Dhaka, May 11 – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to look at the Malaysian national election as it has manifested that public opinion cannot be resisted by an undemocratic and corrupt government.
“I call upon the illegal Prime Minister to look at Malaysia to know that public opinion cannot be resisted even by applying all the strength when a regime indulges in corruption, obliterates democracy and gets isolated from people,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion-cum-photo show at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, the BNP leader also said Malaysian election is the latest example where public opinion reflected braving all the obstacles.
Nationalist Research Centre arranged the programme marking the 34th anniversary of Khaleda Zia’s taking of BNP’s leadership.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Malaysia on Thursday after the Pakatan Harapan coalition defeated ruling Barisan Nasional one led by immediate past Prime Minister Najib Razak who got embroiled in a massive corruption scandal.
He accused the government of pitching police forces against the party in the election field. They had become their main opponent in the KCC mayoral polls, scheduled to be held on May 15.
“The government is pitching police against us to grip the election filed. The police are in the field of Khulna city mayoral polls instead of ruling Awami League. They (police) had become their main opponent in the KCC mayoral polls,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Mirza Alamgir claimed that BNP leaders and activists in Khulna were being arrested every day ahead of the KCC polls scheduled to be held on May 15.
Nationalist Research Centre organised the photo exhibition marking 34 years of Khaleda’s leadership as the chairperson of the party. Khaleda was elected as the chairperson of the party and since then she has been leading the party holding the same post.
The BNP secretary general alleged that the government had grabbed the entire election field in Khulna by using administration and police and now it is trying to control the media and judiciary.
He also accused the government of staging drama and trying to hold a farcical election and said the people understood as to who and how the Gazipur city poll was suspended.
In Khulna, our leaders and activists including those will be election agents are being arrested ahead of the KCC polls, he added.
He called upon all irrespective of political affiliation to get united and join the movement of Khaleda for the sake of restoration of democracy in the country.
Mirza Alamgir called upon the government to take lesson from the victory of Mahathir Mohammed in Malaysia saying that people cannot be resisted if a government indulges in corruption and ignore the people and democracy.
He claimed that Khaleda has been jailed unjustly and claimed her immediate release.
The function conducted by BNP leader Shahidul Islam Babul, was also spoken among others, by Amanullah Aman, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Abdus Salam Azad and photojournalist Babul Talukder.
Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference BNP mayoral candidate for KCC Nazrul Islam Manju urged foreign election observers and foreign missions in Bangladesh to visit Khulna and oversee the local elections.
He alleged that alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is doing nothing to make sure that the Khulna mayoral polls are held in a free and fair manner.
Monju rather claimed that the election conducting body is working in favour of ruling AL candidates.
He said the ensuing Khulna city polls to be a precursor to the upcoming national election and it would for sure increase the pressure on the government to make the national election fair and free.
The BNP candidate claimed that police have arrested at least 17 BNP leaders and activists from Thursday noon to midnight and conducted raids in more than 500 residences. The number of arrested leaders and activists stood more than 100 activists in a week only, he said.
Many other party leaders and activists of 20-party alliance were present at the press conference held at Monju’s residence in Miyapara area of the southern city of Khulna. – Staff Reporter
