Khaleda must listen to grassroots BNP leaders, adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain says

Khandaker Mahbub Hossain has urged Khaleda Zia to listen to grassroots leaders and activists instead of depending on the suggestions of central leaders.

The BNP chairperson’s adviser also asked her in a discussion on Friday to make changes in the leadership.
 
The discussion was organised to mark the 34th death anniversary of party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.
 
Hossain said he visited many parts of the country recently to campaign for the election to Bangladesh Bar Council and spoke to the grassroots leaders. 
 
“They said they wanted to speak to the chairperson about their grief and make suggestions for the party,” the BNP leader said.

The activists were doing well but there were weaknesses in the leadership, he said.
 
“Despite repression, attacks, and cases, party activists remained strong.  The BNP also has public support at grassroots-level. 
 
“However, there are weaknesses in the leadership in some places,” he said.
 
Hossain urged Khaleda to be on the ground and listen to the ‘beleaguered’ activists across the country.
 
“The leader will have to assess the situation properly. She will have to reach the activists who were tortured during the protests across the country in past three months,” he said.
 
“Please forgive me. But I think that the leader is still somewhat circumspect. But she should not remain so anymore and also, she should not depend on the top-level leaders,” he added.
 
‘BNP not anti-Indian’
 
Speaking about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Bangladesh, Hossain said, “Many project BNP as an anti-India party. But we have never been anti-India.”
 
“India is our neighbour, its people are our friends,” he added.
 
He, however, admitted that BNP leaders criticised the previous Congress government for its stance over the national election in Bangladesh in January.
 
“There was an aversion to the then Indian government for taking side of a particular party,” Hossain said.
 
“Now Modi is in power with a huge public support. I believe the Modi government and Mamata Banerjee will be on the side of the people of Bangladesh,” he said.
 
He was hopeful that the Indian prime minister would speak about continuity of democracy in Bangladesh as the head of a democratic government.
 
“We’ll seek his support for democracy,” he said.