BNP must enforce intra-party discipline
We welcome Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s warning against extortion and land-grabbing involving party leaders and activists. Speaking at a recent parliamentary party meeting, the ruling party chief also warned the party members against misconduct and instructed the MPs to prevent abuse of power. These warnings are timely considering several recent incidents where members of BNP and its affiliates were implicated. But warnings alone cannot restore public confidence. The party chief’s warning should serve as a sobering wake-up call for the party leadership that their credibility is at stake.
The country’s overall law and order situation has been on fragile grounds for a while. To the ruling party’s embarrassment, its own rank and file have frequently been found embroiled in vandalism, violent clashes, assault of journalists, extortion and other crimes. The demolition and looting of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Dhaka’s Mirpur on September 25 draws a disturbing picture: more than 200 masked men reportedly entered the healthcare facility, looted medicines and equipment, and demolished buildings. Investigations and media reports implicated several individuals linked to local BNP politics, including expelled members and a sitting reserved-seat MP. So strong was their presence during the attack that even police refrained from intervening.
Meanwhile, allegations of extortion against its members have been haunting the ruling party. A police intelligence report prepared in March and April identified around 1,200 extortionists operating in areas under 45 police stations in Dhaka, many of whom are protected by influentials connected to BNP and its affiliates. More recently, a BNP ward-unit president in Dhaka was detained over extortion allegations on October 5, while a Jubo Dal leader was arrested in Munshiganj on October 6 over the alleged abduction and extortion of a marriage registrar.
The persistence of such allegations has clearly put a dent in the ruling party’s standing where it counts most: among the people. Clearly, occasional expulsions or public reprimands have not solved this problem. The ruling party must also address the support system within the party that indulges such criminal elements. The leadership’s recent directive against covering up allegations of criminal activity is a step in the right direction. Its implementation will be the real test. The BNP must enforce strict internal discipline, remove criminal elements permanently from its ranks, and refuse to protect anyone merely because of their political standing. Where credible evidence supports allegations, it must cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies and allow legal proceedings to take their course. And party leaders and lawmakers must stop using political clout to influence investigations, intimidate complainants or obstruct justice. As the ruling party prepares for local government elections, it must get its members in order. It cannot expect to win public confidence in the polls if it continues to follow the old playbook of political patronage and intimidation. A party-wide reform must be a priority for the party leadership.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments