Strengthening its position in favour of holding a fair national election by 2025, BNP has conveyed a strong message to its alliance partners that they and the people of the country will not accept any conspiracy to manipulate the polls by forming a ‘puppet’ political party.
The party communicated its message through three separate meetings on Saturday with the 12-Party Alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, and the Labour Party at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, securing their full support for its position.
Talking to UNB, senior leaders of BNP and its allied parties expressed doubts about the interim government’s intentions following the Chief Adviser’s sudden announcement of an unclear election roadmap on December 16, without prior consultation with political parties amid efforts to form a new political party, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, which seems to be backed by the state and supported by certain advisers.
They also suspected that the government is deliberately avoiding a clear election timeline only to delay the polls under the pretext of reforms, with the primary aim of giving student leaders—who led the Anti-Discrimination Movement in July-August—time and space to organise their new party for the election.
The top political leaders also said two student leaders, inducted into the advisory council, are unethically supporting other student leaders in forming the new party.
They also claimed that other leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Movement, including Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah, are getting state backing for their efforts to form the party.
They feared that if the new party was formed with state backing, it could attempt to manipulate the upcoming election with the government's support, potentially triggering a fresh crisis in the country amid various plots against the nation.
The political leaders, however, said they do not want to create any distance with the government at this stage. Instead, they plan to persuade the government to hold the election by September or October next year and to refrain from assisting anyone in forming new parties.
Contacted by UNB, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote Chief Fariduzzaman Farhad said during the meeting with BNP leaders, various issues were discussed, with a particular focus on the election and the students' efforts to form a political party with state patronage.
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He said two advisers to the interim government are directly involved in the formation of the new party, which is unethical. “If they wish to form a party, they should resign first. We’re not against students forming a party, but it should be done independently, without any support from the government.”
Farhad, also the President of the National People’s Party (NPP), expressed concern that if a party is formed with the government's help, it could attempt to influence the election, paving the way for depoliticisation.
Shahadat Hossain Selim, coordinator of the 12-Party Alliance, said, “Some activities of the government have caused confusion and resentment among us. We shared these concerns with the BNP leaders. We and the BNP are on the same page regarding holding the election within 2025.”
Selim said both BNP and their alliance oppose the formation of any party, including student-led one, using state machinery.
“We don’t like the body language demonstrated by the student leaders and their attacks on democratic political parties. We also reject their efforts to form a party with associates, such as the councillors of dissolved city corporations and municipalities. We object to the way they defame senior political leaders like Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir,” he said.
Selim, also the president of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said when a party is formed with state patronage, it is often labelled a puppet or "King’s party." "We’re concerned because such a party never has good intentions.”
He said King's parties were formed in the past, including during the Fakhruddin-Moyeenuddin regime following the 1/11 political changeover, but the people did not accept them.
Selim questioned how advisers of the interim government can be involved in the formation of a political party by breaching their oath.
He also claimed that Sarjis and Hasnat were travelling to various parts of the country and using state machinery to establish a new party. "During their visit to the Khulna division, the divisional commissioner attended their programme."
Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said the student leaders are using government officials, such as DCs, SPs, and OCs, to organise various meetings aimed at preparing for the formation of a political party.
“The students can form a party, but it should be done independently, without any government backing. If they continue their efforts to launch the party with state support, they will provoke the politicians,” Iran said.
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He said they will seek a meeting with the Chief Adviser to share their concerns and urge the government not to take any steps that would erode the confidence of political parties and the people.
BNP Standing Committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said, “We have no objection if anyone launches a political party. But we do object if a party is formed under the patronage of the interim government and the state. We also oppose any delay in the election simply to give a party space to organise under the pretext of reforms."
He said the people would not accept a puppet party formed with the backing of the interim government.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said if any political party is formed under state patronage, the credibility of the interim government will be lost.
“It is acceptable if a new party is formed by others, especially those involved in the anti-discrimination movement, as we move toward democracy. But it should not be a King's party,” he observed.
Rizvi said they have heard that councillors from the dissolved city corporations and municipalities would be inducted into the Jatiya Nagorik Committee to help organise the party. "If this happens, it will send a very negative message to the public.”