Dhaka – BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, now in London, ruled out the possibility of further dialogue with Awami League branding the incoming government an ‘illegal’ one.
“There’s been a farcical election already. The government that comes to power through a farcical election is definitely not a legal government. There’s no reason to have further discussions with those who are no longer legal,” Tarique told journalists stationed in London at a press briefing.The audio, video and text of the press briefing that apparently came as immediate reaction to the 10th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, were distributed among media outlets in Dhaka too through emails.
Responding to a question, the BNP senior vice chairman said the demands of the BNP-led 18 party, its stance on election issue and movement were ‘very much correct’. “The elections and overall election environment have proved it.”
Referring to ‘media reports’, he claimed there has been hardly ‘5 percent’ votes casting in the ‘questionable elections’.
Responding to another question, Tarique Rahman said democracy in Bangladesh is now ‘confined’ “People of Bangladesh love democracy. At this moment, democracy in Bangladesh is confined. We want such a democracy where people will have the scope to express their opinions freely, also there will be no scare of media shutdown.”
Asked about his return to Bangladesh, the BNP leader said he will definitely return to Bangladesh once his treatment is done. “Definitely, I’ll return to Bangladesh once my treatment is done. My treatment still remains incomplete.”
Awami League alleged that Tarique Rahman encouraged and instigated violence through his video message. When his attention was drawn to it, he said, “I’ll put it for the people of Bangladesh. They’ll judge it.”
The BNP leader congratulated the ‘democracy-loving people’ of the country, party men and grassroots leaders of the 18-party alliance for boycotting and resisting the farcical election.
Tarique reiterated his party’s stance on not joining the general election without a caretaker government, saying that the 18-party combine’s all-out movement will continue until their demand is met.
“Keep up the movement at any cost. The demand is a neutral election under non-party neutral caretaker government. Nobody will be able to prevent from such a big, dedicated and popular party from its cherished goal,” said Tarique, also the eldest son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Awami League won absolute majority in Sunday’s national election that was marked by massive violence and low turnout amid boycott by the opposition alliance.
So far, 24 people were killed in last two days — 19 on Sunday and five on Monday — over the national election.
The election was held in 147 constituencies out of 300 as 153 candidates had been elected unopposed amid boycott by the main opposition, BNP, and its allies.
The new government is likely to be formed anytime soon, most probably within a week. – UNB
