Controversial former ministers and lawmakers, dwindling organisational strength and alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami were responsible for BNP's rout in December 29 general election, observed the party's grassroots-level leaders yesterday.
Besides harming the organisation's image, many former ministers and lawmakers were behind the intra-party feuds that cost BNP dear in both parliamentary and upazila elections, they added.
The observations came at the third day's meetings between BNP central teams and upazila level leaders.
Presidents and general secretaries of upazilas in Patuakhali, Brahmanbaria, Moulvibazar, Narail and Pabna took part in the discussions at the party's headquarters in Naya Paltan.
Apart from airing their views on what led to the polls debacle, they briefed the central leaders about organisational state of their units.
A meeting source quoted Ashraf Ali, president of Mirzaganj upazila BNP in Patuakhali, as saying, "Teaming up with Jamaat was the main reason why we fared badly in the election. People did not take our ties to war criminals positively."
At the talks between the panel for Rajshahi division and Pabna district leaders, Mahbub Morshed Jyoti, president of Sathia BNP, said the party suffered the humiliating defeat because of Jamaat.
Some leaders of Patuakhali demanded that the high-command dissolve immediately the district committee led by former home minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury. They said they lost four seats due to failure of this committee.
"We got drubbing in the polls because of the bitter wrangle between Altaf Chowdhury and his general secretary," Kazi Mahbub, president of sadar upazila BNP, was quoted as saying by a participant.
Mahbub also asked the central body to form a new committee by ballot.
After the meetings, Kalapara BNP President ABM Mosharraf Hossain told The Daily Star that they have suggested that the high-command arrange for fresh committees to be set up through vote at all levels of the organisation.
Abdus Samad Montu, president of Pabna sadar upazila BNP, told this correspondent that weak organisational base was the key reason for dismal election performance. He said the leadership should also hear the ward- and union-level leaders for proper assessment of the grassroots conditions.
Bera upazila BNP General Secretary Raisuddin said former lawmaker Selim Reza Habib is to blame for the internal conflict in local BNP and the polls disaster. "The party should purge itself of all controversial leaders through councils," he told The Daily Star.
A leader from Moulvibazar district said activities of former finance minister Saifur Rahman and his son Naser Rahman brought on the election defeat. "Some close aides to Saifur including his son diminished the party's polls prospects by amassing wealth through abuse of power," he said requesting anonymity.
Asked about discussions with the central team, Advocate Abdur Rahman, president of Sarail upazila BNP [Brahmanbaria district], told The Daily Star, "We've asked the central leaders to reorganise the party so we can get over the internal problems soon."
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