Despite the opposition BNP's ongoing one-point movement to topple the government being more intense than ever, the party has now chosen to limit its activities to events and programs centred solely in Dhaka.
The party, on Saturday, announced a country-wide peace rally at all district levels, and the decision was taken due to the police's obstruction, arrest, and detention of its leaders and activists during the sit-ins.
BNP has reportedly not discussed the new program with any party or alliances involved in the movement.
Besides that, the news of BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan North Convener Aman Ullah Aman's sudden illness in Gabtoli has also spread doubts among the leaders of the opposition parties.
They said a large gathering was planned in Gabtoli on Saturday, but nothing went according to that plan.
BNP Standing Committee sources said that after the rally on Friday, the party decided to "retreat" from the movements after police stopped the sit-ins at Dhaka entry points.
Such a situation is normal in the cases of agitations, the leaders claimed.
Many of the leaders who played a role in the party's policymaking said the party has plans to revive their movements against the government soon, and after that, there will be Dhaka-centric programs again.
However, leaders of Ganatantra Mancha and the 12-party alliance say BNP had announced Saturday's program without any discussions.
Even on Saturday, the BNP did not contact any party about Monday's new country-wide movement, they claimed.
Alliances in the dark
An influential leader of the Ganatantra Mancha said: "BNP seems to be restless and unstable. In such a situation, plans should be made ahead of the movements. But it (BNP) did not calculate anything.”
About Amanullah, another leader of the Ganatantra Mancha said: "BNP probably knew about the number of casualties (injured and killed) that could have been reported in Saturday's program. But the party did not plan anything in advance. In addition, Amanullah Aman's behaviour was suspicious.”
The leaders of Ganatantra Mancha and the 12-party alliance also claimed that even when the movement was at its peak on December 10 last year, the whole situation was ruined by a statement of Aman -- the country will be administered under the leadership of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Another influential leader of Ganatantra Mancha said: "BNP's behaviour says that the movements will be rearranged again. Where the all-out program was supposed to be held on Sunday, there will be a renewed movement. The BNP may have announced the district-level program after thinking about it.”
Given the circumstances with BNP, Ganatantra Mancha is now considering a non-simultaneous program. At a meeting held on Saturday night, the party announced a new program for Sunday.
In this regard, Saiful Haque, coordinator of Ganatantra Mancha, said: "In the current situation, it seems that a new equation may be taken into consideration as the issue of time persists.”
BNP Standing Committee Member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said: "On Saturday, the autocratic government used weapons against us. They tortured the people of the country. Mass movements do not stop with these atrocities.”
He added: “From my experience, I can tell you that there have been so many movements in the past and this is how it happens.”
Several leaders of the 12-party alliance believe that BNP is being careful about the US visa policy. At the same time, the party also has to ensure that the programs are not violent.
According to some leaders of the alliance, the new rally was scheduled to be held on Sunday after the mega rally on Friday.
To implement this program, the senior leaders of BNP asked party men to stay back in Dhaka at the rally, but no effective plan was made later, the leaders said.
The leaders of Ganatantra Mancha alleged that BNP did not inform them of any plans when the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) denied permission to the party to hold the sit-ins on Saturday.
Moreover, many familiar faces of BNP were not seen in the program. Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan could not attend the program. Barkat Ullah Bulu, Joynal Abedin, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, and many others were not present.
"It is clear which direction the movement will take. We are ready for a round of agitation. Leaders are confident." said Shahadat Hossain Selim, one of the leaders of the 12-party alliance.
BNP decides to hold peaceful program
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the people have the power to respond to the illegal and criminal activities of the government and ruling party forces.
"But we have always avoided the consequences of exercising that power, and we continue to do so today. It's not our weakness, it's our commitment to the people and democracy,” he added.
BNP standing committee members say that BNP has brought the movement to the peak in a peaceful manner from the beginning.
The followers have been advised to ensure that the vandalism and arson incidents during the sit-ins on Saturday do not take place again.
