Ehsanul Haque Jasim :
Taking lessons from the past mistakes, BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her party-led 20-party alliance are now preparing for a fresh movement to force the government to realize their key demand of mid-term election under a non-party administration.
BNP insiders said that Khaleda Zia wants to launch decisive movement in January next. She is planning to announce the movement programme by holding a grand rally in the city in December. She also wants to issue an ultimatum for the government from that rally to sit in talks with them.
If her ultimatum goes unheeded, Khaleda Zia would opt for the street for the final movement. In case of any obstruction to the grand rally, she may start the final movement from that day, added the party insiders.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir said that it would be wise for the government if it accepts their demand. Otherwise, they have to go for street movement. Khaleda Zia will launch the movement soon, he said.
About the Awami League’s current position, he said that all the autocratic governments remain unwilling to accept the people’s demand at first. When people come out in the street then they have nothing to do. The present government, he added, will face such a situation.
Chairman of Islami Oikya Jote Maulana Abdul Latif Nezami told The New Nation yesterday that the 20-party alliance is going to launch a decisive movement. The plan and strategy of the movement will be discussed at the meeting of the alliance leaders with the BNP chief soon.
“The country’s overall situation, particularly the economic condition, is not in a good shape. Inner situation of the government is also in bad form. In this backdrop, they will be successful,” he added.
Sources said that Khaleda Zia may call hartal, blockade, non-cooperation and other tougher programmes in realization of her demand for mid-term polls under a non-party administration. She may also call another grand rally in Chittagong.
As part of the preparation, the BNP chief has already visited some districts and addressed public rallies there. Her district tour will end on November 29 through holding a rally in Comilla.
Khaleda Zia is now discussing with the party’s senior leaders as well as also top leaders of the alliance partners to finalise the strategy of the movement. She already held meetings with her advisory council members on Monday, with vice-chairmen and joint secretaries on Tuesday and standing committee members on Thursday. She will sit with the alliance leaders soon.
In the meetings on Monday and Tuesday, Khaleda Zia discussed details about her plan. In Tuesday’s meeting with the vice chairmen, she admitted that stopping movement just after the January 5 election was a mistake. She also said that the decision of participating in the 9th general election held in 2008 was also a mistake, as that election was a ‘stage-managed’ one.
Quoting Khaleda Zia, a vice chairman of the party seeking anonymity said that if they could continue their movement after the Januray-5 election then the government should have taken initiative to hold talks with them. She also told the party leaders that she would launch movement in the coming days taking lessons from the mistakes and failures of the past.
She urged the senior leaders of the party to remain alert so that the party does not repeat such mistakes in the future.
Though Khaleda Zia called ‘March for Democracy’ programme on December 29 last year, it could not be made successful. On the light of that experience, the movement this time would be launched.
