Self-proclaimed “real BNP leader” Kamrul Hasan Nasim yesterday issued an ultimatum for Khaleda Zia to step down as BNP chairperson and dissolve all committees by February 2.
Issuing a note of warning, Nasim, spokesperson of Sahed Obayed’s Gorbo Bangladesh, said if Khaleda Zia does not resign within the time frame they would lay a siege to her residence.
“We will lay a siege to Khaleda Zia’s residence with 1700 leaders to force her to resign and an initiative will be taken to revamp Zia’s BNP,” he told journalists at a press conference at Westin Hotel in the capital.
All on a sudden Nasim came to the spotlight on January 9 when he held a press conference at Hotel Lakeshore where he termed BNP of Khaleda and Tarique Rahman illegal and announced to restore Zia’s BNP.
He came up with the “new BNP formula” at a time as BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had been in “confinement” to her Gulshan office since January 3.
In the press conference no other leaders were seen excepting a few young people.
Introducing himself as a journalist, researcher, talk-show presenter and politician, Nasim said a “meaningful” rally would be held on January 30 in the capital with the grassroots leaders and activists.
Nasim, who earlier said some bigwigs of BNP will join him by January 16, reiterated that many key BNP leaders would join his alliance within the next 15 to 45 days and they would meet the press on February 6 again.
“There will be some surprises in the leadership but I will not disclose the name of the them on tactical ground.”
Nasim also said his party had 1.5 crore to 2 crore supporters across the country and the councils in every level will be held within six months while the national council by June.
In the press conference Nasim started reading out a 10-page written statement but as the reporters requested him to shorten his speech he stopped midway through.
Alleging that the present leadership of BNP is pushing the party into resorting to destructive and militant activities, he said: “I am the only spokesperson of the BNP. This is real BNP.
“I am the doctor and I am here to make the party healthy at its crisis moment.”
When asked if BNP sought any help from him to put it on right track, Nasim said: “Why should BNP call me? I came to the media after talking to all-level leaders, I am not alone.”
Responding to the query of whether such decisions were taken in the party’s standing committee member, he said: “When there is any coup in the army, it comes from mid-level. But I did not attempt any coup. Sometimes coup pushes the nation forward.”
He boasted: “I am a very ordinary citizen but I have had a struggling political career.”
He also claimed that the incumbent government had adopted many of his formulas. “I also gave formula to the BNP. But BNP did not take those and when I saw some people were misusing Zia’s BNP I took the imitative.”
When asked about his source of funding Nasim said: “BNP is run by the donation of party leaders and activists.”
Many political parties of Bangladesh is run by foreign aid but BNP never takes any money from foreign countries or any other agencies.
When asked about the party office the self-proclaimed BNP leader said “party office is at Nayapaltan and Gulshan. You can find me over there”.
Nayapaltan is the BNP’s headquarters and party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s office is at Gulshan.
As the reporters asked him why he was holding press conference at a hotel rather than the party office he replies: “Look, if your place is occupied by criminals then you have to hold press conference at another place.”
No one is going to Nayapaltan and Gulshan office is occupied by Mohila Dal but I can go to the Nayapaltan office.
