US visa sanctions energised party: BNP

BNP activists and leaders at all levels have become reinvigorated after the US on Friday announced it was taking steps to apply visa restrictions on Bangladeshis involved in election interference, the party's top leaders have commented.

Besides, the European Union deciding not to send any observers in the upcoming national elections has also energised BNP activists, they said. 

These developments will greatly accelerate the opposition's ongoing movement to restore democracy, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal told the Business Standard on Saturday. 

The party leaders and activists are ready to face any situation in the field with full presence, he said.

Regarding the US including members of the opposition in the visa sanction list, the BNP leader said, "We are not an opposition party; we are opposition on the street and Jatiya Party is the opposition in parliament." 

Echoing a similar sentiment, Cumilla South District BNP Member Secretary Jasim Uddin told TBS that the partymen have become much more active in the last two days because of these developments. 

"We had a small preparatory meeting on Saturday and it had a larger turnout of activists than at any other time," he said. 

Also, BNP's Organising Secretary Shama Obaid told TBS that the people consider the announcements by the US and the EU as a beacon of hope.  

"We think it [the announcements] will be very effective in restoring democracy in Bangladesh," he said.

He hoped the US would not impose visa restrictions on the parties involved in movement against the government. "Our movement is completely peaceful and systematic."

Possible hartal 

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday told TBS that they will have to implement strict programmes including hartals and blockades if the government does not accept its demands.

On Thursday, BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy urged party leaders to be ready to carry out all out programmes, including strikes and blockades, to press for the ouster of the Awami League government.

He said the BNP is open to considering hartals and blockades as part of its strategy. 

Khaleda Zia's treatment

Meanwhile, BNP sources told TBS that some of its leaders feel the government seems to be showing leniency on Khaleda Zia's treatment abroad due to foreign pressure recently.

The sources referred to Law Minister Anisul Huq's statement that an application must be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs for allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to seek overseas medical treatment.

Meanwhile, BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units have called for a protest rally on 24 September to demand Khaleda Zia's treatment abroad.

Barishal road march

At least 10 leaders and activists of BNP were injured after being attacked allegedly by activists of Awami League in Barishal's Gournadi upazila on Saturday.

The BNP men were on their way to join the party's road march held on the demand for the resignation of the government.

However, Gournadi Model police station Officer-in-Charge Md Afzal Hossain said he was aware of any incident of attack. "I have not received any written complaint. If found, legal action will be taken."