Publish : 31 Dec 2021, 11:32 PMUpdate : 14 Oct 2022, 06:31 PM
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) spent almost the entirety of 2021 focused on the sole objective of arranging medical treatment abroad for party chief Khaleda Zia.
The government turned a deaf ear to BNP’s repeated protests, maintaining that a person who has been convicted in graft case cannot be allowed to leave the country.
Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in a corruption case in 2018. Following the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, the BNP chairperson was allowed to serve her sentence while receiving treatment for several health complications in house arrest.
According to political commentators, the BNP has so far not had the opportunity to launch a major movement on issues of public interest under pressure from those in power. However, BNP did have the opportunity to organize and overcome its lack of leadership.
On April 11, 2021, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia contracted the coronavirus at her Gulshan home. From then on, party leaders have been giving speeches in meetings and programs with more emphasis on taking her abroad for advanced treatment.
After recovery from Covid-19, Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13. On November 28, her medical board said she immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
Since November, the BNP has been holding meetings, rallies, and programs across the country. However, many are sceptical about how much pressure the BNP will be able to exert on the issue of Khaleda Zia's illness.
Crisis of leadership
Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Central Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said: “The problem with BNP politics was the crisis of leadership. The movement has given an opportunity to the party.
“If the BNP can make demands on issues of public interest, they can get more results. For this, all the members of the party have to be brought together, important leaders have to be included in the main discussions, and work has to be done on restructuring the party. However, the BNP has not moved forward in these aspects in the last one year,” he added.
Many BNP leaders and activists see the current situation as a crisis for the party's existence. They think that this time their backs are against the wall.
Leaders and activists at the field level do not see an alternative to a stronger movement to realize their demands.
A grassroots leader told Dhaka Tribune: “Khaleda Zia's illness means tension over the existence of the party. We need to create leadership within the party right now. Our acting chairman is abroad. The members of the party are getting frustrated. We, the leaders and workers of the party's affiliate organizations, have taken to the streets because Khaleda's recovery is especially important to swinging the tide.”
Khaleda’s release and treatment of symbolic importance
There are indications that BNP supporters across the country will take to the field on the issue of Khaleda Zia's treatment. Many in the BNP also think that there will be sympathy and support from the general people on this issue.
Senior BNP leader Moazzem Hossain Alal told Dhaka Tribune: “We see this movement as a movement for the restoration of democracy, against corruption. The release and advanced treatment of Khaleda Zia is a symbolic thing. If we cannot free our leader, we will not restore democracy.”
Central leaders said the BNP's movement depends on the Khaleda’s health and the government's decision.
BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain also stressed the importance of freeing Khaleda Zia.
Political commentator Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said: “In 2021, the BNP needed to work to unite the party's affiliates and overcome the crisis of leadership. But they did not. BNP needs to do the movement in an organized way, with the support of the other parties, then this movement would have been stronger.”
2021 in review: BNP tunnel visions on Khaleda’s treatment
The party failed to take an opportunity to address their leadership crisis, political commentators say
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) spent almost the entirety of 2021 focused on the sole objective of arranging medical treatment abroad for party chief Khaleda Zia.
The government turned a deaf ear to BNP’s repeated protests, maintaining that a person who has been convicted in graft case cannot be allowed to leave the country.
Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in a corruption case in 2018. Following the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, the BNP chairperson was allowed to serve her sentence while receiving treatment for several health complications in house arrest.
According to political commentators, the BNP has so far not had the opportunity to launch a major movement on issues of public interest under pressure from those in power. However, BNP did have the opportunity to organize and overcome its lack of leadership.
On April 11, 2021, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia contracted the coronavirus at her Gulshan home. From then on, party leaders have been giving speeches in meetings and programs with more emphasis on taking her abroad for advanced treatment.
After recovery from Covid-19, Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13. On November 28, her medical board said she immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
Since November, the BNP has been holding meetings, rallies, and programs across the country. However, many are sceptical about how much pressure the BNP will be able to exert on the issue of Khaleda Zia's illness.
Crisis of leadership
Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Central Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said: “The problem with BNP politics was the crisis of leadership. The movement has given an opportunity to the party.
“If the BNP can make demands on issues of public interest, they can get more results. For this, all the members of the party have to be brought together, important leaders have to be included in the main discussions, and work has to be done on restructuring the party. However, the BNP has not moved forward in these aspects in the last one year,” he added.
Many BNP leaders and activists see the current situation as a crisis for the party's existence. They think that this time their backs are against the wall.
Leaders and activists at the field level do not see an alternative to a stronger movement to realize their demands.
A grassroots leader told Dhaka Tribune: “Khaleda Zia's illness means tension over the existence of the party. We need to create leadership within the party right now. Our acting chairman is abroad. The members of the party are getting frustrated. We, the leaders and workers of the party's affiliate organizations, have taken to the streets because Khaleda's recovery is especially important to swinging the tide.”
Khaleda’s release and treatment of symbolic importance
There are indications that BNP supporters across the country will take to the field on the issue of Khaleda Zia's treatment. Many in the BNP also think that there will be sympathy and support from the general people on this issue.
Senior BNP leader Moazzem Hossain Alal told Dhaka Tribune: “We see this movement as a movement for the restoration of democracy, against corruption. The release and advanced treatment of Khaleda Zia is a symbolic thing. If we cannot free our leader, we will not restore democracy.”
Central leaders said the BNP's movement depends on the Khaleda’s health and the government's decision.
BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain also stressed the importance of freeing Khaleda Zia.
Political commentator Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said: “In 2021, the BNP needed to work to unite the party's affiliates and overcome the crisis of leadership. But they did not. BNP needs to do the movement in an organized way, with the support of the other parties, then this movement would have been stronger.”
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