Dhaka – Calling upon the government to take effective steps for resolving the ongoing political crisis, opposition BNP on Tuesday warned that they will not allow an empty train of one-party polls reaching its destination. “We want to tell the Prime Minister with due respect that the passenger-free train of unilateral election is running in high-speed and making futile efforts to reach the destination. The train cannot reach the destination in the face of people’s resistance,” said BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan.
The BNP leader came up with the threat at a press briefing at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Reminding the government that people are the sources of all power, Nazrul Islam said people will not allow the current regime to hold a lopsided election.
The BNP leader alleged that the government has pushed the country into chaos and anarchy by taking the steps for lopsided polls only to cling to power.
He claimed that people have started putting up a strong resistance on the streets after the election schedule for a unilateral election has been announced.
“Showing a thumb at the people’s demand, the government is going to the path of a stage-managed election by hurriedly announcing the election schedule by its puppet Election Commission without restoration of the caretaker government,” Nazrul Islam said.
Reiterating the opposition’s stance on the current EC, Nazrul said a free, fair and credible election is not possible under the incumbent government-subservient commission.
He called upon the government to concede to their demand for arranging the general election under a non-party administration. “Still there’s time, we hope the good sense will prevail upon them.”
“I want to unequivocally tell the government, come back from the way of anarchy and bloodshed taking proper initiatives for resolving the crisis in the interest of the country and its people, leaving the illusion of hanging onto to power,” the BNP policymaker said.
The law enforcers are repressing the families of the opposition leaders and activists in the name raiding their houses for arresting them, Nazrul alleged. “They’re also filing false cases against the opposition leaders and activists,” he added.
Nazrul, on behalf of opposition leader Khaleda Zia, thanked the country’s people for making the fourth day of the BNP-led 18-party’s 144-hour blockade a success.
He claimed that an opposition activist was killed, 744 others were injured in clashes with the law enforcers and ruling party men.
Around 299 opposition leaders and activists were arrested while 2,300 implicated in false cases, Nazrul further said. – UNB
