Dhaka, Sept 01 – The BNP on Saturday called upon all political parties, organizations and individuals to forge a greater national unity for the sake of democracy and sovereignty of the country by removing the current “autocratic regime.”“Forgetting differences and disputes, all political parties, organizations and individuals should have to get united and forge a greater national unity for the sake of democracy and the country,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while addressing a mammoth public meeting in front of the party central office.
“From now on, there should not be disunity among us. Let us come forward to forge a greater national unity to oust the autocratic and undemocratic ruler and restore people’s government in the country,” he added.
The BNP leader also placed six-point demands including the resignation of the government, dissolution of present parliament and formation of poll-time neutral administration before the announcement of the schedule for 11th parliamentary polls.
The demands also include an immediate and unconditional release of the party’s imprisoned chairperson Khaleda Zia and its other leaders who are now behind bars in connection with “politically motivated cases”, creating a level playing field, deployment of the army during elections and reconstitution of the Election Commission.
The BNP organized the public meeting at Naya Paltan to mark its 40th founding anniversary. The meeting formally began at 2:00 pm turned into a huge show of strength ahead of the next general elections. Thousands of party leaders and activists carrying banners, placards and festoons demanding an immediate release of the party chairperson joined it from different areas of the city and adjacent districts.
Mirza Alamgir, who presided over the public meeting, said Khaleda what he said the mother of democracy is now in prison for the sake of democracy and called upon the party leaders and activist to turn around with courage.
“We have to wage movement to free our leader…We do not want to see her (Khaleda) anymore in the prison,” he asserted.
He alleged that the party chairperson is not being given facilities provided to a normal prisoner and was not being given treatment.
He warned that if the government does not release Khaleda immediately and provide her with proper treatment they have to take all the responsibility for it.
The BNP leader accused the government of hatching various conspiracies to hang onto power as people are not with it. “They want to introduce electronic voting machine (EVM) system in the next polls as they know that people won’t protect them anymore. The AL has turned into a bankrupt political party,” he added.
Recalling the quota-free movement and students agitation for safe roads and the arrest of celebrated photographer Shahidul Alam, he alleged that the government has taken repressive measures against them.
“The youths want a change…They have been awakened again and would ensure the release of the deshmata (mother of the country) sacrificing their blood,” he said.
The BNP secretary general mentioned that many party leaders have been victims of enforced disappearances and many leaders including Abdus Salam Pintu and Lutfozzaman Babar are sufferings in jails for the years.
He demanded the withdrawal of all false cases filed against party leaders and activists including chairperson Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.
Criticizing the statements of the ruling party leaders that Tarique Rahman would be convicted in the August 21st grenade attack case and questioned whether they have taken the responsibility of judges.
He warned that the people would not accept such any conspiratorial verdict and give a befitting reply to it.
He alleged that the ruling Awami League is seeing a bad dream and it is suffering from fear of Khaleda and Tarique Rahman for 24 hours.
Speaking at the meeting as the chief guest, standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain alleged that the government is hatching a conspiracy against the BNP but he said they won’t be able to resist the party which ideology has been accepted by the people.
“As part of the conspiracy Khaleda has been poured in jail in a false case. They fear the BNP and its chairperson Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman,” he said.
The former minister further said the ruling AL wants to hold another January 5 like farcical and lopsided election keeping Khaleda and BNP outside the election process.
He said freeing Khaleda is a challenge for the BNP and she should be given unconditional release before the announcement of the poll schedule.
“The election will not be acceptable, without the participation of BNP and its chairperson Khaleda,” he added.
He called upon the party leaders and activists to get united for movement saying that the chairperson won’t be free without movement and democracy won’t be free without Khaleda.
Echoing them, the other party leaders also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda’s for holding the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner.
They said the next general election will have to be held under a non-party neutral administration for the restoration of democracy in the country.
Standing committee members—Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice chairmen Selima Rahman, Barkatullah Bulu, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Ahmed Azam Khan and joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, among others, also addressed the meeting.
At both ends of the rally venue, the heavy police presence was seen with water cannons, prison vans and armoured vehicles.
The road stretch between Kakrail and Fakirerpul filled up within 2:00 pm as the leaders and activists came to the venue with procession wearing caps of different colours, holding banners, festoons, placards and band parties.
They chanted slogans naming late president Ziaur Rahman, founder of BNP, the party’s jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia and anti-government slogans.
The movement of vehicles on road in front of BNP headquarters stopped around 1 pm.
On August 29, BNP said it got permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to hold the rally.
Earlier in the morning, the BNP leaders placed wreaths at the Mazar of late president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city to mark the party’s founding anniversary.
The party also organized various programmes on the occasion in other districts of the country as well. – Staff Reporter
