Government faces challenge from two parallel opposition forces

The BNP government is facing challenges from two parallel opposition forces as it seeks to restore law and order and accelerate the country's development.

While Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the officially recognised opposition party, is challenging the government through parliamentary proceedings and street protests, the ousted Awami League, whose activities have been banned, is allegedly engaging in clandestine activities aimed at creating instability.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance has organised several street programmes, accusing the BNP government of backtracking on the July Charter and the outcome of the referendum. The alliance has also staged protests against energy price hikes and other issues.

Meanwhile, the banned Awami League has allegedly resorted to flash processions, cocktail explosions and hit-and-run-style activities.

Senior BNP leaders have also alleged that government officials appointed during the previous administration are involved in sabotage aimed at pushing the elected government into a deep crisis.

According to them, excessive electricity bills, unnecessary load-shedding and unusual delays in implementing public welfare programmes are among the activities allegedly carried out by cohorts of the “fallen fascist” regime.

On September 27, Police Sub-Inspector Prabir Kumar Biswas allegedly helped top criminal, terrorist and drug smuggler Pichchi Raja escape from a prison van in the capital's Tantibazar area.

The prison van was carrying 29 accused from the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court to Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur.

When the van reached Tantibazar, SI Prabir Kumar Biswas took the key from the driver to unlock it. He then opened the van and brought out Pichchi Raja and another accused, Khairul Bashar. Although Khairul later returned to the van, Pichchi Raja fled.

The sub-inspector subsequently allegedly staged a misleading account of the escape.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Irail Hawlader disclosed the incident at a press briefing in October.

Earlier, on September 9, SI Asit Kumar of Badalgachhi Police Station allegedly helped Rakibul Islam, vice-president of the banned Chhatra League's upazila unit and an accused in a case, escape while attempting to arrest him.

Asit Kumar was subsequently withdrawn from the police station.

The BNP has described such incidents as acts of sabotage by associates of the ousted Awami League regime.

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that associates of the fallen fascist regime are attempting to push the elected government into a deep crisis and plunge the country into turmoil through various means.

He urged people to remain alert, alleging that the group's associates were involved in different acts of sabotage.

Rizvi made the remarks on Wednesday, October 7, while distributing leaflets to raise awareness about dengue at Bangladesh Medical University.

“How could a top terrorist flee from a prison van? It has raised questions among the people. The cohorts of the fascist are hatching plots in different departments to push the government into various crises,” he said.

Rizvi further alleged that associates of the ousted Awami League were conspiring to delay public welfare programmes and create difficulties for the government in other ways.

When contacted, BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu told Asia Post that the government was working to develop the country in every sector, while the ousted Awami League and opposition Jamaat-e-Islami were allegedly pushing the country backwards.

“The Awami League has no regret for its heinous activities. It believed that all its actions, including killing people, were justified. In reality, it is distancing itself from the people through its anti-people activities,” Dudu said.

He said Jamaat-e-Islami had an opportunity to establish itself as a pro-people political force after securing a number of parliamentary seats in the February 2026 election, but had failed to make proper use of that opportunity.

“Jamaat's activities are going against the interests of the countrymen,” he said.

“All of them are trying to push our elected government into difficulties. But the BNP government is moving forward with the people by its side,” Dudu added.

When contacted, Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson and Joint Secretary General Advocate Ahsan Mahbub Zubair told Asia Post that the Jamaat-led alliance was merely echoing the people's concerns.

“Through our programmes, we have simply asked the government to reflect the people's aspirations. It must implement the people's verdict in the referendum and the July Charter,” he said.

Zubair said Jamaat-e-Islami was always ready to support the government in implementing programmes aimed at ensuring public welfare.