BNP has started to rethink its next course of action with the drafting of fresh political strategies in the wake of its existential crisis, the direst since its inception. The potential strategy will focus on two core issues: the spirit of the Liberation War and patriotic thought that influences the younger generation.
The party plans to regain power with a major reform. As part of this process, BNP wants to part ways with its long time political ally, Jamaat-e-Islami. The top brass wants to gain the trust of the international community while keeping national interests intact and fortifying the Jatiya Oikya Front, its new alliance.
The party’s main priority now is to free its Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.
Since BNP’s key plan is to build itself on the spirit of the Liberation War and the progressive mindset of the younger generation, it wants Jatiya Oikya Front to be stronger in the coming days. That is why the party high command decided to form the alliance with Dr Kamal’s Gono Forum and other progressive parties before the December 30 general election.
Emajuddin Ahmed, former vice-chairman of Dhaka University, said: “I often speak with BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman. I think he is planning to set a new political goal for the party. That is why the procedure to put aside Jamaat has begun. It will be better if Jamaat leaders step aside on their own. But if not, then circumstances will eventually force them to do so. There is no denying the reality that Bangladesh was born through a Liberation War.”
BNP Standing Committee Member, Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar, said: “We have formed the Jatiya Oikya Front and made Gono Forum Chief Dr Kamal Hossain its leader in line with this spirit.”
How will the 20-year relationship end?
The view from BNP’s grassroots seems to be that having Jamaat-e-Islami as an ally has destroyed the image that BNP is a party of actual freedom fighters.
Multiple leaders of the party told Bangla Tribune that two influential persons were directly involved behind the joining of Jamaat with BNP. Both of them have passed away. They were former prime minister Kazi Zafar Ahmed, and journalist and politician, Anwar Zahid.
Jatiya Party’s (Kazi Zafar faction) acting chairman, Mostafa Jamal Haidar, said Kazi Zafar played the biggest role in forming the four-party alliance.
A former member of BNP’s standing committee told Bangla Tribune that Khaleda Zia, at a committee meeting in 1999, said: “I have taken a decision and all of you must promise to accept it.”
Former BNP secretary general, Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury, was present. He could not be reached for comment.
A year after forming the four-party alliance with Jamaat, BNP came to power in 2001 and included Jamaat in the government. According to many BNP leaders, adding Jamaat in the government was a politically incorrect decision. Journalist Anwar Zahid also worked behind the scenes to merge Jamaat into the BNP government.
Two members of the BNP standing committee said Jamaat leaders, who were supporters of Pakistan, became members of Khaleda Zia’s cabinet: Motiur Rahman Nizami, and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid. BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury also got a portfolio. All three were hanged, being convicted for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
Standing committee members also said that power struggles between ministers Saifur Rahman and Mannan Bhuiyan in that cabinet divided and weakened senior party leaders, paving the way for Jamaat leaders to grow stronger and leading the party astray.
Senior standing committee members said that BNP veered from the spirit of the Liberation War during that period of conflict. The then high command of BNP played an inactive role during the insurgence of militant Shaykh Abdur Rahman, also known as Bangla Bhai. At that time, Motiur Rahman Nizami even told reporters that ‘Bangla Bhai’ is a character created by the media. BNP had to pay for the damage that Jamaat leaders wreaked.
BNP standing committee member, Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarker, said: “Jamaat came closer to BNP when the party formed a government, winning the 1991 election. The BNP high command put their trust in Jamaat after it secured 17 parliamentary seats and supported BNP.”
Two BNP standing committee members said BNP Chief Khaleda Zia accepted Jamaat’s support under the initiative and efforts of three influential right-wing leaders of BNP.
One senior member of the standing committee said: “Khaleda made the decision with the request of Abdus Salam Talukder, Abdul Matin Chowdhury, and Mostafizur Rahman. Leaders such as Badruddoza Chowdhury, Mazedul Islam, Sawkat Ali, and Sheikh Razzak, opposed the move. She failed to understand the significance of that decision.”
Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar remarked that siding with Jamaat had its benefits in terms of the vote bank.
Despite his observation, the BNP high command believes that vote counts will not matter in future elections. Therefore, though the two long-time allies are still apparently going strong, the stage has already been set for a separation.
BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said: “The BNP-Jamaat tie is not the main problem now. The problem is that there is no democracy and freedom in the country. The government is uncomfortable. It is upset with its allied parties. I think BNP should wait and maintain its normal course of action in politics.”
Within Jamaat, a disagreement is brewing over a call to disband and reform as a new organization, due to its role during the 1971 Liberation War. Jamaat’s associate secretary general, Barrister Abdur Razzak, has resigned, saying the party should have apologized for the war.
When asked whether BNP is breaking up with Jamaat or not, Jamaat’s Central Executive Council Member, Dr Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, told Bangla Tribune: “Jamaat is actually thinking of separation because BNP has made the alliance inert. However, no final decision has been made yet by the Majlis-e-Shura, the advisory council of the party.”
Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, Mia Golam Parwar, told Bangla Tribune: “There is no scope to split up the alliance secretly. It will be publicly announced when it happens.”
A new message for the international community
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has already appeared before the international community with new realizations and ideas of the party. Though he went to Singapore on February 4 for medical treatment, his main objective was different.
A member of BNP’s foreign affairs committee (FAC) has hinted that Fakhrul is currently in the US and also planning to visit Australia and London.
Another FAC member hinted that Fakrul will meet Tarique Rahman in London to make important decisions about the party’s next course of action.
When asked on this matter, BNP FAC Chairman Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told Bangla Tribune: “As far as I am concerned, Mirza Fakhrul went to Singapore only for treatment.”
“The international wing of BNP has already been reformed and the next meeting of the committee was scheduled to be held on February 16,” he added.
According to a reliable source of the committee, Mirza Fakrul is expected to return home by February 20.
“He is holding talks with various quarters of the international community on the party’s fresh ideas and other issues such as Jamaat, the 11th general election, and the present political situation of Bangladesh.”
