The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP has called upon the people from all spheres of life irrespective of political affiliations, religion, age, caste, creed and profession to stay away from polling centres of Sunday’s election taking place in different parts of the country without participation of major opposition parties. BNP chairperson’s adviser Dr M Osman Faruk made the call at a press conference at his Gulshan residence on Saturday evening a day before the 1oth Parliament elections.
He termed the January 5 polls a doll’s marriage by staging wedding of bride and bride groom urge he people to say “No” to farcical election and “Yes” to democracy.
Replying to a question, the BNP leader termed sending of election observers by Indian and Bhutan “unexpected” and “unfortunate” when moth others countries and international organisations have declined to sent their observers to monitor the polls.
He said the responsibility of the 18-party leaders and activists is to encourage people not to go to the polling centres to franchise their rights.
“The spontaneous people themselves are coming forward on their own urging others not to go to the polling centres without waiting for the leaders of 18-party alliance,” he said.
Asked whether the 18-party alliance will discuss with the government over 11th Parliament election, Osman Faruk replied in the negative. “We do not accept this election since it has no character. The government has to postpone or cancel it before January 24,” he added.
He said the government has become scared since it is has become their last resort to survive.
“They (government) are pushing themselves towards destruction by holding the lopsided and farcical elections,” he said.
The BNP leader identified whimsically bringing an amendment to the constitution as the major reason behind the present political impasse.
Asked whether the 18-party alliance would request the Election Commission (EC) to cancel the polls, he replied in the negative saying that the EC is a spineless and subservient institution and question does not arise to go to it with any appeal. “We will take it to the court of people,” he added.
Responding a question, he said Khaleda Zia is under house arrest since nobody is allowed to enter in and out of her residence. In this regard, he mentioned that South Asia Bureau Chief and Political Editor of The New York Times Allen Berry was prevented by police to enter the residence of opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Friday evening.
The BNP leader also expressed his condemnation of campaign of falsehood by the ruling leaders that Khaleda Zia was not confined or house arrested at her residence. “Indeed, Khaleda Zia came under house arrested unlawfully,” he added.
He greeted people, on behalf of the opposition leader, to build up resistance against the “farcical” elections. – Staff Reporter
