Politics
Under the shadow of BNP: Does a political alliance of a number game matter now?
Although BNP has launched a simultaneous movement with more than four dozen parties and organisations to realise their 10-point demand, political analysts are skeptical about the ability of most of the parties to contribute to street programmes due to the lack of their organisational strength and popular public support.
They said making alliances with many small parties is just a number game in the politics of Bangladesh, but only three to four parties have the organisational capacity and popularity to show their strength on the streets.
The analysts, however, said some small parties now on the simultaneous movement with BNP have few leaders, including LDP president Oli Ahmed, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Biplabi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, Ganasanghati Andolon’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, Gana Adhikar Parishads convener Reza Kibria, member secretary, Nurul Haque Nur, Kalyan Party chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, and Gonoforum leaders Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Dr Abu Sayeed and Subrata Chowdhury, who have a face value and can play a role in shaping public opinion.
They also said Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami still has a base across the country, and it can play a role in the movement. But they say that the success of the simultaneous movement will mainly depend on BNP while the other parties will work as a morale booster for it and justify its demands.
After two rounds of talks with political parties, BNP on December 10 last year announced to launch the simultaneous movement with a 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current government and holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government.
Earlier on August 8, seven opposition organisations Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob), Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party, Gonosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Onusari Parishad and Rastra Sangskar Andolon floated Ganatantra Mancha, a new political platform and announced to join the movement with BNP.
Read more: 12-party alliance formed to support BNP’s movement
On December 22, 12 political partners of the 20-party alliance--Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, NDP, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party (LDP-Selim), Bangladesh Muslim League, Jamiat- Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote, Jagpa (Tasmia Prodhan), Islamic Party, and Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal-- formed a new alliance dissolving the 20-party to carry out a movement alongside the BNP and realise the 10-point demand.
Another new political platform, “Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote”, comprising 11 parties was launched on December 28 to strengthen the simultaneous movement. The parties in the new 11-party alliance are National People's Party-NPP, Jagpa (Khandkar Lutfur), Democratic League (DL), Bangladesh NAP, Bikalpa Dhara (Nurul Amin), Samyabadi Dal, Gano Dal, NAP-Bhasani, Islami Oikya Jote, People's League and Bangladesh Minority Janata Party. Islami Oikyajot and Samyabadi Dal are there in the two new alliances.
On January 3, Ganatantrik Bam Oikya, a leftist political platform of four parties— Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist, Social Democratic Party, Samajtantrik Majdur Party and Progressive Democratic Party—also announced to join the movement with BNP.
On January 8, another new anti-government platform, “Samamona Ganatantrik Jote” (Like-minded Democratic Alliance) comprising 15 organisations was launched to join the simultaneous movement.
The members of the newly formed alliance include Youth Forum, Zia Nagorik Sangsad, Democratic Movement, Shaheed Zia Ainjibi Parishad, Jatiyatabadi Nagorik Dal, Bangladesh Justice Party, Constitution Preservation Parishad, Ganatantra Raksha Mancha, Chalak Dal, Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha '71, Ghure Dharo Bangladesh, Movement for Democracy, Bangladesh Democratic Council, Desh Raksha Manush Bachao Andolan and Bangladesh Jubo Oikya Parishad.
Besides, Jamaat, LDP (Oli) and Gonoforum (Montu) also announced joint simultaneous movement.
Of all these parties, only LDP (Oli) JSD-Rob, Biplobi Workers Party, Kalyan Party and Bangladesh Muslim League are registered with the Election Commission (EC).
Read more: New anti-govt platform 'Samamona Ganatantrik Jote' launched
Two programmes --mass rally and mass sit-in--of the simultaneous movement have so far been observed on December, 24, 30 and January 11 respectively, but the presence of leaders and workers of these parties and alliances was very poor.
It’s a meaningless number game
Shusashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary and political analyst Badiul Alam Majumdar said it is the reality in Bangladesh that most of the political parties, except for three-four ones, are name-only organisations run by some individuals who have a face value.
“It’s also our tradition to increase the size of alliances with such small parties. You can call it a meaningless number game. But only a few parties, especially Awami League and BNP are the key players in the politics of Bangladesh,” he said.
Majumdar said BNP may feel good that many parties are with them, no matter what their organisational capacities are. “But only a few of them can play some sort of role in the movement.”
He also said the success of the simultaneous movement mainly depends on how much strength BNP can demonstrate and how effective strategy the party can adopt.
Number matters in politics
Prof Mahbubullah, a pro-BNP intellectual and a former teacher at the Dhaka University, said the unity of the political parties--small and bigger ones--is now crucial to overcoming the current situation of the country and restoring people’s voting rights.
“The size of the alliance matters in politics. Unite the many to defeat the few is an effective political philosophy to make political gains. So, one should not ignore the number of the political parties that have got united to realise public demands,” he observed.
Read more: New political alliance “Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote” launched
The political analyst said there are many parties with BNP that may have not that much popularity and organisational strength, but some of their leaders have acceptability and face value. “They also have an influence among the people and they can help create public opinion.”
“These parties don’t have huge supporters like the major ones, but they are also democratic forces. You may see their very thin presence on the streets, but their collective efforts can strengthen the movement for realising popular public demands,” he viewed.
Unity among many parties has a value
Prof Dilara Chowdhury, a former teacher of the Department of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University, said there are many parties with BNP’s simultaneous movement which do not have big workforces, but there are many national figures in those parties who matter in politics.
“If these parties take to the streets simultaneously, it can boost up BNP’s moral strength. So, you can’t ignore the value of unity among so many political parties,” she observed.
Besides, the political analysts said around 50 parties and organisations are now taking to the streets with BNP demanding the next election be held under a non-party caretaker government. “So, the number matters here when it comes to who is against the polls under a partisan government.”
Read more: Quader to BNP: Ditch caretaker dream, prepare for election
Prof Dilara said many common people are increasingly taking part in BNP’s current political rallies and programmes. “I am observing that BNP is seriously making efforts to turn around. The way BNP’s grassroots have been demonstrating strengths despite being subjected to various repressive acts is a very positive sign.”
Revoke power price hike or face street protests: BNP to govt
BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu on Friday warned that their party will take to the streets together with people if the government does not cancel its decision to hike power price.
“The price of electricity has been increased again. It’s an anti-people decision of the government. We’ll protest against this on January 16 in cities and upazilas across the country,” he said.
Speaking at a human chain programme, the BNP leader said the decision to raise the power prices must be withdrawn immediately. “Otherwise we’ll wage a movement together with people against the government. We’ll not pay electricity bills in the coming days and people will stop paying the electricity bills.”
Read more: Govt desperate to suppress opposition: Fakhrul
Democracy Forum, a pro-opposition platform arranged the human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, protesting a court order to confiscate movable and immovable property of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman in a corruption case.
The government on Thursday hiked the retail price of electricity by 5 percent effective from January.
The the electricity price was hiked at retail level last time in February 2020.
Bulu alleged that the court passed the order to confiscate the property of Tarique and his wife at the behest of the government to divert people’s attention to a different direction. “This regime has been suffering from the fear of Tariq Rahman.”
He said the people no longer want to see the Awami League government in power due to its misrule.
“The BNP and other political parties have started a simultaneous movement to establish a government of people ousting the current autocratic one, he said.
Read more: Wake up more to restore voting rights, Fakhrul urges people
Bulu also warned that those who looted millions of taka from banks and in the name of quick rental and rental power plants and mega projects, and siphoned off huge money abroad will be tried in public court in the coming days."
Govt desperate to suppress opposition: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the government has become "desperate" to suppress the opposition leaders and activists being afraid of the ongoing pro-democracy movement.
“You (AL leaders) used to say a few days back that we didn’t have the ability to stand on the streets and our backs were broken. But now you have become so restive that you are oppressing people by using all might to stop our movement,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, condemning the attacks on BNP’s sit-in programme in Faridpur and Mymensingh and some other areas in the country by police and ruling party activists on Wednesday.
Read more: Wake up more to restore voting rights, Fakhrul urges people
He said the government has lost the ground beneath its feet. “The government has become so scared that they are carrying out attacks on our peaceful programmes.”
The BNP leader also said the ruling party leaders are making various unguarded comments about the ongoing movement sensing their fall.
He alleged that the armed ‘cadres’ of the ruling party attacked BNP’s programme in Faridpur and Mymensingh in presence of law enforcers.” The police not only played the role of a silent spectator there but also attacked the leaders and workers of BNP, lobbed teargas shells and charged batons on them.”
The BNP leader claimed that the law enforcers also arrested over 100 BNP leaders and activists from the two divisions while over 250 others were injured during the attacks.
Besides, he said police filed a case against BNP leaders and activists in Faridpur in connection with the clash.
Sought his comments on Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s remark on the outcome of the simultaneous movement with small parties, Fakhrul said people do not care about what the ruling party leader says. “Like me, people all over the country don't give any importance to his remarks.”
Read more: BNP, like-minded parties announce countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16
No programme at district level on January 16:
Fakhrul said their party will hold a rally and procession programme on January 16 in all cities and upazila headquarters to press home their 10-point demand and protest the government’s power price hike decision.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) I said the programme will also be observed in all districts. But the programme will be observed only in all metropolitan cities and upazilas, not in districts.”
AL to stay on streets to prevent BNP’s anarchy: Quader
Awami League will remain cautious about BNP’s movement and stay on streets to protect people’s lives and property, said Awami Leaque general secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday.
“We will be cautious about BNP’s movement as they can’t create any anarchic situation and we won’t change our stance. We are on streets and won’t leave those as we’ll perform our duty to protect the lives and property of people,” he said.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, came up remarks while talking to reporters at the Secretariat on the current issues.
Replying to a question about BNP’s leadership, Quader said, “Awami League will join the next election under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina but who is BNP’s leader? In the past election they took part in the election under the leadership of Kamal Hossain”.
Referring to the Wednesday’s sit-in programme of BNP, the Awami League leader said there was no violence centering the programme but BNP activists hurled brickbats at police in Faridpur and it didn’t turn violent.
If they held rally then Awami Leauge will bring out peace procession, he said.
Replying to a question about possibility of banning Jamaat-e-Islami, the AL leader said it is the matter of court and no decision has been taken yet from the party to proceed with it.
“Without Jammat BNP is powerless as BNP and Jamaat are the two sides of a coin. If it difficult for BNP to move without Jamaat and if they want more people in their programmes they have to depend on Jamaat,” he said.
Nur calls Jamaat’s ameer “humanitarian”
Right after returning to Bangladesh, Member Secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad Nurul Haque Nur has defended Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman — arrested over assisting a militant group — as a “humanitarian” individual.
“How could the government arrest such a humanitarian person like the ameer of Jamaat?” — Nur said in a video of a press conference today.
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Jamaat ameer’s son got involved with the militant group Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya. Later, Shafiqur allegedly supported and funded them.
Two police officers were injured in a clash with Jamaat-e-Islami activists during their demonstration protesting the arrest of their ameer in Rajshahi city on December 13, 2022.
Jamaat, Shibir men also clashed with police on December 30 — leaving several people, including cops, injured.
Read more: ‘Free arrested Chhatra Odhikar Parishad activists’: Nur, Saki submit memo to DU VC
The latest call by Nur, defending the Jamaat ameer and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, comes after his return from a much talked about overseas trip, during which he reportedly met an individual named Mendi N Safadi, apparently an agent of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A sedition complaint was filed against Nur in this regard. "It seems that Nur has been involved in a conspiracy to unseat the elected government in Bangladesh," the complaint says.
Wake up more to restore voting rights, Fakhrul urges people
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called upon the country’s people to wake up more to restore their voting rights by ousting the Awami League government.
“The people of Bangladesh have woken up. We need to now wake up more to materialise the dreams of the Liberation War and build a truly people's Bangladesh for ensuring a beautiful future for our children,” he said.
Speaking at a sit-in programme, the BNP leader also called upon people from all walks of life to join their ongoing simultaneous movement to force the present ‘autocratic’ government to quit, paving the way for establishing a pro-people government and parliament through an acceptable election.
“Let us move towards that goal. We’ve to move forward uniting the people of Bangladesh to restore our voting rights and democracy. There’s a good sign that the noted citizens of the country are coming forward to this end,” he said.
BNP arranged the sit-in programme in front of its Nayapaltan central office as part of the simultaneous movement against the current government.
Other like-minded opposition parties, alliances and organisations also observed a similar programme in different areas of the capital and nine other divisions in the country to realise their 10-point demand including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government.
Read more: BNP announces countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16
BNP began the programme at Nayapaltan around 10:30am with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran.
It was the second programme of the simultaneous movement after the mass procession by the 33 opposition parties on December 30.
Earlier on December 30, BNP and 32 other like-minded opposition parties staged a mass procession programme in different parts of the capital as the first programme of the simultaneous movement.
AL has become isolated from people
Fakhrul said Awami League identifies itself as a political party. “We know that they are a very old familiar party. “But now they have completely lost their political existence.”
He said Awami league has also got isolated from people. “That's why they have to depend on the police and bureaucrats now to stay in power by force."
The BNP leader said all the opposition political parties have agreed to remove the current government for the restoration of democracy and people's right to vote. “They will make this movement successful by realising the 10-point demand.”
He said the current government has destroyed all the state institutions. “That’s why we’re talking about 27 points to reform the state.”
Referring to media reports on Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan’s 14 houses in the USA, Fakhrul said an official of an autonomous organisation is building houses abroad by siphoning off hundreds of crores of taka abroad.
Read more: BNP’s 27 points parts of anti-govt movement: Amir Khosru
He alleged that people belonging to the ruling party are ruining the country’s economy by indulging in plundering and siphoning off huge money abroad.
The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party leaders have established a reign of plundering by establishing their control on all institutions, including the banks.
He said the current government’s main target is to restore one-party Baksal rule by snatching people’s all rights. “We won’t let the government do it. We’ll move forward together with people to ensure the fall of this regime.”
Fakhrul said many leaders and activists of their party have still been languishing in jail enduring unbearable suffering.
He demanded the government immediately release the party’s arrested central leaders, including Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon and publicity affairs secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne.
Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party activists and law enforcers attacked their peaceful sit-in programmes in Faridpur and Mymensingh. “We strongly condemn and protest it.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the government used to say BNP announces programmes to create chaos. “But we arranged 10 rallies and subsequent programmes peacefully.”
He said they will also hold their all programmes in the days to come in the same way together with people to oust the government and implement their 27 points to reform the state.
Read more: Implementing 10 points a key New Year’s challenge for BNP: Mosharraf
He thanked the party leaders and activists for making the sit-in programme a success with their huge participation.
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said this government must go as people have woken up against it.
“We don’t want to remove this regime by pushing it down. We want to ensure its fall through a credible election under a caretaker government,” he said.
Abbas said their party doesn’t want to resort to any violence as BNP believes in democracy and peaceful programmes. “The government is suffering from unnecessary panic. BNP does not want any chaos and unrest. We urge the government to refrain from provocative activities. If you do that then the consequences will not be good. The days of being in power by force are over.”
He also called upon the government to accept their party’s 10-point demand and hand over power to a non-party neutral government for arranging a free and fair election.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the sit-in programme, disrupting traffic movement in the area.
Besides, Ganatantra Mancha observed a similar programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club while the 12-Party Alliance near Bijoy Nagar Water Tank, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan, LDP at FDC Crossing and Ganatantrik Bam Oikya in the east side of the Jatiya Press Club and Gonoforum (Montu) at Arambagh.
Will examine reasons behind slow voting in Rangpur city polls: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said that the election commission will examine the reasons behind the slow voting through EVM during the Rangpur City Corporation Election (RCC).
“Some problems have been reported in the Rangpur City Corporation election. We’ve got complaints of slow vote casting through EVMs (electronic voting machines),” the CEC told the reporters after a post-election meeting of Rangpur City Corporation at the Election Commission Bhaban.
“EC does not want to see such problem in future. So discussions are ongoing with all parties,” he said.
Read more: Election violence under present EC drops to zero: CEC
Although there had been less fingerprint problem in RCC election, the vote casting was slow due to various reasons, said the CEC.
If BNP comes to power 1971 spirit will vanish: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said that if BNP gets power again, there will be no spirit of Liberation War in the country.
"We cannot hand over power to BNP, which is the patron of communal forces and militancy," he said.
He made the remarks while joining a discussion meeting organised in the city by Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League unit to commemorate the ‘Homecoming Day’ of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after Bangladesh gained victory over Pakistan in 1971. Bangabandhu returned to Dhaka via London and New Delhi on January 10 in 1972 after being freed from jail in Pakistan.
Read more: Must maintain good relations with India: Obaidul Quader
Quader said that another name for Bangladesh is Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu will remain as long as this land exists, he added.
Pointing to BNP's mass sit-in programme on Wednesday, he bitterly criticised the opposition party and said 54 parties have joined hands against Sheikh Hasina.
“(But) What will the 54 parties do? They can’t do anything,” he said.
Criticising local media, Quader said he could not stay at home even for 50 days during the BNP regime.
“(Now) Two BNP leaders had been in jail for 26 days. Some media outlets are writing in a way as if they had been in jail for 26 thousand years,” he said.
Read more: Awami League ready to quash domestic, foreign conspiracies: Quader
Quader said there will be a game “against corruption, looting and misrule” of BNP.
He said that Hasina has “repaired what the BNP had destroyed while in power.”
"Sheikh Hasina inaugurated hundreds of bridges and hundreds of roads in one day. Sheikh Hasina can, only Sheikh Hasina can. Let us strengthen her hands," he said.
Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League General Secretary Humayun Kabir presided over the meeting.
AL leaders, activists gather on Dhaka streets as BNP holds sit-in programme
Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and its affiliates today took a stance in Dhaka as BNP and like-minded opposition parties and alliances organised a sit-in programme.
According to party sources, every leader in every ward of the city took to the streets to face any untoward incident.
Leaders and activists of Awami League, Jubo League, Swachhasebak League, Krishak League, Mahila Awami League, Mohila Jubo League and other affiliated organisations gathered in front of the central office of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue since early morning.
Read more: BNP announces countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16
A huge traffic contestation was created due to the gathering. Most commuters crossed the area on foot as vehicles were stuck due to the programme.
On the other hand, Chhatra League leaders and activists gathered at Shahbagh since morning.
Apart from the day-long programme in front of Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League arranged a discussion at 11:30 am on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Homecoming Day.
Minister of Road Transport and Bridges and General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, Obaidul Quader ,was present as the chief guest at the programmes.
BNP, like-minded parties announce countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16
BNP and other like-minded opposition parties on Wednesday announced a countrywide rally and procession programme for January 16 to press home their 10-point demand and protest the government’s power price hike plan.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes from their party’s sit-in programme at Nayapaltan in the capital on Wednesday.
He said the programme will be observed in all metropolitan cities, districts towns, upazilas and municipality headquarters.
The BNP leader alleged that the government is unfairly increasing the price of gas and electricity.
“People can't cope with the increased prices (of the utility services). Rallies and processions will be arranged in all cities, districts, upazilas and municipal headquarters across the country on January 16 demanding our 10-point and reduction in electricity prices,” the BNP leader said.
Apart from BNP, Ganatantra Mancha observed a similar programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club while the 12-Party Alliance near Bijoy Nagar Water Tank, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan, LDP at FDC Crossing and Ganatantrik Bam Oikya in the east side of the Jatiya Press Club and Gonoforum (Montu) at Arambagh and separately announced the rally and procession programme across the country for January 16.
As part of the simultaneous movement, BNP and other like-minded opposition parties, alliances and organisations observed the sit-in programme in different areas of the capital and nine other divisions in the country to realise their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government.
Read: Fakhrul vows to intensify anti-govt movement