She promises all-round development if voted to power Narsingdi, Sept 8: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and opposition leader KhaledaZia, on Sunday, warned the government that if it does not concede to the demand for holding the next elections under a non-party caretaker government (CG), her party would launch a non-stop movement incorporating programmes such as hartal, sieges and blockades.
Addressing a mammoth public meeting at Narsingdi, the former premier, however, also said that if the government wanted to hold a dialogue on the issue of a caretaker government, her party would participate in it.
Khaleda said that though her party had been urging the government for a long time, to hold a dialogue on the CG issue, the Prime Minister has herself blocked the door for a dialogue. “We will not bother about whatever anyone says about it. It doesn’t matter what another country has said. We will only hear the public opinion after the completion of the tenure of the present government. No election will be allowed in the country under the present government, and such a move will be resisted at any cost,” she said, while addressing the public meeting at Basail Shishu Park ground in Narsingdi.
Khaleda arrived at the meeting place at Balur Mathin the town, at around 5 pm, to be greeted by thousands of people, who turned the meeting place into a sea of humanity.
“The BNP will not participate in general elections under a party-led government and it will not allow such elections to be held in the country,” Khaleda said amid thunderous applause from the audience.
Without mentioning Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by name, the opposition leader said, “You had observed hartal for 173 days, to realise your demand for the caretaker government. If you do not accept our demand for a caretaker and non-party government, there will be non-stop movement… There will be programmes like hartal, siege, road blockades… Everything.”
Referring to the Prime Minster’s explanation that the Constitution was being followed regarding the election-time government, she pointed out that when Sheikh Hasina was the leader of the opposition, there was no provision for a caretaker government system in the Constitution, but they carried out a movement and observed hartal for 173 days, demanding introduction of the system. Surprisingly, however, the Prime Minister repealed the CG system from the Constitution, on the basis of the majority of the ruling alliance in Parliament, even though the Supreme Court, in its judgment, opined that the system could remain in place for two more national elections.
She added that the government did not discuss the issue of cancellation of the CG system, with the opposition and civil society members.
Urging the government to pass a bill in the upcoming session of Parliament, to restore the CG system, the opposition leader said, citing a survey, that over 90 per cent people of the country now supported restoration of the CG for holding free and fair elections.
Khaleda said, “The government has to decide whether they would accept the demand for restoration of CG, or they will have to quit power.”
She claimed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not want to hold free and fair elections, as she is afraid she would lose control over the administration, police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, and officers-in-charge and—as she claimed—a loyal Election Commission (EC). Khaleda advised the EC to resign, if it could not work independently. Describing the present EC as spineless, the Leader of the Opposition said the EC members should quit, if they feel that they cannot exercise their power.
Khaleda Zia emphasised the need for creating a level playing field, to take part in the elections, adding that a level playing field cannot be ensured if the government wants to hold the elections, keeping the Prime Minster, ministers and MPs in office. Describing the elections as a game, she said, “Let us play by creating a level playing field. If you have done good work, the people will again vote you to power; otherwise, you will have to face defeat.”
She highlighted the government’s failure in different sectors, including maintenance of law and order, power and energy, communications, price hike, agriculture, and the Hallmark, Destiny, share market and Padma bridge scams.
The BNP chairperson alleged that the government has destroyed the garments sector, as a huge number of mills and factories, including 500 garments factories, have been closed during the tenure of the present government.
She claimed that there has been no investment in the country during the rule of the present government, since they were more interested in getting commissions.
She said they do not want to engage in politics of vendetta; rather they would introduce politics of a new dimension.
Khaleda mentioned that foreigners consider Dhaka an unlivable city, and said BNP would build Dhaka as a nice city, if voted to power.
She reiterated that they would build two bridges on the Padma, and remove corruption from the country. Ministers and MPs will be accountable for their corruption and misdeeds. “We consider corruption as a major enemy of the society,” she added.
Khaleda also pledged bound to take measures for development in the education and health sectors, introduce fast train services, construct deep-sea port, and create employment opportunities.
Criticising the government for carrying out drives on Hefazat-e-Islam rally at ShaplaSquare, on May 5, Khaleda said it was reported that 1.5 lakh bullets were used to remove the Hefazat activists, but law enforcers claimed that they didn’t use any firearms.
In this regard, she mentioned that the Hefazat had entered the field, as bloggers were making derogatory remarks on Islam and Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SM) on the internet.
She also blasted the government for arresting Amar Desh editor Mahmudfur Rahman, Mufti Wakkas, and human rights activist Adilur Rahman Shuvra.
Among others, BNP acting secretary-general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and barrister Moudud Ahmed addressed the meeting, chaired by Khairul Kabir Khokon.
The meeting, presided over by district BNP president Khairul Kabir Khokan, was also addressed, among others, by BNP acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, barrister Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Brig. Gen. (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party, barrister Andalib Rahman Partha, Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shamsul Islam, Khelafat Majlish ameer Maulana Ishaque, LDP chief Col. (retd) Oli Ahmed, MP, Jagpa chief Shafiul Alam Prodhan, ION chairman Abdul Latif Nezami, Abdullah Al Noman, Shirin Sultana, and Chhatra Dal president Abdul Quader Jewel.
UNB adds: “We along with people are on the path of truth, justice and democracy. Our victory is inevitable. So, restore the caretaker government system, or else, look for your escape route,” she added.
A survey conducted earlier said 90 per cent people want caretaker government system. Now 98 percent people want the system, she said in her 42-minute speech that started at 5:18pm.
The BNP chief also termed the current prime minister ‘wrongheaded’ and said, “The Supreme Court branded her as a wrongheaded person, which has been proved now. If she (Hasina) is mentally/psychology disturbed, she needs treatment.” The former Prime Minister also revealed her plan for a new trend of politics and said, “We won’t do the politics of vengeance. We’ll do politics for providing services to people and for their welfare. It’ll be our new trend of politics,” she told the rally.
“Our MPs, ministers and all will be brought under accountability. If anyone indulges in corruption, she must face punishment. Corruption will be dealt with a strong hand,” Khaleda said.
Branding the incumbent Election Commission as ‘spineless’, Khaleda said fair and neutral election is not possible by the worthless and spineless people.
-With The Independent input
