The ruling Awami League believes that a hardline is the only option against the ongoing hartal, blockade, and violent programs carried out by the opposition parties ahead of the next national parliament election.
There is no ray of hope for compromise between the government and the opposition despite several national and international quarters urging a dialogue before the election, likely in the first week of January 2024.
While talking with Dhaka Tribune, several top brass leaders of the ruling Awami League and cabinet members of the government said that after the violent activities carried out by the BNP and other opposition parties on the streets since October 28, there is no room for discussion or compromise with the opposition.
In the name of hartal and blockade, eighteen buses, four covered vans, five trucks, one private car, three motorcycles, two commercial goods showrooms, and one police box were burned across the country during the last three days of the blockade carried out by the opposition.
A total of 82 incidents of arson were reported from October 28 to November 2 across the country.
More BNP leaders to be arrested
A good number of BNP top leaders have been arrested in several cases of arson attacks and vandalism since October 28, including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, and many more.
Most BNP leaders are currently in hiding to escape arrest or detention by law enforcement agencies.
When asked, one Presidium Member of Awami League hinted that more BNP leaders will be arrested and told this correspondent on Thursday: "Hardline is the only way for us now because the BNP attacked the Chief Justice's house, killed the police, and now if we show soft approaches to the opposition, then the entire administration and forces will get upset with us."
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Friday that the BNP will never avoid responsibility for the violence on October 28.
"BNP leaders were making decisions at their rally on October 28, and the incidents took place after that decision. That is why they cannot avoid responsibility. If someone is innocent, they will be acquitted after a police investigation, and if not, chargesheets will be pressed against them," Asaduzzaman said regarding the arrest of top BNP leaders.
No hope of dialogue yet
Referring to a meeting with the ambassador of a Western country this week, a Presidium member also said: "In the last meeting, one envoy told us to sit for a talk with the BNP. Then I replied, 'Are you the authority of the BNP? Then ask the BNP to stop the violence.’ There is no room to sit with the violent party. Before October 28, there was some political ground to sit with them, but now there is no way."
On Thursday, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself once again refused to hold talks with the BNP, referring to them as "animals" while delivering the closing speech of the last session of the 11th Parliament.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already briefed the diplomats based in Bangladesh about the violence on October 28, and now the ministry and the ruling party wings are updating the files of violence to show them to their national and international friends, government sources said.
Ruling party leaders had suspected that the BNP would also carry out arson attacks like they did before the election of 2014.
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Friday labelled the BNP as a terrorist organization and said: "BNP is no longer a political party but rather a terrorist one, as they are now announcing programs from caves on virtual platforms, similar to terrorist groups."
BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the last two blockades virtually.
Ruling party insiders said the ruling party will share the documents of the recent violent activities of the BNP with those who try to pressure the ruling party to hold dialogue with the opposition before the polls.
Election preparations started
Ruling party sources said the Awami League-led government has decided to hold the election on time, and the Election Commission is preparing accordingly.
The Election Commission is set to declare the election schedule for the 12th national parliament election on November 14 or 15, and before that, they will hold talks with political parties on Saturday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has a very busy schedule until November 13, and she will inaugurate several major projects, including the Coxs Bazar rail line and Metro Rail from Agargaon to Motijhel, before the election schedule. After the inaugurations, the Prime Minister will only perform routine work.
Before the declaration of the election schedule, the premier will also have a meeting with the secretaries of the government who are in charge of several ministries and other government high officials.
After the declaration of the election schedule, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will hold several big rallies across the country to motivate her party workers and voters as the party chief.
On Thursday, Parliament leader Sheikh Hasina instructed her party MPs to go to their constituencies to start the election campaign, as the ruling party is likely to start party nomination distribution after the election schedule announcement, according to party insiders.
