Home ›› 01 Jan 2022 ›› Governance
Unlike previous years, BNP put in greater efforts in 2021 to make people feel its presence, but Khaleda Zia’s party still faces an uphill task to cast any impact on the political landscape ahead of the 2023 national election, according to political analysts.
As the nature of the game has changed, they said, BNP must have a strategic plan to make a turnaround.
“BNP should have done something that would have surprised people instead of only focusing on sending Khaleda abroad for medical treatment. People want a strong movement, BNP should concentrate on it,” said Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.
Professor Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University (USA), said BNP needs to bring its house in order and develop a strategy for the future.
‘Nothing tangible’ in 2021
On the first day of 2021, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had said they were taking a fresh vow to completely free Khaleda Zia from jail and ‘restore’ democracy in the country through a mass upsurge by uniting the country’s people and political parties, but the party could not do much to live up to its pledge.
The party held various street programmes, including rallies and human chains, in protest against the price hike of essentials, a flawed election system, different incidents, demanding Khaleda’s treatment abroad all over the year.
BNP joined municipal polls on January 16 and Chattogram City Corporation polls on February 27 and some other local body elections, but showed very poor show.
On February 5, BNP’s defeated mayoral candidates in different cities announced to hold rallies in six cities, demanding fair and credible polls.
On February 8, BNP arranged protest rallies across the country, marking the third anniversary of the jailing of our leader Khaleda Zia.
On March 7, the party policymakers decided not to participate in elections under the current government and the Election Commission since there was no scope for fair voting.
On December 19, BNP brought out a colourful rally in the city from its Nayapaltan office, marking the Victory Day. A huge number of party leaders and activists joined the rally, drawing public attention.
BNP has been observing various programmes including, human chains, hunger strikes, submitting memorandums to the DCs, rallies and demonstrations seeking Khaleda’s treatment abroad since mid-November.
The party also organised 32 rallies in different districts from December 22 to 30 to press for the same demand. People’s response to most of the rallies was a bit politically considerable, the analysts said.
Losing leaders
BNP also lost its many leaders, including its standing committee member Moudud Ahmed, vice chairman Maj Gen (retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury and BNP Chairperson’s advisory council member and ex-MP Barrister Zaiur Rahman Khan, in the outgoing year
Devastating year for Khaleda
The advanced treatment of 76-year-old former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia abroad was one of the much-discussed issues of the year 2021 as her condition deteriorated since she was infected with Covid. An application of the BNP chief’s family for allowing her to go abroad has not yet been disposed of.
Khaleda tested positive for Covid on April 10 and received treatment at home till April 26. As her condition did not improve, she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for treatment, but it was turned down.
On Jun 19, 2021, the BNP chief got back home from the hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital for the second time with fever and some other health complications on November 12.
The BNP chief was readmitted to the same hospital on November 13, nearly a week after she was discharged from it.
On November 28, her medical board members at a press conference said she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
They also said Khaleda was suffering from internal bleeding and she needed to go abroad immediately for treatment.
Doctors said she has also been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, ophthalmological and dental complications.
On behalf of her family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the home ministry on November 11 seeking permission to take her abroad for treatment.
A doctor of Khaleda’s medical board said her condition is very critical as she has been suffering from intermittent bleeding due to liver cirrhosis.
As there is no scope for treatment of Khaleda’s liver cirrhosis problem in the country, he said anything bad can happen to her anytime if she is not immediately allowed to go to any advanced centre abroad.
