The opposition 18-Party alliance ‘will soon’ announce its next
agitation programmes to press for its key demand – holding next
election under a caretaker administration – having twice enforced
three-day shutdowns in two weeks.
Acting Secretary General of BNP, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, revealed
it on Wednesday at a press conference convened following the end of
the 60-hour strike of the alliance.
He said if the Awami League did not come to a compromise over the
polls-time government, “the issue will be settled on the street”.
He warned that if any decision was imposed on the opposition, the
government would have to bear its consequences.
He again rejected the ruling Awami League’s proposal to form an
election-time all-party government.
Fakhrul thanked the people and the opposition leaders and activists on
behalf of party chief Khaleda Zia for the strike ‘success’.
He claimed that on the last day of the countrywide shutdown,
Jamaat-e-Islami’s activist Abdus Samad was killed in police firing
while 2,081 people were injured, 560 arrested and over 8,000
opposition leaders and activists sued across the country.
In the three days, four people were killed, 6,071 injured, 1,907
arrested and over 26,100 sued, he further claimed.
The Monday-Wednesday strike followed alliance’s another three-day
shutdown enforced last week.
Coming down heavily on the government for ‘oppressing ‘the opposition
leaders and activists, Fakhrul alleged that the government had
snatched the democratic right of the people.
There is no precedence of imposition of this sort of restrictions on
meetings and rallies prior to elections in any civilised democratic
country.
The BNP spokesperson said police and other security agencies were
“catching leaders and activities from in front of party offices like
eagles”.
He went on to compare the situation in the country with that in
trouble-torn African nation Rwanda.
The BNP leader alleged that the government was not making any
‘positive decision’ just to cling on to power.
“They’re saying nothing – when the election will be held, what the
polls-time government’s structure will be, how long Parliament will
continue.
“Ministers are adding to the confusion by giving different versions.” he said.
Fakhrul alleged that the government was using the Election Commission
to have ‘upstart’ Bangladesh Nationalist Front registered and said it
proved that the Awami League had been ‘politically bankrupt’.
Referring to ruling party leaders’ statements that militancy will rise
if the BNP came to power, he said: “The government is propagating this
to misguide the people after being detached from the people.”
The BNP leader claimed that militants including Shaikh Abdur Rahman
and Bangla Bhai rose during the previous Awami League government.
“But they didn’t take any measure against those militants.
“After coming to power, Khaleda Zia resisted them with firm hand,”
Fakhrul further contended. – bdnews24.com
