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Hardliners influencing AL, BNP strategies

By Nurul Kabir
Hardliners in the ruling Awami League (AL) and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have started getting upper hand in deciding their respective party strategies to face each other, creating the possibility of further worsening of the already confrontational politics in the country, sources in the parties said.
The hardliners in the ruling party leadership, according to insiders, who enjoy the confidence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. believe that BNP is out to destabilise both the political and economic situation only to discredit the government. The government, therefore, needs to go tough against BNP for the sake ofboth national and party interests, they argue with their moderate colleagues in the
"ff not taken care of at the
beginning. BNP would make attempts to dislodge the government much before the expiry of its five-year term." said a member of the group advocating tough actions against the opposition party. Like some other leaders in the group, he also finds it Justified to face BNP activists on the streets — even on hartal days. Replying to a query, an AL leader known to be a hardliner told The Daily Star: "The government should assert Its existence before the electorates even during hartals — called by the BNP. "
According to AL insiders, this section of the leadership also believes that BNP would not behave, whatever concessions the government makes to the Opposition.
There are also people In the AL leadership who believe that face to face confrontation with
BNP would contribute to deterioration of the political situation. leaving negative impact on economic activities. They also believe that taking hard line against BNP might prove to be counter productive, creating grounds for the Opposition to earn popularity.
Taking the path of cautious negotiations with BNP on various issues would be the best way to successfully run the affairs of the state." one of the moderate leaders said, adding. "In that case, the government will need to make some concessions".
According to sources, such people are minority in the AL's apex body these days.
On the other hand, the entire leadership of BNP believes that the government, headed by Sheikh Hasina. has failed to bring about any positive change in social, political and economic life of the people, but it has resorted to repressing political opponents to make sure that the Opposition cannot speak out the truth before the people.
But the policy makers of BNP. are divided over the strategy to face the situation.
A section of the party leadership, especially those having decades of political experience, maintains that they need some more time to mobilise and warm up the party rank and file across the country, before going for an allout agitation against the government.
"It is only natural that BNP will fight back government effort to curtail the people's constitutional rights to hold rallies and bring out processions, protesting mismanagement of the national economy." said one of the senior leaders, who prefers a go-slow. "But we need to get the party rank and file across the country well prepared. as well as ensure support of the commonman facing socio-economic hardship, to initiate a decisive movement against the government. It would take some more time."
The other section, comprising especially the younger ones.
asserts that the field level party activists are already prepared to go for an allout movement against ‘government excesses' on the political opponents. Those with such attitude have now outnumbered the moderates in the BNP leadership, insiders said, adding that this section has a role in discouraging the party negotiators to positively respond to the AL call for a dialogue.
"The ruling party does not allow us to speak inside Parliament, it has virtually imposed ban on holding political rallies. Backed by the police, the ruling party activists have already started attacking our processions. Besides, the government has resorted to harassing thousands of BNP leaders and activists by filing false cases," an excited young leader of the party said, adding: "It is high time to begin fighting back the Awami League."
Replying to a question, he said that there was no scope for negotiation with the AL. "as the party is habituated to breaching contracts."
However, some moderates in both the parties separately told this correspondent, requesting anonymity, any tough line would virtually prove counter productive to the nation and the parties as well.