BNP on Tuesday warned that the party-led mass movement would thwart the government’s move to hold “lopsided national polls”. “The Prime Minister is trying to reach her destination by driving a passenger-free train hurriedly, but she will be fail in the face of mass resistance,” BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told the media on the fourth day of the opposition’s transport blockade programme.
Terming the government fascist, Nazrul alleged that Sheikh Hasina was plotting to hang on to power by holding the election under her own management. “The government is puzzled over its absolute setback in the recent civic body polls. Sensing a similar debacle in the next general election, the Awami League is now plotting to cling to power by holding a stage managed poll without participation of the main opposition BNP,” he said.
The BNP leader claimed that the opposition’s movement for polls under a non-party administration had received support from international quarters. “Foreign friends are extending their helping hands to end the country’s prevailing crisis. The foreign initiative would not have been needed if the government was sincere to hold a free, fair and impartial election,” he added.
He also accused the Election Commission (EC) of being partisan to the ruling Awami League. “In order to achieve the government’s goal, the EC has ignored the people’s will by hurriedly announcing the poll schedule. There is no room for holding an inclusive general election under the supervision of the incumbent EC,” he said, adding: “The EC has pushed the country towards politics of confrontation.”
The countrymen had hit the streets soon after announcement of the poll schedule by the EC. “History is witness that no anti-government movement has failed in this country. Similarly, no one would be able to thwart our campaign,” he added.
Nazrul accused the ruling party of instigating its supporters to indulge in street violence and burn buses to divert attention from the opposition’s demand. “The government has let loose its agents to carryout violence so as to tarnish the BNP’s political goodwill,” he said.
“I call upon the government to backtrack from the blood-stained path and try to resolve the prevailing political impasse in the interest of the country’s peace and progress,” he added.
The BNP leader also criticised the government for alleged repression of opposition leaders and supporters. “The government has let loose its law enforcers to carry out raids at the residences of opposition party men across the country. Our supporters are being arrested without any justification and implicated with politically-motivated charges,” he said.
Nazrul also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the party’s detained leaders and withdrawal of the “false cases” lodged against them.
-With The Independent input
