Opposition BNP on Wednesday alleged that the government is deeply maneuvering so that the BNP-backed mayoral candidates cannot win the elections to four city corporations slated for June 15.“The elections to the four city corporations will be held on June 15. The democracy-loving people fielded their candidates and a mass wave has been created in favour of them. Scared by public support for them, the government is resorting to various tricks to defeat them,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a rally.
BNP organised the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan to press for their various demands, including restoration of the caretaker government system, the release of all opposition leaders and activists and withdrawal of the “false” cases filed against them as well as protesting the issuance of an arrest warrant against BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman.
Fakhrul said, “I want to clearly say that people will give the government a befitting reply if the candidates selected by people are made to suffer defeats through conspiracies. If anything happens like that then people will wage a movement to oust the government.”
The four city corporations are Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet.
On the amendment to the anti-terrorism act, Fakhrul said the government amended the law with a view to suppressing the opposition. “We deeply condemn and protest the government move. We’re demanding that the law be scrapped.”
“The amended law has given the police such power, now they can oppress anyone by abusing it,” he added.
Parliament on Tuesday passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill-2013 allowing the courts to accept videos, still photographs and audio clips used in social media.
The BNP leader observed that the government would not able to stop their anti-government movement by issuing arrest warrant against Tarique Rahman, arresting and oppressing its leaders and activists.
“Instead, the movement will be intensified. The leaders and activists took oath that they’ll continue their movement until their demand is met,” he added.
Reiterating the party’s demand for restoring the caretaker government system, Fakhrul said, “Election under any party government will not be fair. There’ll be no election in the country without the caretaker government system.”
Among others, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia, ASM Hannan Shah addressed the rally with city unit convener Sadeque Hossain Khoka in the chair. (Source: UNB)
