UNB, Dhaka :
BNP is moving ahead with a plan to force the government to quit paving the path for holding a fresh election under a non-party government within January next.
As per the plan, the party senior leaders said, they are preparing for a movement and mobilising public support alongside intensifying diplomatic efforts to mount pressure on the government to hold a fresh election.
They, however, said they still prefer a dialogue with the government to reach an understanding over the election instead of launching any violent movement.
“We believe this illegal and undemocratic government can’t sustain even for a year. The way it’s facing the local and international pressure, the government will have no option but to hold a fresh election within January,” BNP standing committee member Tariqul Islam told UNB.
He said, the government is gradually losing its control over everything, including law and order and ruling party men. “The regime has miserably failed to run the state. It’s become so week that it’ll be overthrown if we can only wage a peaceful movement for which we’re taking preparation.”
Mentioning that most countries, including influential ones, did not accept the January-5 election and legitimise the current regime, the BNP policymaking body member said the foreign countries continued their pressure on the government to hold a fresh election as soon as possible.
Though, he thinks, the new Indian government will not make a drastic change in their policy towards Bangladesh overnight, Tariqul said the current Awami League government will not get special blessings from the Narnedra Modi government as they got from the Congress one.
He also hoped that the Modi government with the passage of time showing respect for the opinions of people in Bangladesh will also join the other democratic countries for mounting pressure on the government to hold the fresh election.
Another BNP standing committee member, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, said they still want the government to engage in talks with them for reaching an understanding over the fresh election and restoration of democracy.
“We don’t want to take any harsher programmes that may cause public sufferings. But, we won’t wait for a long time for dialogue and will intensify their agitation if the government doesn’t take any steps to resolve the political crisis after Eid,” he said.
Mahbub hinted that they are working out their plans and movement strategy in such a way so that the government can be compelled to hold the election in early 2015.
BNP joint secretary general Barkat Ullah Bulu said people are ready to hit the streets to oust this regime as they got fed up with its misdeeds and misrule and failures to deliver.
Bulu said, they are now strengthening the party and motivating its leaders and activists so that this time they can make their movement a success braving all the obstacles and repressive acts.
He said, they are making the party men ready for the movement through overhauling party’s different units and inspiring them through discussions and meetings and, keeping contact with them and making visits to different districts by senior party leaders alongside drumming up public opinions in favour of their demand for early election through mass rallies and meetings.
A source close to Khaleda Zia said the BNP chairperson is also confident that the next general election will be held within January 2015.
A party standing committee member wishing anonymity said the BNP chairperson has also told him and some other leaders that there will be no option for the government but to hold the 11th parliamentary elections in January next year.
The sources, however, declined to elaborate what has made their chairperson so confident about the fresh election by January next.
Meanwhile, a BNP delegation, led by Khaleda, during their meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday tried to make her understand why a fresh and inclusive election is necessary in Bangladesh soon as possible.
BNP sources said the party has intensified its diplomatic efforts to create pressure on the government by influential countries and international powerful organisations and the United Nations to agree to BNP’s demand for an election and engage in talks to this end after the upcoming Eid.
