The BNP has yet to respond to the assessment of the pre-election movement, verbally informed by the like-minded parties who are enforcing the same programs, seeking the resignation of the government and polls under a neutral administration.
“It is not yet known whether the BNP will actually review our observations. But some changes have to be made,” said a senior leader of Ganatantra Mancha, a platform of six parties supporting the BNP’s programs.
The BNP leaders last discussed this with the top leaders of the platform on January 13. There has been no follow-up after that meeting, platform leader Saiful Haque told Bangla Tribune.
According to the top leaders of the platform, they discussed several issues at an internal meeting on Wednesday. The platform made a statement on the border killing issue the same day after the BNP advised them to take a stand on the “India issue.”
At least 39 political parties have been holding programs simultaneously with the BNP. These parties and alliances are: Ganatantra Mancha, a 12-party alliance; Gono Forum-People's Party (a bipartisan alliance); Somomona Jote an 11-party alliance), and the Democratic Leftist Alliance (four parties). Several other parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Labour Party, AB Party, and Jamaat-e-Islami, observed the programs separately.
The 12-party alliance had a meeting with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his party's Standing Committee in Gulshan after the election. But it was meant for exchanging courtesy and thanksgiving. The top leaders of the BNP called for continuing the anti-government movement through new programs.
Shahadat Hossain Salim, one of the leaders of the alliance, told Bangla Tribune: "Our one-point movement has not achieved the desired goal. For this reason, the demand for new elections will add a different dimension to our movement.
“The level of communication will also vary. It will take some time to tie everything together.”
According to sources, the BNP has not started any discussions to devise new programs and determine future political strategies. Their priority is to get the top leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, released from jail.
However, Ganatantra Mancha has planned to hold protest rallies on February 9 on the issue of commodity prices. They say there will be a change in the pattern of simultaneous movement. The Liaison Committee’s decision should be considered final.
Asked about the lack of coordination, BNP Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman said: "The Liaison Committee contacts the parties before we announce any program. We decide based on their opinion.”
On the next course of action, she told this reporter to “wait and see.”
Seeking anonymity, an influential official of the BNP feels that the party is taking time for several reasons. The party leadership has to take into consideration the reactions within the country and abroad on some issues. “The issue of the party's secretary general’s release is still unclear. If he is not free, the whole process will not take any new shape. Everyone inside and outside the party is waiting for his release.”
Since Ramadan and Eid vacations are ahead, the BNP is pondering whether to go for a new movement or reorganize the party, filling up the vacancies. The party is also taking time considering the election in India and the Myanmar situation.
