The ruling Awami League on Sunday rejected the 48-hour ultimatum given by the leader of the opposition and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, and asked the activists and supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam to vacate the capital city by evening. “Awami League did not accept any ultimatum in the past; it will not do it now and also in the future,” party general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told a crowded impromptu press conference at the Dhanmandi office of the organization.
BNP chief Khaleda Zia on Saturday issued the 48-hour ultimatum to the government for an announcement accepting their long-standing demand for a non-party and neutral caretaker government from a mammoth rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar.
The Awami League leader, however, urged the opposition leader to sit down with the leaders of the ruling party for a dialogue saying that talks could only resolve the long-running opposition-government political stalemate in the country.
“So, please sit down with the government for talks instead of issuing any ultimatum to it as the people of the country want dialogue,” Syed Ashraful Islam who is also the LGRD minister told BNP chief and 18-party alliance leader Khaleda Zia.
Taking a swipe at the opposition leader for not responding to the offer of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to sit with her for a dialogue, the AL leader said: “It was very unfortunate that the BNP chief rejected our proposal for talks with her.”
He also accused the BNP chairperson of spreading lies about Awami League that it does not believe in democracy. “The present government is not autocratic; it was duly elected with two-thirds majority in the last general election in 2008,” he added.
Syed Ashraful Islam said the next general election will be held in a free, fair and credible manner with the participation of all political parties.
Referring to the Hefazat-e-Islam’s Dhaka siege programme, the minister said the leaders of the radical Islamic organization resorted to destructive activities across the country in the name of religion.
Branding Hefazat’s activists as the “sons of Razakars and Al Badrs,” the AL general secretary said if they continue their destructive activities in the name of enforcing peaceful programme, the government would take necessary action against them.
Issuing a stern warning to the Hefazat-e-Islam, Syed Ashraf said if the leaders and activists of Hefazat do not leave Dhaka by evening, the government will go for action against them.
“Don’t take the government’s generosity as its weakness. This time we have allowed you to come to Dhaka. But we won’t allow you to come to the capital and even come out of your houses in the future,” he said.
AL leader also said like in the past Hefazat-e-Islam would never come to the state power. They would be defeated like the Pakistanis and their collaborators in 1971.
Referring to the Savar tragedy, the minister said if the garment factory owners would not ensure workplace safety for its workers, the garment industry might be destroyed in the country.
Among others, Awami League Joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Awami League presidium members Matia chowdhury, Shiekh Fazlul Karim Selim and Abdul Latif Siddiqui were also present at the news briefing.
-With The Independent input
