With the 11th parliamentary election due by the end of this year, the BNP has planned to wage it movement in two phases, say senior party leaders.
In the first phase, it will launch programmes release of jailed Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The next phase, focusing on the demand of ‘non-partisan polls time government’, however, will depend on the BNP’s move to form a larger coalition with like-minded parties ahead of the polls. If the coalition fails the plan may vary.
“Programmes pressing the demand of Khaleda’s release will be announced with the shortest possible time after events on the party’s founding anniversary finish,” BNP leader Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain told Bangla Tribune.
Hossain, who is a member of BNP’s National Standing Committee, did not disclose details.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, several other standing committee members said, the policymaking forum has decided on the programme for first phase which will be announced anytime this month.
A former prime minister, Khaleda has been sentenced to five-year jail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The 73-year-old is serving her term at the old jailhouse on Dhaka’s Nazimuddin Road since February, when the court found her guilty of embezzling foreign donations made to the orphanage.
Elaborating the party’s possible programmes, another standing committee member said, “Protest rally and sit-in will be included but it will change step by step and programme will announced across the country.”
“Tough or soft, it doesn’t matter; programmes will be announced in the first phase demanding the release of the party chief,” said a standing committee member, who preferred to go unnamed.
Amid the movement for the release of Khaleda, BNP will also join the next national election, according to another leader.
A source close to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir echoed. “Programmes on national issues will be announced after the formation of a larger collation in coordination with other parties,” he said.
The party has planned to adopt peaceful protests to press its demands.
”BNP believes in peaceful protests and we will go for a tougher movement in the upcoming days,” said BNP Vice President Ahmed Azam Khan.
The BNP, however, has begun to discuss on the possible programmes.
“Discussion on programmes is underway, decision will be finalised soon. The secretary general will inform you (the media),” said former speaker Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, a member of BNP’s National Standing Committee.