Though most of the party’s central leaders have apparently gone into hiding amid a crackdown following the October 28 violence, BNP leaders may take to the streets again after the announcement of the schedule for the next polls to intensify the ongoing movement. Talking to UNB, some senior BNP leaders said they have already prepared a strategy to carry out a non-stop movement with harsher programmes like hartal, blockade and laying siege to the Election Commission and different government offices to halt any lopsided election. They said their party also took the opinions of the like-mined parties about what to do if the election schedule is announced and most parties suggested enforcing blockade or hartal without any pause. As per their strategy, the BNP leaders said soon after the announcement of the schedule for the next election, the opposition parties will first give a 48-hour ultimatum to the Election Commission (EC) to cancel the schedule and create a proper atmosphere for a participatory election under a neutral administration. Read more: Fire Service records 9 arson attacks in the country in 10 hrs If the EC pays heed to their ultimatum, they will then try to show their strength on the streets across the country with their action programmes. According to Article 126 of the Constitution, it shall be the duty of all executive authorities to assist the Election Commission to discharge its duties. The BNP leaders said they would closely observe how the EC exerts the powers enshrined by the constitution to take control over the state apparatus, including the law enforcement agencies. They said they would also observe the role of the EC in stopping the mass arrest of opposition leaders and activists and releasing the arrested party senior leaders and workers. BNP claimed over 10,770 opposition leaders and followers were arrested centring BNP’s Oct 28 grand rally and subsequent hartal and blockade programmes. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice-chairman Barrister Shahjahan Oma, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman, and joint secretaries general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Kahirul Kabir Khokon were arrested following the party’s grand rally and violence. Read more: Chinese envoy’s remark on polls doesn’t reflect people’s aspirations: BNP Among the 19 members of the BNP standing committee, Jamiruddin Sircar, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Begum Selima Rahman now remained active in politics. However, they are now staying in safer places secretly to avoid arrest. Three standing committee members including Salahuddin Ahmed and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku have been staying abroad. The other party policymakers either died or remained inactive due to physical illness. The other active members of the BNP executive committee, including the vice chairmen, joint secretaries general and organising secretaries are also on the run and guiding the party leaders and workers from hideouts. A party standing committee member, wishing anonymity, said they will come out of their secret places once the polls schedule is announced to boost the morale of party workers to strengthen the movement. He said they have a plan to isolate Dhaka from the rest of the country by making the blockade programme more effective through increasing picketing on highways and roads at the district level. “Our party won’t participate in the parliamentary election under the current government. So, after the announcement of the schedule, our all leaders will come out on the streets and join the movement,” the BNP leader said.  “After the announcement of the polls schedule, all the state machinery, including the law enforcers, will be under the control of the commission. So, the Election Commission’s role will be more questionable, if the arrest of BNP leaders and workers continues even after the polls schedule announcement. Besides, questions will be raised in the country and abroad about the sincerity of the Election Commission in conducting fair, free and impartial elections,” he said. BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said the government may think BNP will be weakened if the election schedule is announced. “But it won’t happen. We have seen examples of cancellations of elections after the announcement of the schedule. “BNP will deal with all situations staying on the streets. People won’t this time allow the government to stage a drama in the name of election.” Another BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said BNP's movement for the restoration of democracy and voting rights will not fail this time. “If the schedule is announced, we will have no choice but to continue the movement. We’ll force the government to meet our demands through a fierce mass movement.” BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said their party will not retreat from the movement under any circumstance.  "If a one-sided schedule is announced ignoring the opinion of the opposition parties, it will prove that the government and the Election Commission are not serious about a fair and acceptable election," he said. Read more: 152 BGB platoons deployed across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's latest blockade

BNP has formed a seven-member liaison committee to coordinate with the political parties involved in the simultaneous anti-government movement. The member of the liaison committee are Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Barkat Ullah Bulu, Md Shahjahan, Abdul Awal Mintoo and Sayed Moazzem Hossain Alal, said a party press release on Monday. BNP launched the simultaneous movement on December 24 through a mass-procession across the country, except in Dhaka and Rangpur. Read more: AL govt's ouster a 'must' to tackle political, economic crises Earlier on December 10, the party announced a 10-point demand to “oust” the current government through a simultaneous movement. Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also formed a five member liaison committee to coordinate with BNP regarding the programmes of the simultaneous movement. LDP Secretary General Redwan Ahmed was made the Convenor of the committee while party Presidium Member Nurul Alam its Member Secretary. Read more: Govt selectively killing opposition leaders, activists: BNP The other members are Niamul Bashir, Aurangzeb Belal and Mahbub Morshed.

Five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker of the Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Sunday, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament. The BNP MPs submitted their resignation letters at 12:20 pm,  Mohammad Siraj, MP of Bogura-6, told UNB. The MPs who resigned are: Md. Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md. Mosharof  Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md. Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2 and Rumeen Farhana, from women’s reserved seats. Read more: BNP declares start of ‘simultaneous anti-govt movement’ on Dec 24 Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit resignation to the Speaker today. They will tender their resignation later as they have to submit it in person as per the constitution, said Mohammad Siraj. Speaking to reporters at the Jatiya Sangsad, BNP’s international affairs secretary Rumeen said they submitted their resignation to the Speaker following their demand for dissolution of parliament. “This is just the beginning. Now the other MPs from different political parties who support democracy should also come forward and resign,” she added. Read more: BNP activists, locals complain of internet service disruption in and around Golapbagh rally venue Earlier, Rumeen Farhana announced the decision from the party’s Golapbagh rally on Saturday. The MPs sent their resignation through an email on Saturday. BNP on Saturday unveiled a 10-point charter of demands from Golapbagh rally aimed at unseating the government through a simultaneous movement.

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.

Stating that an anti-government movement cannot be a plot, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to make public the names of those conspiring against her. “The Prime Minister said yesterday (Wednesday) that a new plot has begun to oust her and she knows the conspirators. I would like to urge her…. you please clearly make public their names. The nation wants to know who they are,” he said. Speaking at a discussion programme, he categorically said any movement for toppling a government is not a conspiracy. “We would like to clearly and openly declare that we want to establish a pro-people government by removing this fascist and authoritarian regime through a mass movement. There’s no question of any plot here,” the BNP leader said. Also read: Don't cry, wake up: Fakhrul to BNP activists He said it is Awami League that came to power by resorting to conspiracy in 2008. Fakhrul said a vested quarter in a planned way hatched a conspiracy to defeat BNP in 2008 and filled ballot boxes on the night before the voting day to ensure Awami League’s victory. “The election was held in the same way in 2018...Even, the Jatiya Party secretary general said voting was held at night and they themselves did it,” the BNP leader observed. The pro-BNP faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) arranged the programme at Jatiya Press Club, marking its founding anniversary. Earlier on Thursday, PM Hasina said a fresh plot has begun to oust her from power as the country is heading towards another national election. “Conspiracies were hatched before the national elections in 2014 and 2018. They are again hatching their conspiracies to remove me from power. I know all of them [conspirators]," she said. Fakhrul alleged that Awami League shut down many media outlets, repressed and killed many journalists, implicated many of them in different cases and enacted the Digital Security Act to gag the media. “It’s natural for Awami League as it’s their basic character. Awami League doesn’t believe in democracy. It’s also the party’s character to deceive people. This party does exactly the opposite of what it says” Also read: BNP, Montu-led Gonoforum agree on simultaneous anti-govt movement About the change in the superintendent of police (SP) in 40 out of 64 districts, he said those who genuinely belong to Awami League were made SPs through the fresh reshuffle in the police administration. Besides, he said the government appointed 11 additional judges to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. “If you investigate, you’ll find all of them are Awami cadres. Has this country been liberated only for Awami League? He said Bangladesh is now under the worst form of authoritarian rule since there is no democracy and no press freedom. “So, there’s no point in talking about democracy and justice here. Ensuring the fall of this regime through a united movement of people is the only way left for us.”

BNP on Thursday sat with the Kalyan Party, one of the components of the 20-party alliance, as part of its political parley aimed at launching a united anti-government movement. An 11-member delegation of the Kalyan Party, led by its chairman Sayed Mohammad Ibrahim had talks with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office. Nazrul Islam Khan, BNP standing committee member and 20-party coordinator, was also present. Also read: Artificial food crisis created to raise prices: BNP After nearly one and half hours of talks, Sayed Ibrahim said both parties agreed that removing the current 'autocratic' government is now a top priority in politics. “We also think waging a movement together with other parties is necessary to implement it,” he said. He said they told BNP that their party is ready to initiate a simultaneous movement with other parties if it is not possible to activate the 20-party alliance for any reason. "We also said that we are ready to cooperate with BNP in activating the 20-party alliance or incorporating more parties into the alliance," the Kalyan Party chief also said.  Fakhrul said they reached an agreement with Kalyan Party on waging an effective movement against this government to force it to resign and hand over power to a non-partisan government. He said they will initiate the movement also to force the government to dissolve the parliament with an aim to hold a credible and inclusive election to be conducted by a new impartial election commission. On May 24, BNP formally began a dialogue with other opposition parties with the first meeting with Nagorik Oikya. Three days later, the party also sat with Labour Party, another component of the 20-party. Also read: BNP, Biplobi Workers Party agree to oust govt thru movement: Fakhrul BNP also had talks with Ganosanghati Andolon on May 31 and Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party on June 1 and agreed to wage a simultaneous anti-government movement.

Stating that the correct time has not come yet to go for an anti-government movement, BNP Secretary General on Monday said it will not be possible to stage a mass upsurge without the active participation of the young generation. “Many of you ask why BNP is not calling for a movement? BNP will surely do it when the party thinks it is the right time for waging a movement,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, he said, “Students and workers must play a big role in the movement as they did in the past. A mass upsurge is necessary to defeat the current regime by organising the youth.” Also read:Plot hatched to make Bangladesh 'subservient’ state: Fakhrul Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 40th death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. Recalling the role of students and youths in ousting HM Ershad in the 90s, Fakhrul said people will get united if the young generation comes forward for bringing about a change in power. He, however, said the reality in the 90s and that of in 2021 is not the same. “There’ve been lots of changes in the course of time. We’ve to move on with the trend of change. Or else, we’ll never be successful.” The BNP leader said one thing is clear that no election can be held in a free and fair manner under the current government and the Election Commission. “So, they’ve to go…then there must come a change through an election under a neutral government and a neutral election commission. We the country’s people have to do this. Neither America nor China, nor India will bring this change for us.” Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party leaders are indulging in widespread ‘plundering’ and they are buying houses and making shopping malls in different countries, including Canada, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. “No one keeps money in the country anymore as they know the time will come when everyone will be made accountable to people.” Mentioning that the government has completely failed to deal with the coronavirus crisis, he said the government’s only goal is to plunder and steal public money through corruption. He said Health Minister Zahid Maleque was present during the signing of a deal with Regent Hospital, but later only hospital chairman Shahed Karim was sent to jail for the Covid test scam. “When Shahed can be taken to jail, then why not the minister? He (minister) is equally responsible for it."

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday hoped that the country will get rid of both coronavirus and ‘autocracy’ in the New Year , 2021.