Buoyed by the party’s apparent ‘success’ in the ongoing anti-government street protests, opposition BNP is now planning to begin a ‘simultaneous’ movement with most opposition parties at the end of this year. Jatiya Party led by GM Quader is a major target to bring it under its election-time political alliance.

BNP insiders say the main and initial objective of their planned movement is to force the Awami League government to step down by restoring the caretaker government.

They say their many other demands, including withdrawing cases against political leaders, unconditional freedom for Khaleda Zia and formation of a new neutral Election Commission, will easily be realised if the current government steps down and hands over power to a neutral administration.

The party has already finalised the draft of a set of demands for waging the ‘simultaneous movement’ along with other parties and platforms with outcome from its discussions during the first round of political dialogue.

Also read: GM Quader expresses doubt about inclusive election

After weeks of street demonstrations in Dhaka and outside, BNP has begun its second round of dialogue with like-minded political parties.

On Sunday, the first meeting was held with Kalyan Party to finalise the demands and issues that would be highlighted in the movement.

Though they had 23 parties in the fold for launching the simultaneous movement during the first phase of talks, senior BNP leaders say they want to include some more like-minded parties including Jatiya Party under its new Chairman GM Quader. BNP also wants to take some other left and Islamic parties that are against holding the next polls under a partisan government.

Jatiya Party, which was an electoral partner of Awami League in the last three national elections, has recently been harshly criticising the government on various issues and raising voices against the plan to use EVMs and the polls under a partisan government.

GM Quader has recently expelled some party leaders, who are loyal to Raushon Ershad and have a strong connection with the government, seemingly to establish his full control over the party leadership so that he becomes strong enough to take any tough decisions on the next polls without any major challenge.

‘KHALEDA ZIA TO LEAD MOVEMENT’

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said their planned 'simultaneous’ movement' with different political parties to oust the government would be carried out under the leadership of Khaleda Zia, a statement seen by many as an effort to keep the party activists and leaders united.

"We’ve taken united steps (to wage a simultaneous movement)…We’ve already announced the name of the (top) leader of our movement. Begum Khaleda Zia is our leader. In her absence, our acting chairman Tarique Rahman is our leader,” he said.

Fakhrul made the remarks while talking to reporters after a dialogue with Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), a partner of the 20-party alliance, at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, convicted in two graft cases, was freed through an executive order of the government on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she must stay in her Gulshan house and would not leave the country.

Under such circumstances, a convicted person like Khaleda is not eligible to participate in politics and lead a movement, and her physical condition is not suitable too.

But BNP leader Syed Moazzem Hossain said on Monday that there is no problem to wage the movement under Khaleda.

He said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujubur Rahman was in Pakistan’s jail in 1971, but the war took place under his leadership.

Also read: Opposition parties to wage movement under Khaleda’s leadership: Fakhrul

“If Sheikh Mujib could lead the war from jail in Pakistan, then there is no problem for Khaleda to lead our movement staying in her house in the country,” he told UNB.

‘TALKS MAY END BY NOVEMBER’

Mirza Fakhrul on Monday said they would start the “simultaneous movement” after completing the second round of dialogue with all the opposition political parties.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told UNB that their party is likely to complete the second round of talks by November this year.

“We’ve our scheduled programmes till December 10. We may initiate the simultaneous movement after the end of our programmes,” he said.

As his attention was drawn to Kalyan Party chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim’s comment that there will have “a surprise” in the upcoming anti-government movement, Khosru said he was not aware of anything like that.

‘EFFORTS TO WOO JATIYA PARTY’

A senior BNP leader, wishing not to be named, said their party is trying to convince Jatiya Party led by GM Quader and some left parties to involve with the simultaneous movement.

Amir Khosru said they want all parties, which are against next general elections under a partisan government, to join their movement for the restoration of the caretaker government.

“We’ll welcome Jatiya Party to our talks and our planned movement. The main point is if Jatiya Party wants to contest next polls under the current regime. Our door is open. If Jatiya Party says it is not willing to join polls under a partisan regime, then it will not be a problem for them to join us,” he said.

‘JATIYA PARTY NOT SURE YET’

Meanwhile, GM Quader on Monday told reporters in Rangpur that they have so far not taken any decision on the formation of an electoral alliance.

He also said there was no decision yet whether they would join the next polls or not.

"Our future political existence depends on this decision. So, we’ll finalise a decision after discussions with the grassroots and senior leadership,” he said.

Asked whether they reached an understanding with BNP, Quader said, "We don't go for any secret entente. Whatever we will do will be transparent,” he said.