Expectation of 'syndicate-free' democratic BNP

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is finally returning to his beloved homeland after 18 long years of exiled life in London. The party said he will return to the country on 25 December (Thursday) afternoon on a regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. On that day, he will go directly from the airport to Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara of the capital. Where his mother and former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson has been undergoing continuous treatment since 23 November last.

On the way to the hospital, BNP will give a public reception to one of the top leaders of the party in Three Hundred Feet area of the capital. On this occasion, the party has taken initiative to bring lakhs of leaders and activists from across the country to the capital.

Meanwhile, immense excitement and enthusiasm have been seen among lakhs of BNP leaders and activists centring the return of one of the party's leaders and future helmsman from long exile to his homeland. Along with this, expectations have increased among grassroots leaders and activists. They hope with Tarique Rahman's return to the country, new dimension will be created in politics of BNP, the birthplace of Bangladeshi nationalism founded by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. True democratic environment will return to the party. Tarique will run the party giving importance to opinions of many (grassroots). No dishonest syndicate will have control. BNP will evaluate real workers and worker-friendly leaders in positions and all matters coming out of 'brotherhood' or 'syndicate' circle.

The Daily Campus talked to some ordinary workers and leaders of BNP regarding Tarique Rahman's return to the country from long exile. Their opinions and feelings reflect such picture of expectations along with excitement and enthusiasm. Several BNP leaders on condition of anonymity told The Daily Campus, when Madam (BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia) was healthy and active, she herself kept eye on all sides and took decisions in the party giving importance to opinions of ordinary leaders and activists. She evaluated sacrificing and deserving ones. But due to Madam's illness and long imprisonment in false cases under illegal fascist Hasina government, she could not give direct leadership as before due to reality. And our leader BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has run the party from far London, kept it organised; even facing various obstacles and repression of the fallen government. This is undoubtedly huge success of Tarique Rahman. But he has run the party for this long time only with his mental strength and trusting some leaders. He has won with his mental strength but not all leaders have given due respect to his trust, this cannot be said. Many have disrespected his trust. Betrayed trust. Created 'syndicate' and achieved only their own interests, not the party. Due to this, real information of grassroots leaders and activists across the country did not reach him properly many times. He remained in dark about real picture of grassroots. Due to this interest achievement of 'syndicate makers', thousands of persecuted and sacrificing leaders and activists of the party were devalued in Hasina regime. The latest example of this is party nomination for sheaf of paddy symbol centring thirteenth national parliament election. In this nomination, opinions of lakhs of leaders and activists across the country were not reflected. Practically 'syndicate' influenced nomination through protecting their circle and unethical transactions.

Sources said at least 4 syndicates influenced party nomination in thirteenth national parliament election. Among them, 'North Bengal syndicate', 'Chittagong syndicate', most controversial businessman 'S Alam syndicate' who looted country's bank and economic sector during the fallen government, one non-political person and Chairperson's office centric 'employee syndicate' got more benefits. These syndicates gave sheaf of paddy candidacy to their own people through unethical benefits excluding acceptable ones to sacrificing, persecuted, voters and ordinary leaders and activists of the party.

Among them, most who got favour or priority of 'North Bengal centric syndicate' are leaders who remained cornered for long time betraying party during special government supported by army of Fakhruddin-Moinuddin and former leaders of Jatiya Party of former military dictator Ershad. They are identified as reformists in BNP. 'Chittagong syndicate' extensively influenced nomination in Chittagong including greater Noakhali region. In Satkania-Lohagara, Banshkhali, Patiya, Mirsarai, Sitakunda, Noakhali-5, Noakhali-6 and several more seats, this syndicate gave sheaf of paddy ownership to their own people without giving importance to grassroots opinions.

Shadow of controversial businessman S Alam identified as bank and country looter fell on BNP nomination. Even being fugitive abroad, S Alam extensively influenced sheaf of paddy nomination. Especially in Kotwali Baklia of Chittagong, Patiya and some more seats, S Alam's desire got priority, sources said.

On the other hand, Gulshan office centric syndicate which leaders and activists in internal discussion of BNP call 'employee syndicate', they succeeded in giving sheaf of paddy to their own people in several seats of Narayanganj and Chandpur near Dhaka, allegation in BNP.

Besides these, son-in-law of an influential leader also achieved benefits in BNP nomination misusing his father-in-law's name, allegation among leaders and activists.

Sources said due to these dishonest syndicates, many sacrificing, persecuted, acceptable leaders to ordinary leaders and activists of BNP were deprived of sheaf of paddy candidacy. Among them, former central president of Chhatra Dal currently BNP Vice Chairman Dr. Asaduzzaman Ripon, one of the most popular former central presidents of Chhatra Dal, former president of Swechchhasebak Dal currently one of joint general secretaries of BNP Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel, Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, central committee Dhaka divisional assistant organising secretary of BNP Benzir Ahmed Tito, former senior vice president of Chhatra Dal Bajlul Karim Chowdhury Abed, former president of Chhatra Dal Abdul Kadir Bhuiya Jewel, central committee assistant office secretary of BNP Taiful Islam Tipu, former Chhatra Dal leader Hasan Mamun, former leader of Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal Saiful Islam Firoz, former general secretary of Chhatra Dal Akramul Hasan Mintu, former Chhatra Dal leader Abu Bakr Siddique, Abdul Matin, twice victim of disappearance and extensively persecuted former Chhatra Dal leader Mofizur Rahman Ashik, Kazi Raunakul Islam Tipu, former leader of Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal Mir Newaz Ali Newaz and others are notable central executive committee leaders of BNP.

A senior BNP leader on condition of anonymity told The Daily Campus, in this thirteenth national parliament election, there are about 13 crore voters in the country. Among them, at least 22/24 percent young voters. Who extensively influence as Gen Z generation. They want controversy-free, clean image possessing workers and people-friendly leaders as people's representatives. They will not vote let alone minimum concession to any controversial, muscle power possessing or illegal money owner. Besides, lakhs of people abstained from voting due to day voting at night and centre capture by police along with armed cadres during past fascism. They will also vote in this election after long time. They will exercise their voting right seeing, hearing and understanding. Certainly these conscious voters will not vote and elect any controversial. BNP has to keep this matter in consideration with importance.

BNP Joint General Secretary Advocate Abdus Salam Azad told The Daily Campus, our leaders and activists have been waiting for long for Acting Chairman's return to the country. Finally he is returning to the country ignoring all obstacles. Immense excitement and enthusiasm have been seen among BNP leaders and activists centring leader's arrival.

He said alongside, huge expectations have also been created among our leaders and activists with news of Acting Chairman's return to the country. Because due to past fascist Hasina, he was not allowed to return to the country. Forced, he kept the party united as well as ran it from distance. Gave direction to movement. He did all this with his capacity and trusting leaders. He had no alternative to trust. But many of us could not give due respect to his trust. Built own circle in party and did infighting, grouping. Placed own people in positions.

Adv. Salam Azad further said now our Acting Chairman will return to the country and take firm control of the party, personally inquire about all matters, evaluate sacrificing and persecuted ones. So that no dishonest person can achieve illegal benefits misusing BNP name. In past, due to distance and his absence, he was deprived of real picture of field level many times. Due to which perhaps some decisions were wrong. Now that will not happen. This will benefit the party and leaders and activists too.

Former senior vice president of Chhatra Dal Bajlul Karim Chowdhury Abed told The Daily Campus, for long 18 years along with Madam from far London our leader Tarique Rahman has kept BNP united and acceptable to ordinary people. Ending long expectation not only of our BNP leaders and activists but lakhs of people of the country, finally he is returning to the country. Naturally ordinary leaders and activists are joyous, excited and inspired with his arrival. He said due to our leader's (Tarique Rahman) arrival in the country, expectation mercury of ordinary leaders and activists is rising. Due to his being far, many dishonest in party took opportunity to extensively influence unethically. His presence will obstruct dishonesty of those dishonest. He will directly mix with field level leaders and activists. Understand their mentality. Take decisions accordingly.

Abed further said we are optimistic with our leader's arrival, BNP will create firm position in minds of people of all classes and professions of the country as true democratic party of Shaheed Zia's real nationalist consciousness.

Former vice president of Chhatra Dal Abu Bakr Siddique told The Daily Campus, I spent three and half years in jail for the party. I have acceptability in election area. Depriving me who built place in people's mind bit by bit, sheaf of paddy was given to Nazrul Islam Mondal former chairman of Putia upazela elected from Jatiya Party. BNP made party candidate a people-isolated person due to which Jamaat people distributed sweets in joy. And BNP leaders and activists of Putia-Durgapur election area are blocking Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in protest. Leaders and activists have boycotted party candidate.

He said Tarique Rahman is our symbol of unity. Due to his long stay outside country, he could not properly set up original product of Chhatra Dal. Due to his absence, BNP senior leaders did not evaluate those who are area-based qualified skilled and tested leaders of Chhatra Dal in appropriate place. Their political skill and dedication towards party cannot be applied for overall welfare of party. We believe when Tarique Rahman returns to the country, he will properly evaluate these sacrificing-tested skilled leaders from central to grassroots for party's need and utilise in work, we believe.

In response to a question, Bakr said those due to whom original product acceptable leaders of Chhatra Dal were not evaluated, are not being; who are they? They are dishonest syndicate. We former leaders of Chhatra Dal believe when our leader returns to the country, this illegal syndicate will not be able to achieve own interests anymore.