The BNP-led 18-party alliance is planning to organise a week-long blockade next week if the Election Commission does not withdraw the election schedule announced on Monday.
While launching a “tough agitation”, the Opposition will also be involved in indirect negotiations with the government facilitated by diplomatic circles, party insiders said on Thursday.
Several BNP leaders, including standing committee members, said the party high command was elated as it felt that the response of party activists to the blockade was satisfactory. The success of the blockade had convinced the high command that it was now in a better position to negotiate with the ruling party on the issue of election-time government.
“Simultaneously, we are watching the international initiatives and expect that both domestic and international pressure will compel the government to reach a consensus,” a BNP standing committee member told The Independent.
The United Nations assistant secretary-general for political affairs, Oscar Fernández-Taranco, is scheduled to visit Dhaka on December 6 on a five-day tour to discuss the country’s crises and poll preparations with government officials and political leaders, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.
When asked about this visit, BNP standing committee member Mahbubur Rahman said: “Bangladesh is not an isolated island, so diplomats can take the initiative at their respective levels for the country’s political and financial stability.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, on his official Facebook page, said on Thursday that talks with the BNP are going on, urging it to participate in the general election, shunning the path of confrontation.
However, Gen Mahbub said what Joy had posted on Facebook is immaterial as no talks are being held. Rather, the government is pushing the country to the verge of collapse by trying to hold a lopsided poll, he added.
While talking to The Independent, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said: “We are thinking about launching a more stronger agitation to force the government to meet our demand for election under a non-party administration.”
Asked about the Election Commission’s move to seek deployment of the armed forces in the interest of a peaceful election, he said it’s part of the government’s “evil plan” to thwart the anti-government movement.
“We are not bothered about anything except realising our demand for election under a non-partisan management. We will be able to achieve our goal as we are carrying out a movement to ensure people’s right to vote freely,” Rizvi, also office secretary of the party, said.
Another senior leader of the party said there will be no alternative but to go for an indefinite blockade or hartal if both domestic and diplomatic efforts fail. The BNP has been able to show considerable strength during the last hartal and blockade, the BNP leader said. “We will go for a week-long hartal or blockade from Saturday demanding withdrawal of the poll schedule and election under a non-partisan Hasina-free administration.”
-With The Independent input
