The BNP has suddenly shifted to a ‘stand alone’ policy leaving two of its allies out of its recent activities and programs, be it political or social.
The leaders of the Jatiya Oikya Front and 20-party-alliance, with only a few exceptions, are viewing the move as a positive one.
Some leaders of the two alliances, however, see the sudden shift in policy as an indication of BNP making negotiations with the government.
The allies said that BNP has been nearly dormant in terms of party activities leading to extreme disappointment for its grassroots activists.
They see the sudden shift as the party trying to re-organise and stay relevant through one activity or another.
The BNP started holding divisional rallies demanding the release of its incarcerated chief Khaleda Zia from Jul 8. Up until Jul 25, it has held three of the eight planned rallies in Barishal, Chattogram and Khulna on Jul 8, 20 and 25 respectively. The allies were left out of the programmes.
BNP’s 20-party-ally Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chief Oli Ahmed said that it was imperative BNP realized it must hold individual programs and organise the party to last in the political arena.
“I congratulate them. Better late than never,” he said and added that his newly floated political platform Mukti Mancha also included Khaleda’s release and re-election in its 18-point demand.
Oli Ahmed said if everyone, from their own places, tries to unite the people, the government will be bound to announce re-election and free Khaleda.
Meanwhile, BNP’s relatively new ally Jatiya Oikya Front, with whom they contested the Dec 30 polls, also lauds its sudden policy shift.
“You have to take time in politics. We are taking time and BNP is organising the party. I don’t see anything wrong with it,” said Oikya Front ally Gano Forum’s Executive President Subrata Chowdhury.
“We are viewing it positively and trying to stay relevant through various programs,” he said and added that they will try to unite the nation and then wage a movement.
He said that every party has problems of its own and resolving them is only a matter of time.
The allies said that BNP didn’t give any indication of suddenly adopting a ‘stand alone’ policy and that even at the last meeting with Oikya Front Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir pledged to remain united.
The party’s highest policymaking forum National Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan had also reportedly assured the 20-party-alliance of launching programmes together.
As a result, the sudden change didn’t sit well with a few leaders who now suspect the party to be fraternising with the government.
They find the government’s leniency in allowing BNP to block the roads and hold rallies nothing less than suspicious.
The fact that BNP is now moving for Khaleda’s release citing her fragile health has egged those suspicions even more.
“BNP didn’t discuss carrying out individual programs with Oikya Front. What I understand is they now want to march forward by themselves,” said Nagorik Oikkya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna.
A top leader of the 20-party-alliance wishing to remain anonymous said, “Maybe the BNP compromised with the government regarding Khaleda Zia’s release.”
He added that otherwise, it doesn’t make sense for the government to be so lenient about their rallies.
An Oikya Front steering committee member also wishing to remain unnamed said that the alliance has faced all the damage it could.
“BNP tried to come to power by depending on Dr Kamal. Since they didn’t succeed, disheartened, they have now adopted a stand along policy.”
Some 20-party allies, however, see the move in a different light. Given that they were BNP’s longest allies, some leaders were unhappy that Oikya Front got more priority and limelight during the national polls.
“I’ve clearly told BNP that if they give Oikya Front so much priority, we won’t stay with them,” said 20-party ally Khelafat-e-Majlish chief Amir Mowlana Mohammad Ishaq.
“We are with them because they are a nationalist party and believe in Islamic values,” he added.
As a result, several leaders believe that BNP has adopted the ‘stand alone’ policy and launched solo programmes and political rallies, so as to not upset either of its allies.