Breakaway groups leave BNP in the lurch

The BNP is facing a new crisis as two registered parties have left the opposition side to contest the next parliamentary elections under the incumbent administration while some others are bargaining to do so.

The two parties – Bangladesh Kalyan Party (BKP) and Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) led by Sheikh Zulfikar Bulbul Chowdhury – left on Wednesday.

The BKP and BML were involved in the anti-government movement simultaneously with the BNP as part of the 12-party alliance.

Insiders said this has seriously affected the morale of the opposition members across the country and is also likely to affect the ongoing movement in the future.

“If a leader or an ally leaves us amid the current protests and contests the elections, the impacts will be big. Party members will be demoralised,” a central BNP leader said wishing not to be named.

However, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan said, "This would not affect the movement. We will continue our protests with the allies that are still with us until our demands are met.”  

At a press briefing at the Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday, BKP Chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim announced that his party had formed an alliance named Jukto Front with BML and the Jatiya Party (JP) faction led by MA Matin.

He said the alliance would contest the elections in 100 constituencies.

Ibrahim’s announcement severely affected the spirits of opposition leaders. They have become upset thinking if more parties leave the opposition side to contest the polls, the Awami League side will become stronger, BNP sources said.

Even the Jatiya Party (Ershad) has also eventually announced to participate in the elections under the current government.

As part of efforts to split the BNP and disrupt its movement, a meeting was held at Ibrahim’s Mohakhali residence on Tuesday night. Leaders of BKP, JP, BML, NDP, Jagpa, and Gana Odhikar Parishad attended it. It was decided that they would participate in the polls under Jukto Front.

Besides, BNP Vice-Chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed recently told a press briefing he would participate in the elections if his party does so. However, there are discussions in the political arena that he may join the newly-registered BNM (Bangladesh Nationalist Movement) to contest the polls.

Meanwhile, insiders said some opposition parties, including Gana Odhikar Parishad, are negotiating with the government to derive maximum benefits from contesting the polls under the latter. They may announce anytime that they are participating in the elections.

However, Gana Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur said, “We will carry on the movement. We do not want any benefit from the government.”

Wishing anonymity, a central BNP leader said that at least three vice-chairmen of the party are maintaining secret contact with the government and have also made several attempts to lure other members into contesting the elections under the present administration.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told a virtual briefing on Wednesday the government is now desperate to hold the elections by forming the “King’s Party”.

“Sheikh Hasina has deployed her agencies [intelligence agencies] to form the King’s Party. Bargaining is going on like a cow market to buy leaders from different parties,” he said. 

Many patriotic leaders are being pressured, lured, and intimidated to join the party, he added. 

The BNP dissolved its 20-party alliance on 9 December last year. The following day, it announced to launch a movement simultaneously with 36 parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, to realise its demands for the government’s resignation and holding the general elections under a non-party administration.

The party started the final phase of the movement on 28 October this year. It has so far enforced six phases of nationwide blockades and two phases of hartals.

The Election Commission has scheduled the next elections for 7 January 2024. Since the schedule announcement, a number of current and former BNP leaders have been maintaining secret entente with the government to participate in the polls while many are still bargaining, sources said.

Sensing the situation, the BNP high command has contacted the existing leaders and tried to dissuade them from contesting the polls, sources added.