BNP senior leader ASM Hannan Shah on Tuesday alleged that Awami League has established monarchy in the country by snatching people’s all basic rights.“The country’s current situation suggests it’s now under monarchy, and everyone will have to abide by what the ruling party says,” he told a protest rally.Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club protesting the lodging of a sedition case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Hannan Shah, a BNP standing committee member, also alleged that the current regime resorts repressive policy to cement its power by suppressing the opposition and those who hold different opinions.The BNP leader said their party wants a change in power peacefully and in a democratic manner through a fair election. “We want to face you through ballots, though you’re tacking us with bullets.”He warned the government that consequences will not be good if it tries to perpetuate its power against people’s will.Hannan Shah criticised the government for filing a sedition case against their chairperson over her remarks on the number of Liberation War martyrs and urged it to withdraw all the ‘false’ cases filed against Khaleda Zia and other opposition leaders and activists.He also called upon the nationalist forces to get united to restore democracy and people’s voting rights putting aside misunderstand and conflicts among them.
Another standing committee member of BNP Nazrul Islam Khan on Wednesday accused the government of obstructing their party overhaul process by arresting their leaders.“Our many leaders have been kept in jails implicating them in false cases. Our leaders are still being arrested. Party standing committee member MK Anwar and Chandpur district BNP president Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik were sent to jail yesterday (Tuesday). Chairpersons’ adviser Shawkat Mahmud was also put behind bars,” he said.The BNP leader further said, “The only motive behind the arrest of our leaders is to impede our party revamping process. The government is also obstructing our democratic activities in various ways.”He came up with the allegation while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave at city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar along with the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, marking its 35th founding anniversary.
He deplored that the top leaders of Swechchhasebak Dal, including its president Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, general secretary Mir Sharfat Ali Safu and organising secretary Shafiul Bari Babu, could not go to Zia’s grave on the occasion as they are facing many ‘false, case.The BNP leader demanded the government withdraw all the political cases filed against the leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies so that they can lead a normal life and move freely.He alleged that democracy is besieged now in Bangladesh. “The current regime has seized power with tactics as it’s not elected with people’s vote.”
Mentioning that the country is now in a deep crisis, the BNP leader said only a free, fair and inclusive election under a non-party administration is the only option to get rid of it.About the progress of their party overhauling, Nazrul said they hoped that their district units will be able to form the committees of wards, unions, thanas and municipalities under them within September 30 deadline set by the party high command.Asked when their party will arrange its national council, he said they will think about it after formation of the committees of the district units.Nazrul alleged that though they had all preparations they could not hold their national council earlier due to obstruction by the government and mass arrests of their leaders and activists.
Greenwatch desk
