The Bangladesh Nationalist Party ( Bengali : বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী দল Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Dôl ), commonly referred to as the BNP , is th...
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী দল Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Dôl), commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangaldesh. It is currently the largest opposition party in the Jatiyo Sangshad, the Parliament of Bangladesh.
Founded in 1978 by Lieutenant General(retd) Ziaur Rahman, the Seventh President of Bangladesh, the party has evolved into one of the most powerful and influential political entities in South Asia. The BNP was established by President Zia to provide a political platform for him after his assumption of power during Bangladesh's volatile period that resulted from the coup and counter coup during 1975. Ideologically, the party has professed Bangladeshi nationalism, and free market economic policies, including freedom of speech and press. The BNP described as the Islamic consciousness of the people of Muslim majority Bangladesh, in order to counter the secular Awami League. The BNP has been opposed to communism and socialism since its inception and advocates vigorous free market policies. It is also seen to distrust Bangladesh's large neighbour India and often opposes cooperation with the neighboring country in combating terrorism and establishing regional connectivity.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has held power in Bangladesh for five separate terms. Amongst its leaders, four have become President of Bangladesh and two have become Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Within the party, power has remained exclusively in the hands of the Zia family, with Begum Khaleda Zia leading the party since the assassination of Ziaur Rahman, her husband and the party's founder.
Since its tenure in power from 2001 to 2006, the BNP has faced huge controversy with accusations of unbridled corruption from the Bangladeshi media. Hundreds of its leaders, including Khaleda Zia, her sons as well as dozens of its former ministers and lawmakers were arrested on corruption charges by the military-backed Caretaker government of Bangladesh during the 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis. The party has also been accused of turning a blind eye to the growth of militant Islamic extremism in the country and for allying itself with Islamic fundamentalist parties, such as the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, which had also opposed the independence of Bangladesh.
Founded in 1978 by Lieutenant General(retd) Ziaur Rahman, the Seventh President of Bangladesh, the party has evolved into one of the most powerful and influential political entities in South Asia. The BNP was established by President Zia to provide a political platform for him after his assumption of power during Bangladesh's volatile period that resulted from the coup and counter coup during 1975. Ideologically, the party has professed Bangladeshi nationalism, and free market economic policies, including freedom of speech and press. The BNP described as the Islamic consciousness of the people of Muslim majority Bangladesh, in order to counter the secular Awami League. The BNP has been opposed to communism and socialism since its inception and advocates vigorous free market policies. It is also seen to distrust Bangladesh's large neighbour India and often opposes cooperation with the neighboring country in combating terrorism and establishing regional connectivity.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has held power in Bangladesh for five separate terms. Amongst its leaders, four have become President of Bangladesh and two have become Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Within the party, power has remained exclusively in the hands of the Zia family, with Begum Khaleda Zia leading the party since the assassination of Ziaur Rahman, her husband and the party's founder.
Since its tenure in power from 2001 to 2006, the BNP has faced huge controversy with accusations of unbridled corruption from the Bangladeshi media. Hundreds of its leaders, including Khaleda Zia, her sons as well as dozens of its former ministers and lawmakers were arrested on corruption charges by the military-backed Caretaker government of Bangladesh during the 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis. The party has also been accused of turning a blind eye to the growth of militant Islamic extremism in the country and for allying itself with Islamic fundamentalist parties, such as the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, which had also opposed the independence of Bangladesh.
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