Khaleda’s yes, Tarique’s no over dialogue confuse BNP grassroots

Conflicting comments from the party chief and her son on the issue of holding a dialogue to settle the prevailing political stalemate have confused the mid-level and grassroots leaders and activists of main opposition BNP.

While BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia recently expressed a softer stance with regard to holding talks with the ruling Awami League, her son and party’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman dismissed the suggestion of any dialogues, deeming the government to be “illegal.”

Most of the senior and mid-level leaders declined to comment on the issue, displaying mixed reactions to the situation.

However, a standing member of the party made a statement regarding the stances adopted by the two top leaders of the party, saying the difference would be resolved.

“Coordination at the highest level is a must. Conflicting comments will send a negative message to the grassroots and confuse them. That might disrupt the pace of the ongoing movement,” a BNP leader told the Dhaka Tribune on conditions of anonymity.

In a recent interview with BBC Bangla Service, Khaleda Zia said her party was ready for a dialogue anytime to resolve the prevailing political crisis.

“We have to talk to the government. For talks we have to sit with someone, we cannot talk to the air. If they remain in office forcefully, we have to talk to them. There is no solution other than talks,” she said on Monday.

However, in a press conference in London, Tarique said there was no reason to hold any dialogue with the “illegal government”, elected through “farcical polls.”

“The farcical elections that took place yesterday [Sunday] and those who came to power, it is obvious that they do not represent any legitimate government. What kind of talks can be held with an illegitimate government?” he said.

Seeking anonymity, a mid-level leader of the BNP told the Dhaka Tribune: “The party is passing a ‘critical’ time. A single confusion or mistake will put us politically behind, which we cannot afford right now.”

However, BNP Standing Committee Member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman does not see any big difference between the two comments that Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman have made. He said one talked directly about a dialogue while other spoke indirectly.

“If you look carefully, you will not find any big difference between the chairperson and senior vice-chairman’s statements. The chairperson talked about a dialogue and the senior vice-chairman talked about movements to mount pressure on the government for talks,” Mahbubur Rahman said.