Zafrullah, known as a pro-BNP intellectual, also criticised Tarique, now in London, for discussing organisational matters with party leaders through BNP senior joint-secretary general, bypassing the secretary general.
The outspoken intellectual after the December 30 general elections, marred by ‘flaws and fraud’, made critical comments about the party and Tarique at different programmes and media triggering reaction inside the party.

Zafrullah said that Tarique as the acting BNP chairman could talk with the party leaders but should follow some norms and courtesies.

He said that Tarique held meetings with party leaders through videoconferencing through BNP senior joint-secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi bypassing secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Zafrullah, a freedom fighter, said that BNP standing committee members were not present during Tarique’s meeting with leaders of different levels through videoconferencing.

He said that Tarique should urge standing committee members and talk with leaders in their presence.
He mentioned that BNP leaders and activists were not taking to the street.

‘He [Tarique] has the responsibility. It is the failure of Tarique Rahman,’ Zafrullah said.

Since January, Tarique has been communicating and talking with leaders of different levels and front and associate organisations, assigning tasks to different leaders, forming and dissolving various committees, party leaders said.

BNP leaders and activists, particularly grassroots leaders, adversely reacted to Zafrullah’s remarks that Tarique should take relief from the party for the next two years and refrain from meddling in the organisational matters, party leaders said.

They thought that Zafrullah had no authority to intervene in BNP’s internal matters.

Zafrullah suggested that BNP and its front and associate organisations should stage nonstop sit-in by rotation in front of National Press Club till February 28 to pray for the release of Khaleda.

He suggested that on the first day 1,000 leaders and activists, 10 each from 100 wards in Dhaka city, should stage sit-in to pray for Khaleda’s release, and that should be followed by front bodies by rotation and then the party candidates in the latest parliamentary elections might go for hunger strike.

He said that BNP might go for general strike on March 1 or 2 following the programmes.

Zafrullah suggested that BNP’s senior leaders including Moudud Ahmed and Khandaker Mosharraf Hossian each could lead one of the sit-ins.

He also censured regular briefing by Rizvi saying that rather he could stage sit-in with leaders and activists.
Rizvi declined to comment over Zafrullah’s statements.
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said, ‘No comment.’

He, however, said he attended party programmes.
Asked about paying no heed by BNP leaders to his advices, Zafrullah said he made statements as a citizen driven by his conscience as per his thought for freeing politics from the hands of bureaucrats.

It does not matter who become happy or unhappy by his statements, he added.