Shawdesh desk:

Top BNP leaders are divided over the party’s movement strategy as most of them think they should go for a short-term but strong movement just ahead of the next general election instead of a long-term one to realise their various demands, including holding the polls under a neutral government.

The party already launched its nationwide demonstration programmes on August 22 at the upazila and union levels in protest against the hike in prices of fuel and essential commodities and the killing of its two leaders in Bhola, and demanding permanent release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Party sources said they will intensify the ongoing movement across the country gradually.

A number of BNP leaders think the party high command’s decision to launch the demonstration programmes at the grassroots level right now is not wise, saying it will cost the party itself as the next general election is still far away.

“It’s too early to take to the streets with demonstration programmes. Many of our leaders and activists have already been arrested and sued for staging demonstration. If our party men are affected from now on, how will the party wage a stronger movement later to oust the government?” a senior BNP leader told the Daily Sun, wishing not to be named.

Asked whether there is any division or difference of opinion inside the party about the movement strategy, the BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan ruled out that, saying, “There’s no difference of opinion. We’ve started demonstration programmes on the basis of consensus of all of our party leaders.”

The BNP leader said the party finalises its programmes at meetings of BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, with its acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in the chair and they take decisions through discussion.

BNP insiders said the party standing committee in its meeting held in mid August finalised the nationwide demonstration programmes.

However, the party’s policymakers were divided over the programmes as a group viewed that it is too early to take to the streets with the election still being far away.

Another group argued that it is high time the party took to the streets with movement programmes as people are angry with the government due to the price hike of essential commodities and the programmes will also rejuvenate the party men before going for an all-out movement.

Nazrul Islam alleged that the government is obstructing their programmes at many places and many of their party men were also arrested for joining demonstrations.

Talking to the Daily Sun, some central leaders said the party leaders are divided over the movement strategy as a group thinks the party should go for a short-term but tougher and stronger movement to oust the government and the movement should start next year just ahead of the general election.

However, some other senior leaders think the party should continue the ongoing movement and intensify it gradually to oust the government and realise their demands, including holding the next parliamentary elections under a non-party election-time government and permanent release of their party chief.

“The long-term movement gradually gets weak and can’t bring the expected outcome. The party leaders and activists also get affected and they also lose interest in movement. People also don’t want any long-term movement. That’s why we should go for a short-term but stronger programme just before the polls,” a central leader said preferring anonymity.

BNP Vice-Chairman Mohammad Shahjahan said, “It’s for sure that our programmes will be obstructed and party men will be affected during the programmes. But we have to continue our movement even after that.”

The party insiders said Tarique Rahman has given instructions to the party leaders to ensure the participation of all leaders and MP candidates of the party in the ongoing nationwide demonstration programmes.

“Our party high command stays far away from the country. He sometimes is misguided about the movement strategy and the real scenario of the country’s politics and strength of the party,” a BNP central leader told the Daily Sun, asking anonymity.

With the ongoing demonstration, BNP sources said, the party is devising the strategy of their all-out movement to realise their demands.

BNP sources said though it earlier planned to start the movement just before the general election, it has changed their plan and launched the movement as the ruling Awami League declared to remain in the streets.

The outline of the all-out movement will be finalised after the talks with other opposition parties end. The party has also a plan to go for simultaneous movement with other political parties.

Mohammad Shahjahan said they have started their movement through nationwide programmes from August 22 and their movement will be intensified gradually. “The programmes will continue until our demands are met.”