BNP asked to shrug off inertia

Speakers on Thursday called for uniting all political forces under the leadership of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to build up a movement to ‘restore’ democracy and to thwart the treat of ‘fascism’ and ‘militancy’.

Some of the leaders and professionals censured the lackluster performance of BNP in national politics in recent times and expressed views both in favour and against dissolving the BNP-led alliance.
The leaders and professionals came up with the views at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers’ Bangladesh organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to mark the 34th death anniversary of the party founder Ziaur Rahman, to be observed on May 30.
Khaleda Zia was present in the audience.
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said democracy had been exiled and the country has become devoid of politics.
He warned of the ‘rise of fascism and militancy’ if democracy was not ‘restored’.
Moudud said the ‘declaration of independence’ by Ziaur Rahman had inspired the nation to fight the liberation war and Zia had directly fought it in 1971.
Bikalpadhara Bangladesh president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury said it was unfortunate and unjust that discussions on Zia took place only two days in a year.
The BNP chairperson’s adviser Shahjahan Omar urged Khaleda Zia to urge the components of the alliance either to merge with BNP or to carry out simultaneous movement.
He said the alliance was causing problems for BNP leadership to flourish as many leaders and activists remained inactive thinking that they might not get party nominations in general election due to sharing of seats with the alliance.
In response, Kalyan Party chairman Syed M Ibrahim said BNP would lose ‘95 points out of 100’ if the alliance split while he would lose only a single point.
He said it would not be possible for him at the age of 66 to join BNP abolishing his own party and if necessary he would quit politics.
Ganashasthya Kendra founder Zafarullah Chowdhury urged BNP leaders and activists not to pamper Khaleda Zia without taking to streets.
He said the standing committee and national executive committee of BNP were ‘sleeping’.
Presided over by BNP vice-chairman Abdullah-Al-Noman the discussion was also addressed, among others, by BNP leader ASM Hannan Shah, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Mustahidur Rahman, former PSC chairman Jinnahtunesa Tahmida Begum and journalist leader Shawkat Mahmud.