Partners of the ongoing simultaneous anti-government movement asked the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to give the liaison committee that holds meetings between the BNP and allies more power.
The allies, such as Ganatantra Mancha, put pressure on the BNP during recent meetings held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office in Dhaka.
Several leaders of the Ganatantra Mancha and the Democratic Left Alliance told New Age that they made the proposal to BNP after reviewing their recent simultaneous movements.
The leaders said that movement partners wanted to see the liaison committee as a powerful body, and their decisions should never be changed without prior discussion.
‘During the movement before the January 7 general election, several decisions of the liaison committee were unilaterally changed by the BNP at the last moment,’ a Ganatantra Mancha leader said, adding that such a situation was creating mistrust among partners.
He said that in many cases, partners overlooked the matter during the previous movement, considering the greater interest of the movement.
‘But this time we need to be more responsible and should respect every decision of the liaison committee meeting,’ he said.
Ganatantra Mancha leader and Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Huq told New Age that the meeting between BNP and Ganatantra Mancha was held on Wednesday evening, and they discussed many things, including previous movements and future plans.
‘In the meeting, we wanted to know the thoughts of the BNP regarding the past movement and future plans. They said that they would inform us through party discussions,’ he said.
Leaders of several partners told New Age that a small section of simultaneous movement partners suggested the BNP engage Jamaat-e-Islami in the simultaneous movement like other opposition parties.
Several partners of the simultaneous movement have already made a proposal to the BNP in this regard, they said, adding that although the attitude of a section of BNP leaders is positive, they have yet to make a public announcement about it.
They, however, said that the Ganatantra Mancha and the Democratic Left Alliance leaders would not agree to this proposal.
A simultaneous movement led by the BNP started on December 30, 2022, with the aim of overthrowing the government ahead of the 12th parliamentary polls.
While BNP and its like-minded held a mass rally on that day, Jamaat held a programme separately.
After a clash with the police, Jamaat left the field disgruntled as there was no response from the BNP.
Since then, the Jamaat has been carrying out programmes on its own.
On October 28, 2023, the Jamaat held a rally in the capital.
About the proposals of opposition parties, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told New Age that the party was getting various proposals from movement partners and would discuss them in the party forum.
‹We are discussing the existing political, social, and economic situation in the country. We will take future decisions in a democratic manner,’ he added.
New Age