Opposition BNP on Sunday alleged that the ruling Awami League repeatedly patronised evil forces to assume state power and obliterate democracy.“It’s Awami League that always dug canals, brought crocodiles (evil forces), and raised those. So, people don’t believe them,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a meeting.
People from Noakhli’s Begumganj upazila, living in Dhaka, arranged the programme at the National Press Club demanding the release of BNP joint secretary general Barkatullah Bulu.
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while exchanging views with the grassroots-level Awami League leaders from Faridpur at her official residence Ganobhaban urged the opposition to back track from their demand for restoration of the caretaker government, saying “Bringing back the caretaker system will be inviting crocodiles by digging canals.”
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s remark, Fakhrul said introduction of a caretaker government was a demand of Awami League and it had been on a movement in 1995 and called hartal for 133 days for it.
Mentioning that Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had destroyed democracy in 1974, the BNP leader said Sheikh Hasina also gave her reaction that she was not unhappy when HM Ersah usurped power ousting an elected government in 1982.
He also recalled that Sheikh Hasina claimed Fakhruddin-Moyeenuddin government was the outcome of their movement and promised to legitimise their all activities. So, people don’t believe the Prime Minister’s remarks that she doesn’t want to invite crocodiles by digging canals.”
Criticising the government for its ‘growing repressive acts’, Fakhrul said there is hardly any BNP leader who was not put in jail in false cases. “The government turned the whole country into a prison.”
He accused the government of establishing a reign of terror in the country and said it will not be able to stop the opposition’s ongoing movement through its repressive acts and putting opposition leaders and activists in jails.
The next general election must be held under a non-party caretaker government, Fakhrul said adding that they will not allow the ruling party to reestablish one-party rule Baksal.
Chaired by BNP social welfare affair secretary Abul Khaier Bhuiyan, the programme was addressed, among others, by BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, opposition chief whip Zainul Abedin Farroque, Jagpa president Shafiul Alam Prodhan and BNP MP Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anee. (Source: UNB)
