The road march led by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Dhaka on Tuesday, which was touted as a victory march, has raised serious questions about the party’s motivations and strategy due to clashes and violence.
On 18th July, Tuesday, BNP launched a nationwide march to demand the resignation of the government and the reinstatement of a nonpartisan neutral administration during national elections. However, the escalating violence and public suffering during these demonstrations have raised serious questions about the party’s motivations and strategy. While the BNP claims that this is a march for rights, the escalating violence and public suffering raise concerns about the true motivations behind this political action.
A troubling pattern of chaos and violence
BNP has been marred by violence and clashes with history repeating itself, raising concerns about the party’s confrontational approach in pursuing its political agenda. During the program for Tuesday’s march, loyalists of the BNP clashed with the police in Kishoreganj, causing unrest.
The procession, which began peacefully and with police cooperation, turned violent when BNP leaders disregarded police directives and attempted to advance further into the city. This resulted in police intervention to control the situation, and some overly enthusiastic BNP activists resorted to violence by throwing rocks and insults at the police. In response, the police dispersed the crowd with tear gas and rubber bullets, resulting in injuries on both sides and disrupting normal activities in the area.
A similar clash occurred in Bogura during Tuesday’s Road march, where BNP men engaged in physical altercations with law enforcement. Activists from the party also attacked the police with sticks and brick chunks, resulting in injuries to both activists and police officers. The conflict broke out when BNP members attempted to enter the city without permission, demonstrating the party’s disregard for law and order.
Another violent incident occurred in the Mirpur neighborhood of Dhaka. In response to an alleged stone-throwing attack from within the college, the BNP activists engaged in destructive behavior, vandalizing a college gate and setting a motorcycle on fire.
![Over 50 injured in Awami League-BNP clashes](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Over-50-injured-in-Awami-League-BNP-clashes.jpg?resize=1024%2C538&ssl=1)
The conflicts witnessed during the road march have caused public suffering and inconvenience, with the potential to disrupt daily activities and threaten citizen safety. Not only do such actions cast doubt on the party’s credibility, but they also undermine the public’s faith in its leadership and devotion to the nation’s welfare.
Nothing new for BNP?
It is no secret that the BNP has a history of violence and confrontations, which only adds to the skepticism surrounding the party’s current road march. The recurrence of violence during their demonstrations cast doubts on their commitment to democratic principles and their preference for the use of force over peaceful and legal means to advance their political agenda.
Recent confrontations between BNP and law enforcement in Dhaka’s Science Lab area and Khulna during nationwide demonstrations have already heightened tensions between the party and law enforcement. Moreover, on July 10, a crude bomb blast occurred in Moghbazar, while the BNP received permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to hold a rally in front of their central office on the same day.
In 2013, the BNP-Jamaat leaders and their followers engaged in a political movement that resulted in widespread chaos and violence throughout the country. During this period, occurrences of violence like throwing petrol bombs into homes, shops, streets, and offices, resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians, including women and children. They even attacked people in moving cars, burning them alive.
School and college students, as well as people on their way to work, were not spared from the brutality of the BNP-Jamaat followers, resulting in thousands of deaths and leaving many more with permanent injuries, including paralysis. Political violence led by BNP has taken a life of 872 people with more than 431 victims burned in a series of senseless attacks in 2014-15.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BNP-Road-March.jpg?resize=900%2C600&ssl=1)
With history repeating, the question remains are whether the nation going to face similar kinds of chaos, violence, and insecurity with BNP’s latest movements.
Attempts to destroy the upcoming national election?
Recent events and statements by the BNP raise concerns about their intentions for the forthcoming national election. While the democratic trend in the country remains intact, the BNP and its allies appear determined to disrupt the electoral process.
The party’s insistence on a non-party government and caretaker administration suggests a desire for an unelected government. However, the government has made it clear that there will be no discussion of the court-sanctioned elimination of the caretaker government system. In 2011, the Supreme Court ruled that the constitutional provision allowing for interim administrations was unconstitutional, paving the way for general elections to be held under elected partisan governments.
In spite of this clear legal stance, BNP leaders continue to call for an unelected government, risking public unrest and disruption. Their actions, combined with their anti-liberation and communal ties, cast doubt on their commitment to democratic principles. The BNP-Jamaat clique, known for its destructive proclivities, seems intent on sowing disorder throughout the electoral process.
However, it is essential to remember that the people of Bangladesh have the power to elect their representatives through voting, and the party that receives the most votes will form the next government. It is imperative that all political parties uphold the democratic process and allow the will of the people to prevail. Attempts to destabilize the forthcoming election may have severe repercussions for the nation’s progress and democratic principles.
How US visa policy might affect BNP?
The recent decision by the United States to implement visa restrictions on individuals involved in undermining Bangladesh’s democratic election process has sparked debate regarding the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) potential exposure to similar sanctions. Both the governing Awami League and the opposition BNP have approved of this policy’s comprehensive coverage, which includes political leaders and law enforcement officials.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/USA-BNP-Visa-Policy.jpeg?resize=1024%2C537&ssl=1)
However, the BNP’s recent political activities in Bangladesh, which have included rallies marred by violence and instability, have raised concerns about the party’s conduct. During their demonstrations, the confrontations between BNP members and law enforcement have escalated tensions and compromised public safety.
While the ruling Awami League has criticized the BNP’s attempts to gain foreign support through the dissemination of false information, the party’s propagandistic tactics have not produced the desired results. Foreign allies have clearly backed free, fair, and peaceful elections in Bangladesh, undermining the BNP’s demand for a non-party government and caretaker administration.
Given the lack of support for the BNP’s motivations, the party’s use of violent rallies has been scrutinized. As events unfold, it remains to be seen if the United States will apply visa policy sanctions to BNP in response to its actions. If the BNP continues down this course of instability, it risks visa policy sanctions that could further complicate its political position.
Any political party’s actions should demonstrate a genuine concern for the nation and its citizens. Not only does resort to violence and conflicts undermine the democratic process, but it also casts a negative light on the party’s intentions. To genuinely serve the interests of the people and have a significant impact on the electoral process, the BNP should prioritize constructive dialogue and present clear policy alternatives rather than resorting to confrontational tactics.