The party’s leaders and activists have been arrested following the clash at the BNP’s general meeting in Dhaka on October 28, demanding the government’s resignation. BNP alleges that their leaders and activists are being arrested en masse to eliminate the opposition party for the purpose of one-sided elections. In this case, from the seniors of the center to the ward level leading leaders of the Trinamool are also not exempted from arrest. Some senior leaders of BNP have already been arrested. Many of the other leaders who can lead—have adopted tactics out of fear of arrest. In this situation, the question is being raised whether the BNP leadership is in crisis or not. However, the situation says that the high command of BNP has faced a lot of challenges to continue the ongoing movement. However, the middle and lower ranks of the party are taking the lead as alternative leadership to advance the ongoing movement and struggle. In the meantime, as the president and general secretary of some districts have been arrested, the subordinate leaders of the respective district committees have been given acting duties.
Meanwhile, while the BNP is carrying out its ‘final movement to topple the government’, the question is whether the arrest or absconding of senior leaders is creating a new crisis for the party. Although many leaders have been removed from the political arena by the demands, arrests or convictions of BNP leaders, it will not create any crisis within the party. Because they think that there is continuity of leadership in BNP and if someone is arrested, the alternate leaders will shoulder the responsibility and take it.
Begum Selima Rahman, a member of the National Standing Committee of BNP, said that we were aware that the final movement of one party would lead to a crisis. The team is already prepared for this. Because of that, there will be no crisis in the party in arresting or punishing the leaders. Rather, the detained leaders will come out through the movement.
It is known that the BNP started a movement with various parties and alliances on July 12 to demand the resignation of the government. After that, for three consecutive months, road marches, padayatras, mass processions, black flag processions, sit-in programs, protest-meetings have been held all over the country including Dhaka. After that, BNP and Jugpat partners held a mass meeting in Dhaka on July 28 and held a sit-in program at the entrances of Dhaka the next day.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the program of another mass meeting in Dhaka on October 28 in continuation of the latest simultaneous movement.
The top leaders of BNP arrested: It is known that about 5 thousand BNP leaders and activists have been arrested so far across the country, including Dhaka, in the arrest operation that started before October 28. Among the arrested top leaders are the party’s general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee member Mirza Abbas, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, central leader Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Bilkis Jahan Shirin, Md. Aminul Haque and many others.
Apart from this, BNP Chairperson’s Advisor Aman Ullah Aman, Organizing Secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, Publicity Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anyi, Tanti Dal Central Convenor Abul Kalam Azad, Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP Member Secretary Rafiqul Alam Majnu, Dhaka have been arrested and imprisoned before the October 28 General Assembly. Acting Member Secretary of Metropolitan South BNP Tanveer Ahmed Rabin, former Central President of Juba Dal Saiful Alam Nirab, present General Secretary Abdul Monayem Munna, Senior Joint General Secretary Golam Mawla Shahin, former Vice President of Juba Dal Ali Akbar Chunnu and Narsingdi District Chhatra Dal President Siddiqur Rahman Nahid.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said yesterday about the attacks, cases and arrests across the country, Sheikh Hasina has once again become desperate to organize another one-sided election by ignoring the people’s street-shaking movement, 95 percent of the country’s public opinion and the calls of the entire world including the United Nations. His organized minions, the police-administration, have entered the field with all their might to throw out the opposition party and stage the election drama with a new formula in the old style. He said that during and after the implementation of the program for the people’s voting rights, fair elections and restoration of democracy, the police started cases, arrests and torture against BNP leaders and activists on various charges.
Middle-rank leaders are coming to the leadership: Meanwhile, the president or general or convener and member secretaries of various districts and cities including Dhaka are being arrested, and the next leader of the respective committee is being given the responsibility. In the meantime, since Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP convener Aman Ullah Aman is in jail, BNP Chairperson’s advisor Professor Dr. Farhad Halim Donor is the acting convener, Liton Mahmud is the acting member secretary of Dhaka South BNP, Aminul Haque, the member secretary of Metropolitan North BNP is in jail, joint convener AGM Shamsul Haque is the acting member secretary, BNP media cell convener Zahir Uddin Swapan is the acting convener. Maudud Hossain Alamgir. Narsingdi district BNP convenor Khairul Kabir Khokon has been made the acting convenor as the member Sakhawat Hossain Bakul is in jail, the joint convener Abu Saleh Chowdhury has been made the acting member secretary as the member secretary Manjur Elahi is in jail, and the senior vice president Md. Md. Acting President Mokarram Hossain, General Secretary of Gaibandha District BNP Mahmudunnabi Titul was arrested and the first Joint Secretary Md. Ilyas Hossain acting general secretary, Rangpur Mahanagara BNP convener Shamsuzzaman Samu was arrested, first joint convener Shahidul Islam Miju, acting convener, member secretary Mahfuz Un Nabi Don was arrested. Abdus Salam acting member secretary, Narail District BNP General Secretary Monirul Islam arrested, Joint General Secretary Kazi Sultanuzzaman Salim acting General Secretary, Khulna District BNP convener Amir Ejaz Khan arrested, Senior Joint Convener Abu Hossain Babu acting convener, Kushtia District BNP President, Senior Vice President And as the General Secretary is in jail, Vice President Qutb Uddin has been given charge as Acting President and Joint General Secretary Zakir Hussain Sarkar as Acting General Secretary until further orders.
There will be no leadership crisis: BNP national executive committee member Mohammad Mizanur Rahman told Bhuiyan Milton Kalbela that BNP is not a political party. No matter how much torture and persecution comes, there will be no crisis in the leadership of BNP.
