Delay in intensifying movement is making BNP menupset as the party has been continuing the movement programmes for the last few months to realise its 10-point demand.  

The BNP leaders are also divided over the movement strategy as a group of leaders want to go with harsher movement programmes immediately while another group wants to maintain a wait-and-see policy.

BNP insiders said though the party has started fresh movement after December 10 to realise its 10 point demands, including resignation of the current Awami League government, they could not intensify the movement yet.

At the same time, the party is alsodelaying going for one-point movement for resignation of the government and intensifying the movement with harsher programmes.

“We are already in the movement. We will intensify our movement gradually. Actually time and situation will say what to do and when to intensify the movement,” BNP vice-chairman Mohammad Shahjahan told the Daily Sun.

BNP joint secretary general Majibar Rahman Sarwar said the party is now holding meetings with its former mayors and chairmen of local government units, including union parishad and municipality, to take opinions and discussing possible ways of movement before intensifying the ongoing movement.

“Now we are checking our [BNP’s] capacity to go for all out movement. After taking opinions of the grassroots leaders, the party high command will make outline of intensified movement to realise our demands, including holding the next national polls under caretaker government,” he added.

The major opposition BNP along with its like-minded political parties have been continuing movement programmes simultaneously since December lastto realise their 10 point demand.

As part of their movement, the opposition parties are holding soft programmes like rally, procession and human chainacross the country.

BNP sources said the party leaders and activists from grassroots to central have become frustrated seeing delay in intensifying the movement as they started fearing that the ongoing soft programmes may not bring success.     Talking to the Daily Sun, a number of central and grassroots leaders and activists said the party men have become ‘bored’ with long-term and comparatively ‘soft’ programmes.

“It is difficult to carry on any movement for long.

The long-term movement also loses tempo and can’t bring any success. If our party doesn’t intensify movement soon, then this movement may also be failed,” a central leader told the Daily Sun wishing not to be named.

He further said the party men already have become frustrated as only a few months are left for holding the next parliamentary election.

“We have been carrying on movement programmes for the last few months but  the party high command is delaying going for intensified and one-point movement which has made our local leaders and activists frustrated,” Faruk Hossain, a leader of Swechchhasebak Dal of Santhia upazila in Pabna district, said. BNP sources said the grassroots leaders and activists remain doubtful about the movement as the party failed its movement against Awami League government to realise demands for several times.

The presence of leaders and activists of the opposition parties in the ongoing programme has started decreasing gradually. As a result, BNP men have become upset due to losing tempo.

A number of central and grassroots leaders said the BNP men have become demoralised as the party’s movement pace has been lost due to as usual ‘ineffective’ movement programmes.

It is difficult to continue the movement for long as party leaders and activists are on the run to escape arrest and many others are arrested, they said.

The leaders also said the BNP which has been staying away from power over a decade has also less organisational strength to continue tougher movement for long.

BNP insiders said the party central leaders, including members of its standing committee, highest policymaking body of the party, are also divided over the movement strategy.

A group of the party’s top leaders want to go for one-point movement for resignation of the incumbent Awami League government while another group of the party leaders want to go slow and careful.