The BNP is ‘alarmed’ by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s parliament speech on Sunday, the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Monday.The speech suggests she may stop elections if the Opposition pressed for a caretaker administration to conduct the parliament polls, Fakhrul said.
“The Prime Minister told the Parliament yesterday (Sunday) that there will be no elections if there were demands for caretaker,” Fakhrul said.
“This is a red light , a danger signal for democracy. We are worried by her statements,” he said while speaking to media after a 18-Party allince meeting on Monday.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister had said that the four City Corporation elections, where opposition-supported candidates won, were a ‘victory’ of the government. “People could vote who they want because there was no intervention.”
Pointing to the opposition, Sheikh Hasina said, “Do not attempt to bring any other unconstitutional force into power. That will benefit no one since elections will not take place.”
In a sharp criticism of Hasina, Mirza Fakhrul said he saw an autocrat shaping up in the Prime Minister’s persona. “We are worried if whether democracy will survive here any more.”
He reiterated that the Opposition victories in the four city polls testified to popular support for the BNP’s demands for a caretaker government.
“The government should feel the pulse of the people and bring back the caretaker to hold parliament elections,” he said while demanding release of all opposition leaders.
The BNP leader said the city polls verdict was against ‘government’s corruption, misrule and maladministration’. “That is how we see it.”
(bdnews24.com)
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