Though the BNP leaders are repeatedly talking about launching tougher action programmes after Eid to force the government to reinstate the caretaker government system, the movement is unlikely to gather pace before mid-September.
The party policymakers think they will gradually intensify the movement after the Eid-ul-Fitr to give the government more time and space to come the negotiation table over holding the next polls under a non-party administration.
They, however, said the nature of movement and line of action will depend on the evolving situation and the government’s attitude and people’s response.
The BNP leaders said they are taking preparations both for strengthening the movement to make it a success and taking part in the next general election to have a landslide victory.
“We’ll again start our movement after Eid through peaceful programmes like holding rallies, demonstrations and processions. The movement will gradually be tougher,” BNP standing committee member Tariqul Islam told UNB.
Asked about the nature of the tougher movement, Tariqul said, “I don’t believe that any movement can be successful by following any formula or preplanned line of action. The nature of action will be devised based on the emerging situation, government’s attitude and people’s response.”
The senior BNP leader hinted that they will go for a tough movement with programmes like blockade, siege, sit-in, non-cooperation, and hartal for a longer period from mid-September to force the government to settle the issue of caretaker government before the dissolution of parliament.
Tariqul is, however, still hopeful that the government will come to negotiations before the situation getting worse in the interest of the country and its people.
Another BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf said, “No option is left for us but to strengthen the movement with tougher programmes as the regime is apparently unwilling to reach an understanding to resolve the crisis over the election-time government,” he said.”
Mentioning that they have given government enough time to resolve the political stalemate, Mosharraf said they still want to have a solution to the crisis through negotiations. “We’ll be election-oriented, if the government accepts our demand. Well have to launch oust government if the regime doesn’t restore the caretaker system.”
Echoing Tariqul that their line of action will depend on government’s attitude and evolving situation, Mosharraf said they have a plan to gradually intensify their movement and which will get momentum in October if the government does not bow down to their pressure by the time.
“We won’t participate in the next general election if it’s held under a partisan government. The election will not be acceptable both at home and abroad if we boycott it. So, the government should not buy time in reaching a understanding with us over the polls-time administration,” said BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubul Rahman.
He said they will intensify the ongoing movement with their full strength after mid-September if the government does not accept their demand by this time. “As the opposition, it’s our duty to fight for establishing people’s voting rights, and we’ll show the regime our full strength to this end.”
BNP standing committee member Moudud at a press briefing on Saturday urged the government to reach an understanding to overcome the ongoing political crisis over the polls-time administration.
Moudud warned that the consequences will be dire if the government chooses the path of violence ignoring the opposition’s demand for restoration of the caretaker government.
BNP sources said a meeting of the BNP’s national executive committee is likely to be held after the Eid to devise a framework for movement to make it a success.
According to the sources, the party will launch an oust-government movement with harsher programme from mid-September if the current regime does not accept the caretaker government demand by August.
The party will first enforce 60-72 hour hartal then they will go for road-blockade and Dhaka siege and non-cooperation movement, a party policymaker said wishing anonymity.
He said senior party leaders have started visiting different districts and will continue it for the next one and a half months to put the grassroots leaders and atavists at war mood to successfully implement the movement programmes and make it a grand success.
Besides, the BNP chairperson is likely to hold public meetings in some districts, mainly adjacent to the capital, including Gazipur to mount pressure on the government to reinstate the caretaker system.
Source: UNBConnect