BNP on Tuesday alleged that both the government and the opposition have been formed illegally and unethically following the January 5 ‘voter-less farcical’ elections. “The government has been formed illegally and unethically through a questionable, farcical election. The formation of the so-called opposition is also unlawful and dissolute,” said BNP leader Asaduzzaman Ripon. He brought the allegation at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office. Ripon, the international affairs secretary of BNP, also alleged that the so-called opposition members who were not lawfully elected showed disrespect to the spirit of the Liberation War and the souls of martyrs of the war by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum. As per the RPO, he said, the members of Jatiya Party cannot win the election with the symbol of plough as its chairman HM Ershad had formally stayed off the election race and requested the Election Commission not to distribute his party symbol to any one. The BNP leader questioned when Ershad did not contest the polls and directed the EC not to distribute his party symbol how his Jatiya Party can be the opposition in Parliament. “Isn’t the total process of formation of an opposition in the House illegal and unethical?” he questioned. He also observed that such an illegal opposition will be considered as a symbol of stigma for the government constituted through the January 5 elections. There is no alternative to immediately holding a fresh election for restoring the dignity of parliament, the BNP leader said urging the government to engage in dialogue for resolving the crisis and holding a free, fair and credible election. Ripon, now taking care of the official activities of the party as its office secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is in jail, also slammed the Prime Minister for her comment that BNP has to pay for its mistake by boycotting the elections, saying her remarks have proved that she wants to go ahead with those were not elected by people. “We want to tell the government that the government which was formed through an election in which people did not cast their vote can’t a people’s government,” he added. Addressing a rally in Satkhira on Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will have to pay for not joining the January 5 elections. Reacting to the remarks, Ripon said, “It’s Awami League which will have to pay dearly in politics for holding a voter-less farcical and one-sided election. The election has proved that Awami League is an undemocratic party. It also badly dented the party image for which they will have to suffer in politics.” He also lambasted the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) for making an appeal to the High Court against the acquittal of BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman in a money-laundering case, saying the commission’s move is mysterious. Claiming that the ACC did not make any appeal against the ruling party men those where also acquitted in many cases, the BNP leader said the ACC has resorted to a dual policy. “We condemn it.” He alleged that the ACC appended against Tarique’s case at the behest of the government in a bid to harass him and take political revenge. Ripon, also the former president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, alleged that the ACC did not take any move against the ruling party leaders who amassed huge wealth plundering public money. He urged the government to shun its policy of vengeance and undemocratic game and allow all constitutional bodies to work independently. – UNB
