Reemphasising his party chief’s stance, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed on Friday said the opposition will continue its ongoing
movement for arranging the next polls under a non-party administration alongside talks with the government. “There could be a dialogue for
resolving the crisis alongside our all-out action programmes. We’ll be on the movement until our demand for holding the next polls under a non-party caretaker government is met,” he said. Moudud came up with
the remarks while addressing a discussion, “Confusion in the name of dialogue and the responsibility of the democratic forces”, arranged by
Swadesh Jagaran Parishad at the Jatiya Press Club. He also said they will not relax or postpone their agitation under any circumstance
rather it will gradually be intensified as the government is rigid on its stance for forming an all-party election-time government ignoring
their demand. Earlier addressing a mammoth rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on October 25, opposition leader Khaleda Zia said dialogue and
movement would go simultaneously. Giving a call for a 60-hour nonstop shutdown from the rally, she also said the hartal was their initial
programme and they would go for tougher programmes if their demand went unheeded. Referring to the telephone conversation between the
Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader, Moudud said had the Prime Minister been sincere for talks she would not have raised the issue of
past bitterness. “No one invites someone the way she (PM) invited the opposition leader. Sheikh Hessian’s intention was not good as she
made the phone call as eyewash,” he added. Mentioning that people spontaneously took to the streets during the 60-hour hartal from 6am
October 27 to 6pm October 29 braving the repressive acts by the government, the BNP policymaker claimed that people are ready to make
any sacrifice and endure any pains and pangs to oust the current regime. The BNP leader hoped that the ruling party will soon realise
the necessity for the non-party caretaker government to oversee the national election. He said Awami League will not be benefited if the
election is held under a party government rather it will suffer such a huge loss that it will not be able to recoup it. Moudud was critical
of the incumbent election commission, calling it a government puppet.
“After formation of a polls-time non-party caretaker government, the Election Commission will have to be reconstituted. Because, the
current commission can’t take any decision independently …it takes every decision at the government’s dictate.” As his attention was
drawn to different media reports that he is going to float a new political party, Moudud said the agents of the government are
spreading such a false propaganda against him. – UNB
