Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

The political crisis deepens with the Awami League apparently slamming the door on talks and the BNP and its allies pressing ahead with their oust-the-government movement, experts say.

Bangladesh’s political climate appears to be in a perpetual stalemate considering how things stand in 2023 and how they were 10 years ago.

The BNP activists will  take to the streets once the Election Commission unveils the polls schedule, party insiders said.

While the prime minister is unofficially on her campaign trail, the opposition camp is on the run.

The BNP is planning to intensify its oust-government movement by blending hartals and blockades with programmes like sit-ins right after the announcement of the election schedule, party insiders said.

There is no doubt that the country is heading towards a long-drawn confrontational politics ahead of the election.

Despite the arrests of its top leaders, the BNP is determined to continue its movement until the demand for election under a non-partisan interim government is met, say several party leaders.

BNP yesterday sent a seven-page letter to the embassies and high commissions in Dhaka disentangling itself from the violence that took place surrounding its grand rally on Saturday.

After enforcing its first nationwide hartal in eight years, BNP yesterday called a three-day rail, road, and waterways blockade across the country from Tuesday to Thursday.

It seems all the opposition forces are becoming active ahead of the national election.

The BNP will instantly go for tough programmes if it is not allowed to hold its grand rally in front of its Nayapaltan headquarters tomorrow, party leaders said.

Amid “provocations” by the Awami League and police “obstruction” of BNP activists, it will be challenging to hold a peaceful rally on October 28, said party leaders.

The BNP is now thinking about keeping a gap between its October 28 grand rally and the next major demonstration programmes, which may include processions and laying siege to important establishments.

Apprehending police obstruction, the BNP has instructed its leaders and activists to arrive in Dhaka by October 25 so that they can attend Saturday’s rally.

BNP leaders have recently been making threats of non-stop and tough agitation, but the party appears to be in a dilemma over such programmes as hartal and roadblocks.

When dialogue fails, confrontation becomes inevitable.

Later this month, the BNP wants to announce non-stop agitation programmes, which may include blockades and sit-ins, to realise its one-point demand for election under a non-partisan interim government.

In the world of technological advancement, birth and death registration might seem like rudimentary concerns. Yet, for the citizens of Dhaka, these basic services remain elusive, shedding light on a pressing issue at odds with promises of a "Digital Bangladesh"

One cannot help but note that Quader had a brazen attitude and lacked any embarrassment about the vitriol his party had been spewing against the US for quite some time now.

The BNP is planning programmes, including road march to Dhaka, encircling of important buildings and even blockades, to press home its demand for election under a non-partisan interim administration.