BNP partners optimistic on simultaneous movement, see shortcomings too

BNP’s allies in the anti-government simultaneous movement, are optimistic about the one-point movement aimed at the fall of the government. They feel that the final movement after the 28 October grand rally will definitely reach a conclusion. But they also see certain shortcomings in the decision-making  of the BNP leadership and also in the determining of its strategy.

The leaders of several allied parties and alliances made such observations while speaking on these issues. However, they said that all weaknesses will be overcome and the movement will reach its target. The focus is now on the 28 October Dhaka grand rally.

Alongside BNP, the allied parties and alliances are also preparing to ensure a large gathering. The government may create obstructions and the police may also hamper the programme. But all obstacles will be overcome and the grand rally will be held. However, many of the allies feel that a section of BNP leaders and activists assumes that the success of the one-point movement is assured. They feel the government will certainly step down. This section of leaders and workers are more engrossed in reaping the benefits of success rather than focusing on the movement. This may bring a degree of laxness to the final movement. As a result, a serious weakness may emerge in the stringent movement.

Commenting on this manner, BNP’s standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that there is no shortcoming or deficiency in their movement. If there had been any such deficiency, the movement would not have been able to come this far. The programmes right from the union level have been more orderly and disciplined than ever before.

The anti-government simultaneous movement began from December last year. Alongside BNP in this movement are 36 parties including the 6-party alliance Ganatantra Mancha, the 12-party alliance, Jatyatabadi Samamana Jote, LDP, Labour Party and more. BNP held a meeting yesterday, Monday, with Ganatantra Mancha about the programmes of the ongoing movement.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, leader of Ganatrantra Mancha, Zonayed Saki, said, “We must keep one hard fact in mind. No one is going to hand us victory on a plate. No one will bring about any change without a struggle on the streets.”

Leaders of the allied parties feel that many people are mentally united against the government. But till now not all parties have joined hands to enter the fray unitedly. It has not been possible to bring the Islamic parties, leftist parties and other democratic parties who are not with the government, to join the simultaneous movement or to integrate them with the movement in any other way. There are some shortcomings in bringing people of all strata and professions to the movement. There still is a gap in bringing students, youth, workers and the common movement to the streets.

Some leaders, though, feel that this deficiency has been overcome to an extent with four separate conferences of students, youth, workers and professionals being held recently. They feel that other than for a few isolated incidents, BNP’s movement and programmes are on the right path.

Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Oli Ahmed thinks that BNP is the largest political party in the country and it is only natural that there will be some minor errors in the movement. People will invariably make mistakes. BNP has been carrying out its movement with all sincerity and commitment. LDP is joining in as a small component of the movement.

Expressing his hope for the success of the movement, Oli Ahmed told Prothom Alo, “Allah will help us. We are on the path of justice and truth.”

There are, however, some misgivings among the allies about the final outcome of the movement. They do not see any circumstance to be so confident until the consequence of the 28 October grand rally emerges. They say that it will be difficult for this movement to be a success with simply internal efforts. The opposition is unarmed and non-violent. The government is armed and violent. At the same time the government is desperate to survive and protect the wealth it has amassed over the past 15 years and to continue to do as it pleases in the future. There are certain well-wishers of the government whose future is also involved with this. That is why it is a tough challenge that BNP and the rest of the opposition faces.

Ganatantra Mancha leader and general secretary of Biplobi Workers Party, Saiful Huq, told Prothom Alo, “The outcome of the movement depends on many factors. But if we cannot do it, something else will happen.”

Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, chairman of Kalyan Party, a partner of the 12-party alliance, told Prothom Alo, “We feel that after 28 October, the elements of the local political arena and the role and contribution of global well-wishers of democracy will move ahead in a parallel manner. The movement will reach a logical conclusion.”