BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday called upon the government to take immediate measures for holding fresh parliamentary polls through holding dialogues and reaching an understanding.
“We want an end to the current political impasse through talks. We want to work together to restore country’s democracy by holding talks and dialogues and reaching an understanding each other,” she said while addressing a mammoth rally in front of party headquarters at Naya Paltan in the city.The former premier accused the present government of manipulating previous elections including the just concluded municipality polls and asserted that these elections proved that no election could be held in a free and fair manner under the Awami League government.
She blamed the government for enforced disappearance of the party leaders and activists and called upon it to return to the path of democracy by shunning the path of ongoing abduction, killing and enforced disappearances.
Otherwise, she warned, you (Govt) will not be able to stay in power because we don’t know when people will go for tougher movement.
Citing several instances of polls irregularities, Khaleda alleged that the government in association with the Election Commission had destroyed the country’s democracy through holding “voter less January 5 polls.”
The Awami League government wants to show its popularity by manipulating elections, she said.
She termed the EC as backbone less and loyal to the government as what she said it had failed to hold impartial polls but served the government’s purpose one-sidedly.
The BNP leader demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner saying, “Why the CEC still holds the office. He should resign,” she said.
Referring to the election of 154 lawmakers unopposed in the last parliamentary polls, she said they cannot be the people’s representatives.
The BNP organised the rally to mark the 2nd year anniversary of the 2014 January 5 parliamentary polls what the party that had boycotted the polls terms it as “Democracy Killing Day.”
The rally, permission of which was given just hours before the meeting with some conditions, began at 2:00pm while the party chief reached the venue at about 2:40pm. Thousands of people joined the rally that stretched from Fakirerpool to Nightingale intersection at Kakrail.
Leaders and activists of BNP and its front and associate bodies attended the rally carrying colourful placards, festoons and banners with the portraits of the party’s founder late president Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and their elder son Tarique Rahman.
During her hour-long speech at a street rally, first time after over one year, Khaleda criticised different misdeeds of the government in different sectors including economy, education, energy and industries.
She however extended an olive brand for resolution of the current political impasse facing the country through talks.
The rally ended with the speech of the BNP chairperson only few minutes later the time schedule framed by the police authority. Earlier, police asked the party leaders to complete the rally in between 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
The BNP chairperson warned the government that attempts to rule the country using a system of monarchy would not lead to good results.
“The government tried to rule the country this way and it is trying that again but the governance system that involves killing people and subjecting them to enforced disappearance will not be good in the future,” she added.
Khaleda alleged that the AL fears the extent of her party’s rallies and that’s why they do not allow them to hold rallies.
She criticised the government for enacting laws one after another what she thinks to trap her party leaders and activists and obstruct the people.
The BNP chief called upon the countrymen to get united and fight for what she said restoring democracy, rule of law and justice.
She termed 2008 December 29 general polls stage-managed and said the polls were held by making entente with the then caretaker government chief Fakhrul Ahmed and former army chief Moeen-U-Ahmed.
Referring to the victory of BNP candidates in five city corporation polls in 2013 she said the BNP wins if the election is held in a fair manner to some extend.
She alleged that there is a relation between AL and militancy. “Militancy is the creation of AL and the militancy emerges whenever AL comes to power,” she added.
The BNP demanded the government to reduce the prices of oil, power and gas.
Presided over by BNP Standing Committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, the rally was also addressed, among others, by party acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdullah Al Noman, Md Shajahan, Selima Rahman, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Khandker Mahbub Hossain.
The BNP earlier announced to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan but Dhaka Metropolitan Police allowed the rally to be held outside the party office on certain conditions. – Staff Reporter
