BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday urged all political parities — big or small — to get united to force the government to hold the upcoming national election under a non-party caretaker government. “Outside the 18-party alliance, there’re many political parties which want the election to be held the under the non-party caretaker government. I urge them all to get united to save the country,” she said.Khaleda, also the leader of the position in parliament, was addressing a mammoth public rally at Rajshahi Madrasah ground in the afternoon. The BNP-led 18-party alliance organised the rally aiming to mobilise public support in favour of its demand for arranging the next polls under a non-party administration.
“There’s no time to see which party is big, which one is small, who is a big leader, who is small, who is left or right. Now our main aim is to save the country through holding the polls under a non-party caretaker administration,” the BNP chief told the rally.
Khaleda also said that if the AL government doest not restore the caretaker system by October 24 they will launch such a massive movement it will not get the escape route. Khaleda Zia said the country’s independence is not safe in the hands of this worthless Awami League government.
“This government can’t even raise its voice when Bangladeshis are being killed and abducted along the border. It couldn’t do anything when Felani was killed. This is an incapable government. It cannot protect the country’s independence and sovereignty,” the former premier told her audience.
Criticising government’s failure in taking any move to ensure justice for Felani’s family, Khaleda Zia said had this government been in favour of the Liberation War spirit then it would not have sacrificed the county’s interest to others. “Those who are patriot sacrifice their lives for the country.” She said drug smuggling has been allowed to continue unabated along the border aiming to destroy the youth, the country’s future leaders. The same thing had happened during Awami League’s rule just after the independence.
“There will be no election under Sheikh Hasina, this I want to make clear,” the BNP Chairperson said at a huge public rally held at the madrassa ground in Rajshahi on Monday.
The Constitution must be amended to restore the provision of holding polls under non-party government, insisted the opposition chief.
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution abolished the caretaker system in 2011, meaning the national polls will be held while the sitting government remains in office.
“The Constitution is not a Quran or a Bible. There is still time, so place a bill in Parliament. Add a provision for dissolving Parliament before the election,” Khaleda Zia demanded.
“Otherwise, a turbulent movement will sweep through the country,” she said as she hinted at announcing a Dhaka-bound programme after Oct 25.
The BNP’s Rajshahi rally follows two rallies held in Narshingdi and Rangpur, as part of the main opposition’s nationwide campaign of eight rallies, to whip up support for its demand for caretaker oversight of the polls.
“The entire country has agreed to head towards Dhaka on our call. Rains drenched the people in Rangpur yesterday, but still they did not go away,” the former Prime Minister mentioned.
“They will join our campaign as soon as we give the call. You too must join once we announce the programme.”
“The people still respect you, but you will get what you deserve the moment you are out of power,” she said to the Hasina administration.
Khaleda said she would make sure the government was fully cornered and had no way out.
“You did not approve of Justice KM Hasan in 2007. We will not accept you because you belong to a partisan group,” said Khaleda, addressing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The leader of the opposition called on the people to resist what she called the government’s evil design to rig polls. – Agencies
