Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman has taken a tough stance against extortionists and land grabbers, making it clear that there is no place for them in the BNP and that no one will be allowed to escape accountability for wrongdoing by using the party's name.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni said "the prime minister had taken a firm position against extortion and land grabbing and stressed that such activities would not be tolerated under any circumstances".
He conveyed the message while briefing reporters after a meeting of ruling party lawmakers chaired by Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Sunday evening.
The meeting began at 6:20pm and continued for around three hours, ending at 9:20pm. It was held in the meeting room for ruling party members of parliament.
Senior BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan, Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmood and Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain, among others, spoke at the meeting.
Moni said the meeting was convened at the prime minister's direction to hear lawmakers' concerns and find ways to address them, although such meetings are not usually held between two parliamentary sessions.
“The last session of parliament ended on the 10th of last month. The next session will begin next month. Usually, meetings of this kind are not held between two sessions. However, the prime minister directed that this meeting be held to speak with MPs, hear about their problems and find ways to resolve them,” he said.
The chief whip said the prime minister listened to lawmakers for an extended period, discussing the difficulties they faced in their respective areas. Ministers concerned also spoke on issues falling under their responsibilities.
He said discussions covered various problems faced by MPs, government activities, the functioning of parliament, the law and order situation, electricity and energy, education, the judiciary and local government elections.
Moni said the objective was to strengthen government activities and ensure accountability to the people.
“MPs were asked to inform the leader of the House and the ministers whether government activities were meeting people's expectations and to raise any problems they identified. Based on the discussions, the prime minister provided directions on various issues,” he said.
The chief whip said lawmakers were instructed to ensure the peaceful celebration of the upcoming Durga Puja and maintain a normal law and order situation.
He said law enforcement agencies and the administration would work to ensure that the celebrations proceeded without any disruption. BNP leaders, activists and lawmakers were also asked to remain actively involved.
“They have been instructed to remain vigilant so that no one from the Hindu community or other minority groups faces any problems, and to stand beside them when necessary,” Moni said.
Asked about discussions on party discipline, the chief whip said the meeting emphasised the need for everyone to maintain party discipline and operate within its rules.
Moni said the prime minister had also instructed party members to remain united and advised them to choose suitable leadership for the upcoming local government elections.
He said the BNP would try to field a single candidate in local government elections through coordination with grassroots leaders and organisational structures.
“The party will try to nominate a single candidate in every union by utilising its grassroots organisational structure,” the chief whip said.
Asked what action the party would take if anyone contested against the grassroots-level decision, Moni said the party would decide on the matter, adding that no discussion had yet taken place on the issue.