The BNP reckoned the government’s attitude to be positive when party chairperson Khaleda Zia was granted bail and she returned home without any obstruction.
Now the question arises: What has the party, and also the 20-party alliance, achieved from the movement for three months when the BNP chief stayed inside her political office in Gulshan and a court order to arrest her was hanging in balance for days.
There are mixed reactions to the current state of the BNP’s movement. Some leaders think that the movement has been successful partially while others think they are yet to achieve any of their goals.
The movement has pushed the Awami League government into an awkward situation but the party leaders claimed that the BNP has failed to realise their most important demands for holding mid-term elections under a non-party government and securing an assurance from the government to hold a dialogue towards that end.
The BNP chief’s staying at her Gulshan office was seen as a sign of the 20-party alliance’s movement which has changed gear through the BNP’s participation in the city corporation elections and more so through Khaleda Zia’s return to her residence.
Sources in the BNP said Khaleda Zia wanted to stay at her office until the success of the movement, and accordingly she did not attend the national days’ programmes on 21 February and 26 March.
Finally, after 92 days’ stay in her Gulshan office, the BNP chief returned to her Gulshan residence on Sunday.
On 5 January, the BNP was scheduled to hold a ‘democracy killing day’ rally marking the first anniversary of the lopsided ballot on 5 January 2014.
As the government did not allow it, Khaleda announced the same day, a non-stop countrywide blockade from 6 January.
“The BNP had no other way than going for movement at that time and the movement is still going on. The BNP has been able to prove nationally and internationally that there is a political crisis in Bangladesh,” said the BNP’s standing committee member MahbuburRahman.
Another standing committee member, seeking anonymity, said the BNP has popular support but the party could not organise the people for movement.
“Movement can be successful only if there is a huge public gathering in Dhaka,” he added.
Some leaders see the latest move as a political retreat while others believe the city corporation elections have provided them with an opportunity to regroup and demonstrate in the near future.
Source: Prothom-Alo
It is almost funny and ironic how a reporter can twist an event. Here Prothom-Alo reports ““Movement can be successful only if there is a huge public gathering in Dhaka,” he added.”
here what he does not say makes the point. Which is; he does not mention that BNP was not allowed to speak at their intended public gatherings in Gazipur and Dhaka.
This is a nasty way our news media twists important news. It does not bode well for the nation. The news media are a bunch of crooks who should be sent out to a “no man’s land”. Some of these individuals are disgusting, unethical, self serving and un-patriotic idiots.