Most of the opposition political parties and organisations, which have joined with BNP in carrying out a simultaneous movement against the government, exist in name only and lack popularity in the country.
BNP claims that at least 53 more opposition political parties and organisations are now involved in their simultaneous movement to realise demands, including resignation of the current government.
BNP has formed a seven-member liaison committee to coordinate the simultaneous movement with other opposition parties and organisations against the incumbent Awami League government. The committee is comprised of BNP leaders Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Barkatullah Bulu, Md Shahjahan, Abdul Awal Mintoo and Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal.
Addressing a public rally in Dhaka on December 10 last year, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain formally announced the simultaneous movement and placed their 10-point demands, including resignation of the incumbent government, holding next national polls under caretaker government and release of the opposition leaders and activists.
BNP started their movement along with likeminded political parties through holding a mass procession programme in all cities, except Dhaka and in district towns on December 24, to realize 10-point demand.
BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, LDP faction, Gana Forum faction, Ganatantra Manch, 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Ganatantrik Bam Oikya, Shamamana Ganatantrik Jote and Nagorik Manch are carrying out the simultaneous movement.
The 12-party alliance is comprising of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, National Democratic Party-NDP, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party, Bangladesh Muslim League, Jamiyete Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote, Jagpa (Tasmia Prodhan), Bangladesh Islamic Party, and Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal.
At the same time, Ganatantra Manch is comprised of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rab), Nagorik Oikya, Biplobi Workers Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Onusari Parishad, Rastra Sangskar Andolon and Gonosanghati Andolon.
An alliance of leftist parties Ganatantrik Bam Oikya also joined the BNP’s movement. The coalition is comprised of Bangladesher Shamyabadi Dal (Marxist-Leninist), Social Democratic Party, Samajtantrik Majdur Party and Progressive Democratic Party.
And a combine of 15 pro-BNP organisations also joined the simultaneous movement. The Shamamana Ganatantrik Jote include Youth Forum, Zia Nagorik Sangsad, Democratic Movement, Shaheed Zia Ainjibi Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Nagorik Dal, Bangladesh Justice Party, Sangbidhan Sangrakkhan Parishad, Ganatantra Rakkha Manch, Jatiyatabadi Chalok Dal, Jatiyatabadi Muktijuddo 71, Ghure Darao Bangladesh, Movement for Democracy, Bangladesh Democratic Council, Desh Banchao Manush Banchao Andolon and Bangladesh Jubo Oikya Parishad.
However, of the political parties, only seven parties --BNP, LDP, JSD, Bangladesh Muslim League, Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam, Bangladesh Kalyan Party and Bangladesher Biplobi Workers’ Party -- are registered with the Election Commission.
At the same time, some others have applied for registration recently while some others are waiting to get registration from the Election Commission. And a few others cannot apply for the registration as they cannot fill up the conditions imposed by the Election Commission for registration.
Sources inside the parties said most of the political parties, which are with the BNP, have no organisational strength, political office and no popularity. Most of the parties and organisations exist in name only and are one-man show.
BNP insiders said the party high command is unhappy with the leaders of other small political parties as the presence of the leaders and activists of the like-minded parties are very poor in simultaneous movement programmes.
In mass sit-in programme held in Dhaka on January 11, the presence of leaders and activists of the LDP faction, Gana Forum faction, Ganatantra Manch, 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Ganatantrik Bam Oikya and Shamamana Ganatantrik Jote were very much poor.
While visiting Paltan area, this correspondent found that only around 20 leaders and activists of Shamamana Ganatantrik Jote were present at the Nightingale crossing, around 10 leaders and activists of Ganatantrik Bam Oikya in front of Jatiya Press Club while around 60 leaders and activists were present at the mass sit-in of 12-party alliance and Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan.
“In this situation, BNP leaders are now doubtful about making their movement successful with these small political parties, which have no popularity and organisational strength,” a central leader of BNP told the Daily Sun wishing not to be named.
The internal conflict has also surfaced among the political parties of simultaneous movement platform as Jamaat currently stopped holding movement programme simultaneously with the BNP while Oli Ahmed and Redwan of LDP also did not join the last simultaneous movement.
Besides, conflict has been seen inside the Ganatantra Manch as Nurul Haque Nur-led Gana Odhikar Parishad also did not join movement simultaneously with the Ganatantra Manch.
Talking to the newsmen, Nurul Haque Nur also alleged that some leaders of the Ganatantra Manch and others are secretly maintaining entente with the ruling Awami League.
The political analysts said making coalitions with many small parties is just a number game in the politics while only three to four parties have the organisational strength to take to the streets with programmes.
