Dhaka – Opposition BNP on Tuesday urged people to continue the ongoing movement for saving the country and its democracy now in peril, saying that their victory is imminent.
“I call upon the country’s revolutionary people to continue their movement for saving the endangered democracy and the country’s map. The sandy barrage of Awami League’s autocracy will be washed way in the turbulent tide of mass movement. The victory of revolutionary people is very close,” said BNP joint secretary general Salauddin Ahmed.
In a statement from his hideout, the BNP spokesman alleged that the ruling party and its associates are trying to snatch people’s voting rights with bullets.
He warned the government that it will not be bale to suppress their movement by using the steamroller of repression.
Salauddin said the ruling party with the direction of the Prime Minister staged a drama over nomination papers submission with an aim to establish one-party autocratic rule for ever.
Referring to Jatiya Party chief Ershad’s announcement to boycott the January 5 national election, he said the former military ruler stayed away from the election race as the current atmosphere is not conducive to a fair election.
Salauddin claimed that six opposition leaders and activists were killed and 823 others injured in attacks by law enforcers and the ruling party “cadres” at different places in the country during the 4th day of the 18-prty- sponsored 131-hour rail-road-waterway blockade.
Besides, over 397 opposition activists were arrested while more than 3,000 others implicated in fresh ‘false’ cases across the country during the period, he further claimed.
On behalf of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Salauddin greeted the country’s people for their spontaneous participation in the blockade programme.
The BNP-led 18-party enforced the second spell of 72-hour blockade at 6:00am on Saturday.
Later, on Monday, it was extend by 59 hours till 5 pm on Thursday (Dec 5).
With its fresh extension by 59 hours, the ongoing blockade has turned into a 131-hour one.
Meanwhile, Accusing the government of spreading various rumours about dialogue to confuse people, opposition BNP on Tuesday vowed to continue the ongoing movement until it gets victory. “Some ministers are saying a behind-the-scene dialogue is on. I want to clearly state that the current illegal and immoral regime doesn’t want any dialogue and it has no sincerity about it,” said BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. In a statement from an undisclosed location, he also said what the government is saying about the ‘so-called’ talks is totally baseless. Reiterating the opposition’s stance on the national election, the BNP leader said, “The current regime must arrange the polls under a non-party neutral government after resigning and postponing the election schedule to overcome the ongoing political crisis.” Fakhrul also alleged that the government agents are spreading rumours through a section of social media as people waged a strong street movement to resist the government’s move to hold a unilateral farce election. “These agents are resorting to cooked up stories and rumours as the government is getting weaker every moment.” He also voiced strong determination that the 18-party leaders and activists together with people will continue their movement for ensuring their democratic and voting rights until they get the victory. “The current movement of the country’s independence and democracy-loving people can never fail. Inshallah, people will win.” Mentioning that most of the registered political parties did not join the ‘so-called farcical’ election process, he said this has demonstrated that the majority of the country’s people will not accept the farcical polls. “But the government and its puppet Election Commission wants to hold a unilateral election.” According to a primary account of the Election Commission secretariat, a total of 1,107 aspirants of 15 registered political parties out of 40 submitted their nomination papers to contest the 10th parliamentary election billed for January 5. In the last national election in 2008, a total of 38 registered political parties joined the polls and some 2200 aspirants submitted their nomination papers. Fakhrul claimed that other political parties, social and professional organisations, the whole nation, the UN and the international community are in favour of a free, fair and credible election with the participation of all parties. The BNP leader demanded the government immediately release all its arrested party leaders and activists and withdraw all the ‘false cases’ filed against them. – UNB
