Being instructed by BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, the party leaders have decided not to attend the 20th national council of the ruling Awami League
Until Friday evening, the leaders of the party were divided into two groups over whether to attend the council in context of present political scenario of the country, said a senior BNP leader on condition of anonymity.
On October 21, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said that the party would attend the council.
Citing AL’s example of not attending BNP’s council while speaking at a discussion, he said: “But, we are not narrow-minded as you are. We will prove on the Awami League’s council day that the BNP is a liberal democratic party by joining it.”
Party sources, however, said it was Alal’s personal opinion and not an official statement from the party or the BNP chief.
It has been known that since getting AL’s invitation a faction of the party strongly opposed the idea of attending the council, arguing that it would leave an adverse impact on the root-level supporters and activists.
The senior BNP leader said some mid-level leaders of the party raised the issue to exiled leader of the party Tarique Rahman who in response advised not to attend the council.
“As party Chairperson Khaleda Zia also was not interested in joining the AL council, we have finally decided not to send our delegation to the council,” he added.
He also said: “Many of our leaders and activists have disappeared while many others were injured by the Awami League-led government and the law enforcement agencies. In such a situation, the party will not send any representative to the Awami League council considering the emotion of the families.”
The leader said: “Many of our activists are leading miserable lives due to actions taken by this government, so we are not sending any delegates to this council.”
Dhaka Tribune yesterday morning talked to several top BNP leaders over the phone asking them whether they would attend the council. Most of them answered that they did not know the party decision exactly.
When contacted, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam declined to comment on the issue, saying he was “sick.” The leaders also could not confirm this, saying they did not know for certain.
Dhaka Tribune tried to contact Moazzem Hossain Alal over the phone till 6pm, but his cell phone was found switched off.
BNP chairperson’s press wing official Sairul Kabir Khan said: “We do not have any information yet about sending delegates to the council.”
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said: “Again BNP took a suicidal decision and missed another option for erasing political misdeeds.
“Maybe BNP’s chief is not in position to think reasonably, and his advisory body did not give him right advice.”
He further said: “During the last few years, the BNP got several opportunities or political issues to take benefit, but they lost the opportunity every time. Through boycotting the council they lost another opportunity. Senior leaders of the BNP should disclose why they did not participate in the AL council.”
Mentioning that it was a childish behaviour and wrong decision of the BNP, Zafrullah said: “They are playing with the nation.”
Source: Dhaka Tribune
