AL 'irritated', BNP 'comforted' by Tarique leadership

Ruling Awami League and a few other quarters have reacted to the BNP's decision of amending the party constituion and making party senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman acting chairman ahead and after BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's jailing in a graft case on 8 February.

Ten days ahead of the verdict on the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the principal opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP submitted to the election commission the amended version of its constitution after revoking its section-7.

The section said if a person is convicted as per 1972 presidential order, declared bankrupt, proved unbalanced, known as corrupt or notorious in society, he or she is disqualified from being member of the national council, the national executive committee, the standing committee or member of executive committee at any level. The person will also be disqualified from being nominated by the party to contest in the national elections.

BNP leaders said the party had revoked the section-7 of its constitution working out a strategy to tackle the evolving situation in which its top leadership was implicated in what is called false cases.

"The constitution of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has been changed through discussion with the party's senior leaders," BNP standing committee member Mahbubur Rahman told Prothom Alo.

He pointed out that the BNP leaders are being implicated in false cases and punished as well. "What could the party do [in such circumstances?" the BNP leader said about the plot to convict the party leaders.

According to rules, a registered political party can amend its constitution after holding its council session and submit it to the EC. The EC has nothing to do if the party constitution is not conflicting with the Representation of People Order (RPO).

However, the BNP side said nothing about whether any discussion was held for amendment of the party constitution. The BNP held the national council session two years ago.

The AL camp and some others criticised the BNP's move, calling it undemocratic.

The AL, especially its general secreraty Obaidul Quader,  termed this step bizarre, and blasted the BNP for making Tarique Rahman acting chairman of the party despite being convicted in absentia in a corruption case. Quader alleged that the BNP amended the constitution "out of fear of cases".

Tarique Rahman was sentenced to 10 years in jail in the same graft case in which Khaleda Zia was awarded with five years of imprisonment.

Secretary of Shujan or 'Citizens for Good Governance', Badiul Alam Majumdar told Prothom Alo that the BNP could have given the party responsibility to someone who is not convicted in any corruption case.

About amendment of the party constitution, he said this indicates that the BNP is not willing to allow the party leadership to someone outside the Zia family.

BNP leaders argue the party grassroots leaders and activists will not accept the party's leadership from outside the Zia family.

The BNP's policymakers alleged that the government has planned to keep the family of Khaleda Zia out of politics. They said they had information that the government might try to split the BNP or establish alternate leadership, taking advantage of the situation.

While scrapping section 7, the BNP leaders also kept in mind the the AL's possible criticism that the BNP keeps someone convicted in corruption case at the helm of the party.

The BNP leaders candidly said it was just obvious that BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman would be picked for the position of acting chairman in absence of Khaleda Zia. Section-8 of the party constitution provides this scope.

However, the BNP leaders did not make a direct reply as to whether the party constitution was amended through the council session held in 2016.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, political scientist and former Dhaka University vice chancellor Emajuddin Ahamed said the imprisonment of Khaleda Zia is a conspiracy against the country's stability and the next parliamentary polls.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has withdrawn 15 cases filed against her during the military-controlled government, he pointed out.

"Attempt is made to push the leader, who once took position against minus-2 (a plot to exclude Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina from party leadership), out from politics," he added.

BNP leaders claimed that there is no discomfort in the party with the leadership of Tarique Rahman as acting chairman, who, they said, was talking to senior leaders over phone.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the BNP is completely comfortable with Tarique Rahman as the party's acting chairman. "Why is the Awami League so uncomfortable with the BNP's leadership?"