The BNP is taking a tougher stance against individuals accused of extortion, land grabbing, vandalism, violence and other criminal activities using the party’s name.
Following allegations against leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations in different parts of the country, the party’s top leadership has stepped up efforts to identify controversial figures and take organizational action against those found responsible.
Party sources said allegations will be investigated and those found guilty will face necessary organizational measures, including expulsion, regardless of their position or influence within the party. In serious cases, the BNP will also cooperate with law enforcement agencies in taking legal action.
Senior BNP leaders said no one would be allowed to use the ruling party’s identity to pursue personal interests. At the same time, allegations made against the party for political purposes would also be scrutinized.
The party’s high command wants to follow a two-pronged approach—taking action against those proven to have committed offenses while politically countering allegations found to be false or motivated.
According to party sources, the activities of BNP leaders and activists as well as those of its affiliated organizations, including Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal, are being closely monitored.
Particular attention is being given to individuals who have repeatedly faced allegations of extortion, land grabbing, violence, vandalism or breaches of party discipline. Information about such allegations is being collected from the grassroots, and the party is preparing to take organizational decisions after verifying the facts.
BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said there had been widespread discussion over allegations of extortion, toll collection and land grabbing, but many of those allegations were politically motivated.
“However, if any BNP leader or activist is proven to be involved in such activities, strict action will be taken,” he said.
Dudu said the party’s high command was monitoring the overall situation and examining the allegations. The same policy would be applied to anyone involved in activities that damage the party’s image, he added.
BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Imran Saleh Prince said the party would take action against anyone proven to be involved in criminal activities following proper investigations.
“No one can use the party’s name to serve personal or political interests,” he said, adding that law enforcement agencies should take strong action against extortionists and land grabbers.
BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has also spoken of a “zero-tolerance” policy against terrorism and criminal activities carried out in the party’s name.
Speaking to journalists, Rizvi said no one would be given any concession if they used the party’s identity to engage in unethical, illegal, violent or criminal activities.
He said organizational action had already been taken against several thousand BNP leaders and activists and those of its affiliated organizations in different incidents.
BNP leaders, however, stressed that merely being accused would not make someone a criminal. The circumstances of each incident and the individual’s actual involvement would have to be verified before any organizational decision was taken.
Through this approach, the party’s high command wants to counter allegations made against the BNP for political purposes while ensuring that genuine offenders cannot hide behind the party’s identity.
Names of individuals allegedly linked to local BNP units have surfaced in connection with attacks and vandalism at the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur and at the studio of content creator Salman Muqtadir in the ECB area. Investigations into the incidents are underway, and several people have already been arrested.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said no one would be spared if any political connection was established in the Radda health center incident.
Responding to journalists at the Secretariat on Wednesday, he said police operations against extortionists, criminals, arms carriers and drug dealers were ongoing and would be intensified.
He also said preparing lists of criminals was a regular responsibility of the police and that such lists were updated regularly.
“An offender will be treated as an offender. No political identity will be taken into consideration,” the home minister said, adding that having a political affiliation would not prevent legal action.
Salahuddin also said action would be taken against the police officer concerned over allegations of negligence of duty in connection with the Radda health center incident.
Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the government was concerned and embarrassed whenever citizens’ rights were violated, public or private establishments were vandalized, or people came under attack.
He said anyone found to be involved in such incidents through investigation would be brought under the law.
Meanwhile, a section of BNP grassroots activists has also demanded a cleansing drive within the party.
They argue that the activities of those who have been involved in the party’s long-standing political movements should not be equated with those who have recently sought to exploit the BNP’s name for personal benefit.
They have called for the prompt identification of individuals involved in criminal activities using the party’s name and demanded both organizational and legal action against them.
Grassroots BNP leaders also believe the party needs to remain vigilant about individuals presenting themselves as “hybrid” or “new BNP” members to prevent them from gaining influence by exploiting the party’s identity after it came to power.
They have also emphasized the need to assess an individual’s political background, organizational involvement and engagement with the public before assigning them positions in party committees.
The BNP’s central leadership also believes that strengthening organizational discipline is essential to preserving the political foundation built through years of movements and struggles.
Particular emphasis is being placed on establishing effective accountability mechanisms from the central level to the grassroots to prevent the misuse of the party’s identity while in power.
The party has already taken measures such as expulsion, withdrawal of organizational responsibilities and issuance of show-cause notices against BNP and affiliated organization leaders and activists in connection with various incidents.
There are also precedents for organizational action against individuals accused of violating party discipline or engaging in criminal activities using the party’s identity in Chilmari of Kurigram, Patgram of Lalmonirhat, Comilla and different parts of Dhaka.
BNP policymakers said the measures were not aimed at any particular individual or group but were intended to protect organizational discipline and the party’s image.
The central leadership’s key message, they said, was that no one should be allowed to benefit from political identity after committing crimes in the party’s name.
According to BNP policymakers, the party wants to demonstrate that political identity cannot be used as a shield against criminal activity.
At the same time, as the government has also said that the political identity of an offender will not be considered in taking legal action, the party’s disciplinary measures and enforcement of state law are moving towards a similarly firm position.
Asked about the issue, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said: “True activists of the nationalist ideology can never be involved in extortion or land grabbing. The BNP will not spare anyone who engages in criminal activities using the party’s name. Organizational action as well as legal action will be taken against them.”
