With Chairperson Khaleda Zia behind bars for over four months and its acting chairman Tarique Rahman living in London over a decade, a good number of the party’s central leaders have been staying abroad for quite some time now to avoid arrest or any action by the government.
Most of them stand accused in different charges, including sedition, corruption, as well as murder.
A three-time prime minister, Khaleda is now serving a five-year term in a Dhaka jail since Feb 8 this year on a graft case.
In absence of the chief, Tarique, then-senior vice president and elder son of Khaleda, took charge of the party from London. He went to the UK in September 2008 after he was released on parole during the army-installed caretaker government’s regime.
However, the leaders staying abroad have drawn flak from their colleagues in the country.
“Tarique Rahman’s case is different…but how come senior leaders be in abroad when party chief Khaleda is in jail?” says a member of the BNP’s policymaking National Standing Committee.
“In my opinion, the party should really think twice about these so-called leaders,” he told Bangla Tribune on condition of anonymity.
Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has been staying in India since Indian authorities detained him in May 2015 for intruding the border. Salahuddin faces 14 cases in Bangladesh.
“No changes in his (health) condition. He sees physicians and takes medicine regularly,” Hasina Ahmed, wife of Salahuddin, told Bangla Tribune.
Several BNP vice-chairmen have been staying abroad for long.
Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, an accused in Aug 21 grenade attack, reportedly lives in Dubai.
Sadeque Hossain Khoka did not return to Bangladesh since he went to the US in 2014 for cancer treatment. Dr Osman Faruk went to the US in 2017 after allegations of 1971 war crimes surfaced against him.
Mosaddek Ali Falu, who is now in Bangkok, tendered his resignation to step down from the party reportedly under pressure from the government. The BNP leadership, however, did not accept his resignation
BNP International Affairs Secretary Ehsanul Haque Milon, who faces 31 cases, has been staying in Malaysia since 2016. The former minister seldom appears in events by the BNP’s Malaysia unit.
Another International Affairs Secretary Mahidur Rahman, who is said to be a close associate of Tarique, has been in London since 2017, according to the party sources.
BNP Micro Credit Secretary and Dhaka Metro North unit President MA Qayium is believed to be staying Malaysia. He left the country his name came up as the masterminded behind the killing of Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella in Dhaka.
Assistant International Affairs Secretary Humayun Kabir and Anowar Hossain have been in London for long and both are closed to the party acting chairman, according to the sources.
Party insiders said disappointment has prevailed among the activists over many leaders living abroad.
BNP Vice-President Ahmed Azam Khan said, “Each post is important. If post holders live abroad to stay safe, then the party policymakers will think about it. I have no comments on this”