that Khaleda is not convicted with its influence. In a letter written to the Italian Foreign Minister, the party said, "We write to you on behalf of the BNP to draw your esteemed attention to the political attempt by the highly flawed Sheikh Hasina-led government in Bangladesh to disqualify...Khaleda from national parliamentary elections by way of a fabricated case on February 8, 2018."