On Monday, Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho, chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, left the coalition
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is in troubled waters as political allies for decades are leaving its alliance.
It is not only the political allies, but also several senior BNP leaders who are now considering quitting for the sake of their political careers, after it was discovered that the party’s top brass kept them in the dark about BNP MPs-elect joining the parliament.
On Monday, Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho, chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, left the coalition on the basis of BNP joining the parliament after refusing to acknowledge the results of the December 30 polls.
The BJP is only the most recent departure from the alliance. Over the last eight months, BNP has lost three key allies, the other two being the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP).
Several NAP leaders told Dhaka Tribune that they do not see any political future of BNP as its popularity is dwindling with each passing day.
A close aide to Andaleeve told Dhaka Tribune that BJP left the BNP alliance as it was a waste of time.
“Now, the BJP can join the Awami League or any other alliance, which will help the party to do politics more freely,” he said.
The aide, seeking anonymity also said that over the last 10 years, BNP’s allies have faced immense difficulties and received offers from the Awami League government, but the BNP-led alliance had maintained a resolute wall of political defiance.
Andaleeve told Dhaka Tribune: “Over the past six months, BNP has been engaging in politics of appeasement. They first reject the national elections, and then their MPs go to the parliament to be sworn in. They have lost all credibility.”
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A senior leader of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance who served as a minister in the last government, told Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday that BNP will be a party only in name within a few years.
“These leaders (of the BNP-allied parties) wanted power, that is why they joined the alliance. But they are already convinced there is no future with the BNP.”
Lightening burden, weakening alliance
The BJP, NDP and NAP might be considered as minor allies by BNP. But their main ally for over two decades, Jamaat-e-Islami, is also expected to abandon BNP in the near future as several Jamaat leaders are going to join Jono Aakankhyar Bangladesh (Bangladesh of People’s Expectation), a party formed recently by former Jamaat leaders.
At the same time, a radical Jamaat faction is also trying to form another new political party based on the ideology of Abul A’la Maududi, according to Jamaat sources.
Earlier in February, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Mia Golam Parowar told Dhaka Tribune that they were planning to form a new party after the Election Commission revoked Jamaat’s registration.
Jamaat sources claimed that the new party will not ally itself with BNP and will campaign alone.
Leaving a sinking ship
Core BNP leaders also appear to be in a rush to leave for their personal and political interests.
BNP Vice Chairman Selima Rahman admitted that its lawmakers taking oath was BNP’s decision as it was in the party’s best interest.
A member of the BNP Standing Committee told Dhaka Tribune: “Tarique, as the acting party chief, did not share his views on the party’s future with the senior leaders. We are reconsidering our roles in the party, some may even leave.”
Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a standing committee member, said it was an individual’s decision and the party leaders were left in the dark.
“If many people are dissatisfied with the BNP MP’s joining the parliament, then I will say that since it was completely a party decision, people should accept it. According to the time and situation of politics, many decisions can change.”
In October 2018 when the NAP and NDP were leaving, they said the circumstances that formed the Jatiya Oikya Front alliance were unacceptable.
NAP Chairman Jebel Rahman Gani accused the BNP of keeping its allies in the dark.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.
