by Sajjad Hossain in The Daily Star, Sept 1, 2023
The BNP observes its 45th founding anniversary today amid growing doubts among supporters about the effectiveness of their movement demanding Awami League government’s resignation.
Many leaders and activists feel that the rallies and processions they have been organising will not cut as they can see that the party lacks a proper strategy and coordination between top leaders and the rank and file, a BNP standing committee member told The Daily Star.
They fear that the non-partisan polls-time administration might be an elusive goal, especially since the BNP events in August visibly lacked energy and organisation.
“We are going through the toughest time. The one-point movement [for election under a caretaker government] lacks public support and direction. If it fails, the BNP may become irrelevant,” said the leader of a Dhaka city unit, requesting anonymity.
As the party has not been in power for 15 years, the longest the party has ever been in opposition, even the key leaders doubt whether their party has a future after the parliamentary election, likely to be held in January.
Insiders say the absence of dynamic leadership and weakness as an organisation have hamstrung BNP’s ability to launch a united movement.
Since late July, the BNP has been demonstrating in Dhaka.
The number of people attending the events was not as large as expected by the top leaders. Besides, the programmes saw attacks, arrests, and lawsuits against countless activists across Bangladesh.
From July 28 to August 29, law enforcers accused 13,430 activists in 327 cases, arrested at least 1,620, and injured 1,250, according to the BNP.
The BNP will observe its anniversary by placing wreaths at the grave of its founder Ziaur Rahman in the capital at 10:30am, holding a rally in Nayapaltan around 3:00pm, and taking out a procession after the rally.
In different districts and cities, discussions and other events will be held, said a statement issued yesterday.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is restricted from leaving her house and acting chairman Tarique Rahman is leading the party from London.
The BNP was founded on September 1, 1978, by late president Ziaur Rahman with a 19-point programme “to build a self-reliant Bangladesh”.
The party formed governments four times — once under the leadership of Ziaur and thrice under his widow Khaleda Zia. It boycotted the January 5, 2014 election, but participated in the 2018 election when Khaleda was in jail.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/bnp-stares-tough-times-streets-3408061
