After miserably failing in their anti-government movement, BNP high-ups are now waiting for the reaction in their favour from the Western powers to tomorrow’s (January 7) national election.
BNP had announced a series of hartal-blockade programmes across the country and finally declared no-cooperation movement to oust the Awami League government, but all these action programmes have flopped.
Most of the BNP leaders and activists were not active on the street agitation and participation of general people was not there, and this is why their movement could not be successful, said a political observer.
Ignoring the calls of BNP’s high command, many former BNP parliamentarians, party’s central and influential district leaders are participating in the 12th parliamentary polls.
The BNP high command expelled those who are taking part in the polls defying party decision.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post, some BNP leaders said they still hope that powerful western countries will do something in favour of the opposition parties to unseat the government.
Some former JCD central leaders said many of their dedicated colleagues have switched off their mobile phones to avoid phone calls from BNP acting chairman Tareque Rahman.
A former senior leader of Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD) said, “Tareque Rahman are trying direct contact with many dedicated BNP leaders and all front organisations to activate them in the anti-government movement.”
“I have switched off my all phone numbers so that Tareque Rahman cannot reach me in ay way. It’s not possible to carry out any risky assignment at this moment, he added.
Two former top leaders of JCD’s Dhaka University unit, who are now influential central leaders of BNP’s youth front Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, have also kept their phones off.
A Juba Dal leader on condition of annonimity said, “If Tareque Rahman reaches me over phone, he will definitely give me risky assignment. But, it’s not possible to get involved in any anti-government movement, considering the country’s present situation.”
“If I’m arrested, or injured, no BNP leaders will be found to take care of me. Even if I die in movement, no party men will look after my family, he said in a very frustrating voice.
Another central Juba Dal leader said, “Earlier I was arrested several times. I’m facing multiple criminal cases due to my active role in the movement. But no pro-BNP lawyers provided me free legal assistance for my bail. My family had to bear all financial costs in obtaining bail.”
“So I do not see any reason to blindly carry out any instruction of Tareque Rahman,” he said with angry voice.
Many BNP insiders,
Most of the senior BNP leaders are trying to avoid phone calls from Tareque Rahman, who is living in London on self exile after being convicted in several criminal cases, party insiders said.
“We always tried to convince him (Tareque Rahman) to join the national polls. But he did not pay heed to our advice,” a standing committee member of BNP said preferring anonymity.
BNP and anti-liberation force Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday again announced a 48-hour hartal across the country covering the election day in protest against the ‘attempt’ to hold the national election.
BNP, Jamaat and other likeminded will observe the hartal programme from Saturday 6:00am to Monday 6:00am.
A senior BNP leader, who was a influential minister during the BNP-Jamaat regime said, “The hartal will not be observed like the previous such action programme as people are waiting to exercise their voting rights.”
“It is quite impossible to make such anti-government programme successful. You carry out a programme at best for one week, but not for a month, he opined.
Why BNP is announcing such action programmes one after another, the leader who is also a freedom fighter, posed a question.
Expressing frustration at the frequent hartal-blockade programmes, he said, “Tareque Rahman is being misguide by some party leaders, who were once his private staffs at Hawa Bhaban.”
“I think the acting chairman is calling such action programmes only to boost the spirit of the BNP leaders and activists ahead of the national election.