Relations between the BNP and the Ganatantra Mancha have turned cold over the timing of the all-out anti-government movement and formulating a joint declaration over simultaneous movement with like-minded parties.
Even though the leaders of both sides have met in “informal” meetings, they are not able to reach a consensus on the matter. Additionally, at least four senior members of the BNP's Standing Committee have expressed disagreement over constitutional and state reforms, causing a further delay in finalizing the joint declaration.
These issues came up during conversations with the top-level leaders of the BNP and the Ganatantra Mancha -- a platform of six parties -- in the last few days.
Several leaders of the Ganatantra Mancha said that the BNP has already taken two U-turns regarding the joint declaration. At first, the liaison committee of both sides finalized the “seven points” of the simultaneous anti-government movement. Then on April 13, the BNP suddenly proposed a joint declaration based on its 27-point outline. Then the leaders of the Ganatantra Mancha started working on the second draft.
On the night of May 8, the Ganatantra Mancha presented a joint declaration containing 35 points. Three to four senior leaders of the BNP opposed several points of the declaration. They raised various issues regarding constitutional and state reforms before the party's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman.
Left- and right-wing conflict
Several top-level leaders of the Ganatantra Mancha said that the BNP was supposed to prepare a framework after they submitted two draft proposals. Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, was given that responsibility.
However, the right-wing leaders are by no means in agreement with the 35-point declaration on constitutional and state reforms issues. A leader of the Ganatantra Mancha said that several senior leaders of the BNP have termed the delay in announcing the joint declaration as unfortunate.
Against the opposition of some senior leaders, two leaders of the Ganatantra Mancha told this reporter that the BNP Standing Committee members did not even want to see the seven points of the two liaison committees.
Quoting Tarique Rahman, BNP leaders insisted on keeping the draft outline limited to a small number of clauses. In fact, it was seen that several senior BNP leaders are opposing some initiatives aimed at reforming the constitution and transforming the state.
Asked about this, Saiful Haque, coordinator of the Ganatantra Mancha, said: "I am not sure why the joint declaration is not ready yet. I am not sure what the BNP is thinking. We have delayed the procedure too much. People had expected that the joint declaration would be made much earlier.
“We have already said that the commitment was to have the declaration in March, then it was moved to April, and now the month of May is nearing its end. The joint declaration is the basis of our anti-government movement.”
He added: “The joint declaration is the basis of a political movement. It will unite society, where human aspirations will be emphasised. There is a commitment before the people on having a joint declaration, program keeping in mind that fascist forces do not rise again in the country.”
Opposition leaders said that there is a clear division between the “right wing” and “left wing” of the BNP. The right-wing leaders are few in number but are influential. Secondly, there is an attempt to keep two to three influential leaders of the BNP away from the entire process.
One of the leaders of the Ganatantra Mancha said that the problem is internal. It is related to the leadership of the BNP. “Tarique Rahman has to play a direct role to solve this problem. If he does not take the initiative, the joint declaration of the simultaneous movement may also see no light,” he added.
Another leader of the platform said that the BNP has made a public commitment regarding the joint declaration. “They will suffer the most if they move away from it. The Ganatantra Mancha will also suffer as the people's trust will be broken. The BNP will be politically isolated.”
A reliable source in the BNP said that the Ganatantra Mancha sincerely wants to reform the state. They have worked with the experience of their leaders, who were part of the three alliances in the 1990s. They seriously considered the experience of the formation of the Jatiya Oikya Front in 2018 along with decisions on nominations coming from the BNP chairperson's office in the past.
That is why the Ganatantra Mancha has told the BNP since the beginning that the joint declaration should be announced by all the opposition parties together.
"The work on the joint declaration is going on. The BNP is a big party, so it is realistic to have opposition among the leaders. It is hoped that the issue will be resolved in the next standing committee meeting,” a member of the committee told this reporter on Sunday evening.
When asked, Zonayed Saki, one of the leaders of the Ganatantra Mancha, said: "We are working. Let's hope that soon a joint declaration will come from all parties and opposition alliances.”
