The anti-constitutional demand of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to hold the upcoming national election under a caretaker government is ultimately resulting in the breaking of the party.
As a result of the adamant attitude of the party’s top leaders, many mid-level leaders as well as the rank and file of BNP are now deserting the party in search of a new political platform, obviously in protest of BNP’s recent use of political violence by setting ablaze public vehicles in the name of hartal and blockade.
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On November 8, more than 600 leaders and activists of different political parties, including BNP, as well as retired army officers, lawyers and journalists from all over the country joined Trinamool BNP.
Trinamool BNP to contest all 300 seats
At an event organised at the National Press Club auditorium on the occasion of joining the newly registered political party, Trinamool BNP Chairperson Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury announced that the party will contest all 300 seats in the upcoming 12th national election.
Along with BNP leaders and activists, some retired army officers, journalists and lawyers also joined Trinamool BNP at the event.
At the programme, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said, “Our national council was held on September 19. Today many leaders and activists have joined Trinamool BNP. This proves that the people of Bangladesh want a new type of politics. The workers are protesting in the streets today due to the rising cost of daily essentials.”
He said, “The national polls will be held soon. We will participate in the election, contesting in all 300 seats. We hope the Election Commission will create a level playing field for all the political parties exercising its power properly. People will vote. We don’t believe in the politics of killing by petrol bomb.”
It will be a people’s party: Taimur Alam Khandaker
At the event, Trinamool BNP Secretary General Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker said, “I want to promise you that all members of the party will be the leaders of this party. The grassroots level leaders and activists won’t have to come to Trinamool BNP; rather the Trinamool BNP will go to grassroots activists.”
Drawing the attention of the prime minister and the police, he said, “Police file cases randomly against party leaders and activists. Action should be taken against those who are really guilty of burning public transports, not against those who are just party activists.”
“I want to say that Trinamool BNP will not be a private limited company. It will be a people’s party, a people-friendly party. I want to assure you that the Trinamool BNP will be the Trinamool Congress of Bangladesh,” he added.
Major Hafiz too leaving BNP!
Meanwhile, speculations are rife among different political circles that BNP Vice Chairman Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also is going to leave BNP to join Trinamool BNP.
The Trinamool BNP is being restructured with former BNP leaders. In the party’s first national council held on September 19 last, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury was elected the chairperson of the party founded by former BNP leader late Nazmul Huda while Taimur Alam Khandkar became the general secretary.
In this situation, a bunch of former and current leaders of various political parties, including BNP, are joining the Trinamool BNP ahead of the 12th parliamentary elections. BNP Vice Chairman Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed is also rumored to be among them.
Contacted over the issue, Taimur Alam Khandaker said, “We don’t want to organise a party under the umbrella of any big party. We want to move forward individually. Many people have joined our party today (Wednesday). We will take anyone who has no history of looting and torturing people. But the condition is they have to work for the people.”
Regarding Major Hafiz’s joining Trinamool BNP, he said, “I can’t say anything about it. If you have any questions about it, you can ask him. However, some joined the party today, and a few others will join later if the environment and conditions remain favourable.”
