Dhaka – The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia kicks off her grassroots level tour from Narsingdi on Sunday with a view to strengthening the ongoing movement for restoration of a non-partisan caretaker government by creating public support to the demand.
She will also seek peoples mandate for in favour of the 18-party alliance candidates in the forthcoming general elections scheduled to be held within January 24, according to party leaders.
The visit is considered as the formal election campaign of Khaleda Zia as the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance has decided to carryout movement and election campaign simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has already started her election campaign formally by seeking vote for boat, the election symbol of her party, from different public meetings and rallies.
Both the ruling AL and the opposition BNP remained adamant about their rigid positions over the election time government.
The government wants to hold the elections in accordance with the amended constitution. The opposition BNP on the other hand vowed not to take part in the elections without restoration of a non-partisan caretaker government.
BNP joint secretary general Abdullah Al Noman said the opposition alliance would go for oust government movement after the Eid-ul-Azha if the government doesn’t accept their demand for restoration of the CG system.
He said if the government doesn’t accept the opposition demand, oust government movement would be announced after the Eid.
On the eve of Khaleda Zia’s tour to Narsingdi, secretaries general of the BNP and its allies held a meeting at party’s headquarters at Naya Paltan to make the programme a success.
Dhaka City unit of the BNP also held a joint meeting at its office at Bhasani auditorium on Friday with Sadeque Hossain in the chair. The meeting decided to welcome party chairperson standing on her way from Naya Paltan to Chittagong road on Sunday.
The BNP chairperson will start her journey to Narsindi from her Gulshan residence at 1:00pm. Senior party leaders will accompany her during the visit.
The public meeting will be held at Pourasabha Shishu Park at Basail at 3:00pm with district BNP president Khairul Kabir Khokan in the chair.
As part of the programme, Khaleda Zia will visit Rangpur on September 15 Rajshahi on September 16, Khulna on September 22, Barisal on September 29, Sylhet on October 5.
Later she will also address to major public meetings in Chittagong and Dhaka after Eid-ul-Azha.
The opposition leader is set to announce the final programme of the opposition alliance to meterialise their demand.
A senior leader of the BNP said the opposition alliance would announce tougher action after October 24, the last day of the present government in case of the election is held before 90 days of its tenure in accordance with the constitution.
Senior BNP leaders have already visited the Shishu Park, which is the biggest ground in the district.
Talking to The Independent, Khokan said all the necessary preparation has been taken to make the public meeting a success.
“People of Narsingdi have been eagerly waiting to receive the opposition leaders,” he said.
Khokan hoped that five to six lakh people would take part in the public meeting.
Meanwhile, the BNP and its allies erected several thousands gates on way to Narsingdi from Dhaka welcoming the opposition leader. Besides, the entire Narsingdi has been flooded with banners and festoons to mark the visit of Khaleda Zia to Narsingdi.
Organisers said leaders and activists of the alliance and people from different sphere of life from Narsingdi and its adjacent districts and upazilas including from Dhaka, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Kapasia, Kaliganj, Ghorashal, Jamalpur and Narayanganj would take part in the public meeting.
They said massive security measures have been taken in different places including Narsingdi centering the public meeting.
Khaleda Zia is going to Narsingdi after about 22 years. She visited Narsingdi and addressed public meeting last in 1992.
