The Opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance has threatened to launch its “final round of agitation” after Ramzan, to force the government to hold the general
election under a non-party poll-time administration.
Leaders of the 18-party alliance observed that the movement must be stepped up before Ramzan, as it would not be possible to launch an intense agitation during the month-long fasting, beginning in the second week of July. “This timeframe is very important for us. We want to utilise the time to bolster our organisational activities to force the government to hold the next general election under a non-party caretaker administration,” Lieutenant General (retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The Independent.
The Opposition’s campaign has not gathered momentum during the last four and half-year tenure of the Awami League-led grand alliance government due to wrong and misleading directions given by party higher-ups over several issues, including the Hefazat-e-Islami Bangladesh’s movement, he added. “The next parliamentary election is supposed to be held anytime between October this year and January 24 next year. We have no scope to look back under the circumstances,” he added.
“After the month of fasting, we will remain on the streets to fight and force the government to accept our demand and hold the next poll under a non-party caretaker government (CG),” Mahbub said. Indefinite hartal, blockades and laying of siege will be resorted, he added.
Besides, BNP policy makers will be asked to travel across the country and communicate with divisional, district and upazila level leaders during the month of Ramzan about the party strategy, he said.
Anwar, also a party standing committee member, said as the government is not keen on the CG issue, the Opposition has no alternative but to take to the streets. “Parliament has been turned into a place for needless debates and not for serious discussion on national issues. Therefore, discussing the CG restoration proposal in the House will be futile. We have to meet our demand through movement,” he added.
Responding to a question, he said talks will have to be held outside Parliament and all political parties must reach a consensus on the CG issue. “If it is done by the government, we will place the CG restoration proposal during the budget session,” he added.
The Opposition acting chief whip, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, said that doors to discuss the CG issue with the Opposition party cannot be closed. The ruling Awami League will be forced to place the CG bill in Parliament’s current budget session.
“Our adjournment motion on the CG restoration proposal to the charter has been withdrawn and that does not indicate that we are against the CG demand. We expected that the proposal would be placed in the House by the government side,” he said.
“We still hope that a dialogue on the issue will be held outside Parliament first and then the CG restoration bill will be placed before the House for its approval. Otherwise, we will launch a one-point movement after Ramzan till our demand is met. As part of our last-ditch effort, we will place the CG restoration proposal in the House during its current session. It is fine, if our demand is met; otherwise we have no alternative but to resort to a tougher movement,” he warned.
Talking to The Independent, the JAGPA chief, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, said the government is forcing the Opposition alliance to take to the streets. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the doors to discussion are already closed. I think this can never be done in a democratic country. If this happens, then the country becomes autocratic,” he said, expressing the hope that good sense will prevail upon the government.
“We, the 18-party alliance, will begin the final course of agitation after the month of fasting to force the government to accept our demand,” he said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, another alliance leader said if the Opposition fails to force the government to accept its CG demand, the government will go for polls under its own management. He said if the anti-government movement is foiled, the 18-party alliance will have no other option but to boycott the polls. If that happens, not only the BNP-led coalition, but the entire country will suffer as one-party BKSAL rule will be introduced formally, he said.
-With The Independent input
