The grassroots of Rajshahi BNP are worried over intra-party feud and organisational weaknesses that they believe are the hindrances to waging a movement against the government.
Talking to The Daily Star, the BNP men said the party's organisational weaknesses and internal conflicts are well exposed through some recent incidents.
They think the party must take steps to practise democracy within the organisation and to resolve internal conflicts before going for the anti-government movement.
“At the grassroots, we are united and ready for the movement,” said Muhammad Ishaq, president of Godagari upazila BNP. The problem lies with the leadership, he said.
“For launching the movement, the party has a number of issues including the ruling party's failure in maintaining law and order and implementing election pledges to curb corruption and reduce the prices of essentials,” said an upazila BNP president preferring anonymity.
Another upazila-level leader, who too prefers anonymity, said “All the factions are fighting for supremacy in different committees and party affairs. Leaders are busy blaming one another. They hardly work together or take part in processions or party meetings.”
On one occasion police had to impose section-144 to stop a factional clash of the party, he mentioned.
Supporters of district BNP Joint Secretary Mizanur Rahman Minu last month burnt effigies of district BNP President Nadim Mostafa twice in public protesting the dominance of Nadim's followers on different committees.
The grassroots are also unhappy with the choice of the leaders for different units. Many new committees have been left incomplete.
BNP chief Khaleda Zia's losing the cantonment house and senior leader Nazmul Huda's expulsion from the party have been observed silently in the district. No strong reaction from the base has been reported.
Contacted, Mizanur Rahman Minu, also president of the city unit BNP, said, “There is no rivalry among Rajshahi BNP leaders.”
“Rajshahi is the real stronghold of BNP. We didn't expect the ruling party would lose people's confidence so early. Starting a movement will not be that much difficult.”
He pointed out that many inactive BNP members had made a comeback following Khaleda Zia's “eviction from her cantonment house” and taken part in the agitation.
District BNP president Nadim Mostafa said all leaders of the district BNP are more united now than ever following the oppression on them.
When asked about his conflict with Minu, he said, “Some city leaders are trying to gain influence in the district. It will not affect the movement as a whole.”