Dhaka: Though Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had a plan to make a turnaround in the outgoing year through positive politics, it apparently failed to do so due to its organisational weakness and lack of a proper political strategy.

It also failed to drum up public support throughout the year cashing in on many public issues as its leaders remain engrossed mainly in discussions and press conferences.

BNP senior leaders over the year tried to invigorate the party men by telling them that their party has huge popularity, but they got demoralised at the end of the year as its mayoral candidate suffered a miserable defeat in Narayanganj City Corporation polls held on December 22, demonstrating the party's organisational weakness.

National Council and Fresh Committees

Though the party had also a target to overhaul its grassroots and associate bodies with fresh committees of its 75 organisational district units by December, the party could not make much progress to this end.

Following the party's March 19 council, BNP formed a 502-member executive and 19 member standing committees, 73-member chairperson's advisory council and new committees of Swechchhasebak Dal and Mohila Dal, but it failed to bring any visible dynamism in the party activities.

Party leaders think holding their national council, forming central committee, reconstituting some grassroots committees amid different obstacles and presenting a 'well-thought-out' proposal on the Election Commission (EC) formation were their main successes in 2016.

In the coming year, they said, they will make their party stronger further completing its overhauling process, and will be vocal regarding national issues to drum up public support in favour of it through various programmes relating to public interests.

BNP overcoming barriers: Fakhrul

‘Despite immense repressions, obstacles and adversities, our party is very much strong and functional. We successfully held our council overcoming all barriers and formed the central and district committees. Are these very little achievements’, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He said their thousands of leaders and activists were repressed, implicated in 'false' cases, jailed, harassed, intimidated, and punished as there was no democracy and the rule of law in the country. ‘But we're united and keep our party very much functional braving all the adversities and plots against us.’

Fakhrul, however, admitted that their party also has some failures since they were not being allowed to do normal political activities, hold rallies and organisational activities.

Peaceful Public Rally

BNP began the year, 2016, with holding a huge public rally peacefully in front of it's Nayapaltan central office on January 5, marking the 10th parliamentary elections day as a 'democracy killing' day.

Later, the party focused on holding its 6th national council and also successfully completed it on March 19, but it took nearly four and a half months to announce its full-fledged committee.

After overhauling the executive committee, the party gave importance to revitalising its organisational district units and revamped 22 ones with new committees, most of them were partial ones.

The party had also joined the six-phase Union Council polls beginning on March 22 and won only 9 percent of 4546 UCs.

Aslam Chowdhury Issue

In May 15, party leader Aslam Chowdhury was arrested for hatching a plot to topple the government with the help of Israel and its spy agency Mossad. But, Aslam denied any conspiracy against the government although he admitted to meeting Safadi in a tea party in India.

Brutal Dhaka Attack by Militants

After the deadly and brutal attack on Holey Artisan Bakery by militants on July 1, BNP took an initiative to forge a national unity and create a platform with some left and opposition parties to fight against extremism, but did not get response from political parties due to its alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami.

Talks with President over Election Commission Reformation

As the tenure of the current Election Commission will expire on February next, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on November 18 placed a 13-point proposal on constituting a stronger and neutral Commission, which was praised by civil society members.

BNP also urged the President to initiate talks with political parties before constituting the new EC.

Apparently responding to BNP's call, President Abdul Hamid initiated dialogues with political parties on the EC formation with holding talks with BNP on December 18. After the meeting, the party voiced satisfaction over its outcome.

Birthday Celebration of Khaleda Zia

Unlike previous years, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia did not cut any cake to celebrate her birthday on the National Mourning Day on August 15 this time which was appreciated by all.

Busy with Cases

The politics was almost peaceful throughout the year unless UC polls violence as BNP did not resort to harsher political programmes like hartal and blockade. Many BNP leaders were busy allover the year appearing in courts and dealing with the cases filed against them.

BNP on National Issues

Contacted, ex-VC of Dhaka University and pro-BNP intellectual Prof Imajuddin Ahmed said BNP also could not properly use some issues, including Bangladesh Bank's reserve heist, border killings, attacks on Hindus and Santals in Brahmanbaria and Gaibandha respectively, growing incidents of repression on women and children and slide in the law and order, to drum up public support with different peaceful programmes.

He suggested that BNP focus on positive politics with political programmes on various issues relating to public interests.

Hope to Bounce Back in 2017

BNP standing committee member Mahbubur Rahman said they will bounce back in 2017 taking lessons from its previous mistakes and force the government to form an acceptable EC. The coming year will be a golden year for BNP to make a turnaround with strong organisational capacity.