The BNP is now busy dealing internal affairs to organise it self with the party chief jailed for corruption and the national election expected later this year.
It has resorted to iftar party’s to gather activists and strengthen organisational capabilities after failing to wage street protest.
The leadership has sent the message to root level to use the strategy.
BNP leaders allege that they are not being able to hold any kind of political events outdoor as the authorities deny permission. In this context, they have now adopted Iftar parties to address organizational issues.
“We are continuing with our party activities. The committees for district units are being finalised and that’s being done through Iftar parties as there’s now other way,” said BNP National Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi echoed. “Since the government does not allow us for rallies, we are addressing organizational matters through Iftar parties,” he told Bangla Tribune.
The BNP has adopted the similar strategy for its allies. Its recent iftar party was attended by Bikalpadhara President AQM Badruduzza Chowdhury, Krishak Sramik Janata League chief Kader Siddiqui and Nagarki Oikya’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna.
The three parties are part of a political coalition titled the ‘Jukto Front’.
A senior BNP leader, asking not to be named, said party chief Khaleda had called for a national unity with all political parties before her conviction for graft.
“We are being able to understand each other better through these iftar parties, which will help us in future when we launch joint protests or take part in the election,” he said.
BNP units across the country have adopted the iftar party strategy to boost morale of party supporters and activists as well as addressing organizational matters.
“We are holding Iftar parties in the city and in several wards to address organizational issues,” Rajshahi metro BNP unit President Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul told Bangla Tribune.
On May 22, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir travelled to his hometown Thakurgaon, where he attended an iftar by the party’s local unit. Several other senior BNP leaders are following suit, in an effort to unite the party across the country.
“We are getting feedback from central leaders over the issues across the country and stepping in to address those,” BNP Vice Chairman Ahmed Azam Khan told Bangla Tribune.
Several BNP leaders, who asked not to be named, told Bangla Tribune that Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, who is now living in London, has instructed to complete committees for all units across the country.