There has been no response to the so-called non-cooperation movement of the BNP as the government and private offices are functioning as usual.
Infuriated with the non-stop programmes called by the BNP-Jamaat, people from all walks of life rejected such anti-state programmes which increased the plight of the people.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi had announced the movement on behalf of the party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman at a virtual press briefing on December 20.
Rizvi urged the people not to cooperate with the government by suspending payment of taxes, water, gas and electricity bills. But no impact was noticed regarding the call of BNP.
According to Rizvi’s announcement, the areas of non-cooperation are – boycotting January 7 vote, refusing to perform the election duties of the officers and employees concerned, not making tax payments and utility bills, depositing money to banks and not to respond to the summons of any court who were accused in various cases.
Political analyst Major General (Rtd) Md Abdur Rashid told Bangladesh Post on Thursday, “Any movement in the world, which has no public involvement, has never become successful. At present, the election is going to be held across the country and people are in festive mood.”
“The violent and non-violent measures taken by the BNP to obstruct the elections are not visibly seen to have won the support of the people,” he added
Abdur Rashid said “Naturally, if one path doesn’t work, they turn to another path. We can see that BNP’s strike-blockade program has failed to engage the public in any way. So they called for non-cooperation movement.”
“But we can see that the people of Bangladesh are not supporting the anti-election political program. There is no response from public to the non-cooperation movement called by the BNP,” he added.
Security Analyst Air Commodore (Retd) Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury told The Bangladesh Post “We have seen no public involvement with the BNP’s movement. Due to poor leadership they failed to engage public with their movement.”
While visiting various offices and places in the capital on Monday the effect of non-cooperation was not noticed. All the public-private offices were operating as usual and the attendance was satisfactory. Bank transactions were normal. There is no exception to the gas, electricity and water bills and tax payments. Court proceedings were also moving at a normal pace. Even the BNP leaders themselves have appeared in various cases.
At the lower court, it was found that many BNP activists were appearing in the court despite being hesitant. Many have not appeared in court but applied for time through their lawyers. Although the BNP-backed senior lawyers refrained from supporting the non-cooperation movement by the BNP, they were appearing with their junior lawyers.
Leaders and activists who had appeared before the court the court said the bail could be cancelled and arrest warrants could be issued if they did not appear. However, many have appeared in court on the advice of their lawyers.
Immediately after announcement of BNP's non-cooperation movement, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said “If participants in the non-cooperation movement do not pay their gas, electricity, or water bills, they will face the same consequences as any other consumer, which could include having these services disconnected in their homes.”
In several public-private branches of banks at Motijheel, Dilkusha and Karwan Bazar areas in the capital this correspondent found transactions taking places as usual. Bank officials and employees had come to the offices as usual. Customers were found doing their transactions smoothly. A huge crowd of customers were noticed in most of the banks.
According to National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials taxpayers are spontaneously submitting returns. The last date for submitting income tax returns for the individual has been extended until January 31.
