BNP’s recent call to launch agitation after the upazila polls was not practical, party insiders said, as series of events would make it apparently impossible for them to go for any street demonstration.
Moreover, the high command’s plan to reorganise the party would also take time.
After the upazila parishad elections, which is scheduled to be completed by March 31, there are a series of events, including the HSC examinations. Moreover, a movement during the rainy season and the month of Ramadan lost momentum, said a Standing Committee member.
BNP’s plan for agitation demanding election under non-party administration might gradually take shape from October just after Eid-ul-Azha, said the old guard of the party.
He said the party in the meantime might place a formal proposal to the government to hold dialogues to resolve the crisis mainly focusing on the poll-time government system.
A joint secretary general of the party said before the reorganisation of the party there was little possibility of waging any tough programme.
“Now one of the main priorities of the party is to reorganise it, which will take a few months. But in the meantime the party chairperson will visit some districts and the top leaders will also visit the 75 organisational districts. So, the tough programmes will not come very soon,” he said, seeking anonymity.
Addressing a rally on March 1, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said if the government did not pay heed to their demand of election under a non-party administration, the party would wage a movement after the upazila parishad elections.
By the time they would reorganise the party, she said.
The reconstitution initiatives of the BNP and its front and associated bodies have already started.
Khaleda held meetings with the Dhaka city unit BNP and Dhaka University Chhatra Dal leaders and reportedly bashed them for their “failed roles” in the movement aimed at foiling the election.
Khaleda also held a meeting of the Standing Committee on Sunday night where they reportedly decided to form the convener committee of Dhaka city unit to bring changes in the leadership, especially youths.
The meeting also reportedly decided to hold its national council after the completion of the upazila parishad elections and forming the incomplete upazila and district BNP committees.
A number of senior leaders said as there are some national occasions the movement would not get any pace before mid-October, after Eid-ul-Azha.
However, issue-based programmes, public rallies and mass contact programmes to mobilise public opinion in favour of the demand for election under a non-partisan government will get going.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance waged a non-stop movement from October 25 and continued until the second week of January but they failed to prevent the Awami League from holding the national election and forming the new government.
On Thursday night, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury advised the BNP chairperson to take initiatives to hold a dialogue to reach a consensus over the poll-time government.
Bikalpadhara Joint Secretary General Mahi B Chowdhury claimed that Khaleda had taken the proposal positively and might take an initiative soon.
