Chaos within grassroots disrupts BNP’s image-building efforts from top-brass

Highlights: 

• 95% of news coverage of BNP youth rallies were positive
• Factional clashes within party kill 81 in 11 months
• Thousand others were injured
• Thousands were expelled from party over past few months  
• Many were evicted in past 16 years, Rizvi claims  
• Assessment of leaders' activities ongoing for nomination

While the BNP is currently pouring a whole lot of efforts at the policymaking level to create a positive image in the public psyche ahead of the national election, the party's leaders and supporters at the grassroots are indulged in conflicts and unruly acts amid the absence of its arch rival, the Awami League, whose activities were temporarily banned by the interim government.

Following the 5 August mass uprising, despite achieving appreciation for the party's social welfare activities and also for insightful statements from acting chairman Tarique Rahman on various occasions, the BNP's image-building efforts were largely obstructed by various controversial activities of its leaders and activists at the grassroots.

Over the past months, the BNP have grabbed headlines for various offensive acts such as extortion trade, case trade, illegal occupancy of land and other structures, rape, murder and factional clashes. However, talking to TBS, the party's top-brass said they have taken a hardline stance against any unruly behaviour from the grassroots to keep it disciplined and united ahead of the polls.

Thousands expelled in few months 

To restore discipline within the party, a few thousand leaders and activists have been expelled, suspended, or relieved from responsibility within the BNP to restore party discipline, party insiders said.

The party claims that immediate action helped effectively to restrain the grassroots' unruly state.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told The Business Standard they have expelled several thousand activists in recent times for violating party discipline.

"Chaos will never be tolerated within the BNP.  It is natural that some [controversial] incidents will happen, but the party is not tolerating it and will not do so in the future. More will be expelled, if necessary," he warned.

The party's Senior Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told TBS that the chaos within the BNP has decreased a lot because of the action taken. "Action is being taken against someone every day."

Rizvi claimed that in the past 16 years during the Awami League regime, many of the BNP's leaders and supporters were evicted from their properties. "It resulted in a natural reaction after 5 August."

The situation is now normalising, he claimed.

Regarding these allegations of offensive and violent activities, BNP Joint Secretary General Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Annie told TBS that the party is controlling its leaders and activists strictly at present. "In many cases, the party has filed cases against its leaders, and has assisted in their arrest. Tarique Rahman has taken action against incidents that tarnish the party's image."

Youth rallies built trust among public, survey shows

Under its 31-point nation-building campaign, the BNP and its associate bodies have engaged their leaders and activities in various social welfare programmes over the past few months, such as charity for the underprivileged, emergency response during disasters, tree plantation, cleanliness drive, etc.

In addition, the party has organised youth rallies in major cities to exchange views with young people regarding state reforms.

According to a Strategy and Policy Forum (SPF) research, 95% of news coverage of the BNP's youth rallies had a positive sentiment, portraying a deeper connection between the party and the youth.

The findings suggest that the BNP's youth rallies helped the party significantly to build trust among the public.

The body prepared the report after analysing 1,488 news reports presented by major media platforms. 

81 killed in factional clashes since AL's ouster

According to the Human Rights Support Society, in the past 11 months, from 7 August to 30 June, a total of 81 individuals were killed, and a few thousand were injured in a total of 478 clashes erupted from internal conflicts within the BNP.

However, according to the Ain O Salish Kendra, the number of fatalities is 68 in the past 10 months.

The clashes were mostly over establishing dominance, leadership rivalry, past disputes, differences of opinion and conflicts of interest.

Talking to TBS, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi denied that the clashes were factional. 

"Those involved in violence might have used the party's name. They have tried to tarnish the BNP's name," he said.

The party's Assistant Office Secretary Taiful Islam Tipu echoed the same sentiment. "There is no internal conflict within the BNP. Rumours are being spread against the party."

There is speculation that the volume of conflict within the BNP may take a serious turn centring on nomination before the election. 

However, the party's Organising Secretary Shama Obaid ruled out this possibility, saying that there would only be competition for the nomination. 

"Immediate action is taken in case of any such incidents [violence] within the party. The acting chairman [Tarique Rahman] is not making any concessions to this end," she said.

Shama also stressed on maintaining organisational discipline to curb violence. 

She said the extent of conflict will be minimised once the acting chairman returns home.

Potential election candidates are under party scanner

Sources within the BNP told TBS that the current activities of the party's leaders are being closely observed and reported to the acting chairman Tarique Rahman, by dedicated monitoring teams formed within the party. Leaders' political and personal activities, along with the updates on their respective social media handles, are monitored by the teams.

In the election, an assessment of these reports will be taken into cognisance in nominating candidates from the party. In that case, many senior leaders may also have been dropped from nomination, the sources added.