Immediately after the breakaway of the 20-party alliance led by Dr. Kamal Hossain , the BNP became totally ostracized.
The party suffered the break because of the big- brotherly attitude of the party towards its allies. The BNP stalwarts used disrespectful words against Dr. Kamal Hossain and questioned his political value and capability. As a result Dr. Kamal Hosssain kept himself away from the BNP.
BNP is now being lonely day by day and losing its friends and allies one after another. It now fails to find any ally in its movement against the government. The party is also losing its credibility to people
In the circumstances, grassroots level leaders and activists of the party as well as its supporters are being frustrated and angry with its senior leaders.
According to sources, BNP as a political party, which had been in power more than two times, is growing weaker due to doubts and mistrusts among its leaders and intra-party leadership conflicts as well. Its allied partners are also leaving the BNP one by one for the same reasons.
BNP itself is also severing relations with its well wishers and allies.
In the latest move, the BNP cut-off relations with veteran politicians Dr. Kamal Hossain, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Mahmudur Rahman Manna and many others.
Few months ago, Jamiyat-e-Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, one of the old religious and Qawmi Madrasah-based parties, withdrew itself from the BNP-led 20-party alliance alleging that the BNP did not evaluate them properly.
Earlier, the BNP lost several other allies including Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by former BNP leader Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed, Bangladesh Kalyan Party led by another former BNP leader Gen (Retd) Ibrahim, National People’s Party and Islami Oikya Jote.
On the other hand, immediately before the past national election, the BNP had formed another alliance with ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’ led by Gono Forum Leader Dr Kamal Hossain.
But, neither the Jatiya Oikya Front nor any party like Gono Furum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) led by ASM Abdur Rob, Krishak-Shramik-Janata League led by Qader Siddique and Nagorik Oikya led by former DUSCU leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna is active now with the BNP.
Moreover, Jamaat-e-Islami, the key partner of the BNP-led alliance, has no communication with the BNP for the last few years.
As a result, the BNP has now become a party detached from both the mass people and its allies.
It is widely known that BNP as a political party lost public support and sympathy due to various activities against people as well as the independence of Bangladesh.
Besides, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is convicted by the court for corruption charges, has become physically and legally unfit to run the party. She has no capacity to move or carry out political activities.
In the circumstances, her elder son Tariq Rahman, acting chief of the BNP, took over the leadership of the party. But, Tariq Rahman himself is a fugitive for his involvement with the heinous August 21 grenade attack charges. He has been staying in London as a fugitive.
As a result, the BNP has virtually become leaderless in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the BNP is continuously non-cooperating with the government and the Election Commission saying that the party would not participate in the upcoming 12th general elections under the present EC and the Awami League government.
But sources say that ultimately the party and most of its allies have no alternative but to take part in the next election. Leaders and activists of the party’s district and root levels also think that the party should take part in the election for its survival.
They think, when the party does not have a leader to give command to leaders and activists, there is no possibility of forging a movement to oust the government.
They also think that there is also no constitutional obligation of forming a caretaker government. In view of the situation, they believe that the BNP should take part in the election under this EC.
Otherwise, they said, the party (BNP) would fall into such a critical position from where the party would not be able to overcome its poor condition.
It should be mentioned that the EC authorities have invited all the political parties to dialogues several times. But, BNP and some of its allies are ignoring the EC. Rather, the BNP is blaming the EC as saying that the constitutional body was not capable of holding the next parliament election free and fair.
BNP Secretary General Fakrul Islam Alamgir outright rejected the EC’s call as saying that his party would never take part in the dialogue with the EC.
“We have no interest in the dialogue with the EC. Rather we are waiting for a non-partisan and neutral government like the caretaker government”, he said and added that they would force the government to resign and form a caretaker government under which the next election would be held.
But, field level leaders and activists of the party and its allies do not agree with their central leaders.