Amid deep uncertainty about the party’s political future—following a massive defeat in the December 30 general election—BNP is going to observe the first anniversary of the jailing of its chairperson Khaleda Zia, with a rally, on Friday.
Party senior leaders and Khaleda’s lawyers are hopeless about her release occurring soon as it depends on legal process, not waging a strong street movement.
Political analysts think BNP should focus on a movement about Khaleda’s release to revive the party and rejuvenate its demoralized leaders and activists.
BNP will hold a protest rally at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital, on Friday afternoon, marking the anniversary.
The rally will begin around 2:30pm and will be addressed by party senior leaders, said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Additionally, the party’s different units across the country will hold a similar program on Saturday.
BNP had planned to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday, but the party later postponed it due to the ongoing Ekushey Book Fair at the same venue.
On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years of imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
On October 30, the High Court doubled her five-year jail term as she challenged the lower court’s verdict.
On October 29, Khaleda was convicted in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by a special court.
The BNP chief is facing around 36 cases, including the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable corruption cases.
After the jailing of their chairperson, BNP waged a peaceful movement and organized different action programs, for over two months, but did not meet their aims.
Later, the party participated in different city polls—and finally the national election—apparently leaving the issue of Khaleda’s release for the court to settle.
BNP nominated Khaleda as its candidate to contest the national election for the Feni 1, Bogra 6, and Bogra 7 seats, but the apex court and the Election Commission declared her ineligible for the polls.
Though the party participated in the election while Khaleda was in jail, BNP suffered a massive defeat as it only won six seats, frustrating the party rank and file.
Khaleda’s lawyers said the BNP chief now needs to get bail in four cases to walk out of jail, but the issue of her release depends on the good will of the government.
“It would be very tough to free Khaleda Zia through a normal legal process as the government has destroyed all the institutions, including the judiciary. I personally do not believe we will be able to have her released from jail depending on the rule of law,” said BNP Vice-chairman and Khaleda’s counsel Khandker Mahbub Hossain.
He said the only way to free her is to heat up the street. “Until we do it, we will not be able to have Khaleda Zia released from jail.”
BNP insiders said though their senior leaders have remained united—for a long time—in the absence of their chairperson, a crack has developed among them over its leadership and how to overhaul the party.
Due to the division, they said BNP is failing to come up with an action program to invigorate the party’s disappointed grassroots after the December 30 general election.
Talking to UNB, pro-BNP intellectual and Dhaka University ex-Vice Chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said it is apparent that BNP senior leaders are struggling to run the party in the absence of Khaleda.
He said BNP had neither organized many protests against the “questionable” national election nor come up with an effective program to revitalize its grassroots.
Emajuddin also said BNP should carry out a legal battle and political movement to free Khaleda; and stage a political comeback.
A BNP standing committee member, wishing to remain anonymous, said their party faced three challenges—freeing Khaleda, winning the national election, and strengthening the party—after its chairperson was sent to jail. “However, we were unable to successfully overcome the challenges.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the government has kept Khaleda in jail for a year only to put BNP in trouble. “We are trying to get her released through a legal battle. We will also come up with action programs to mount pressure on the government to free her.”
BNP standing committee member Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar said he doubts whether it will be possible to free Khaleda from jail through a legal process. “I think Khaleda Zia will not be freed if we cannot initiate a strong fight on the streets.”
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said neither the court nor lawyers can free Khaleda without the government’s good will.
“Khaleda Zia will be freed in seven days if the government stops its political interference. So, we must now wage a united movement to force the government to free her.”
