A BNP leader on Sunday accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of violating the election code of conduct for spending public money to seek votes for her party.
“Sheikh Hasina, who is still in charge of the government, has been seeking votes for the boat (Awami League’s election symbol) by holding rallies at the expense of the taxpayers’ money.
It is a complete violation of the election code of conduct,” BNP’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.
Alamgir was speaking to reporters after placing wreaths on the grave of former president Ziaur Rahman to mark BNP’s founding anniversary.
The BNP leader alleged that the PM’s action was proof that free and fair polls were not possible under the present government.
“The government is sitting over the people like an immoveable boulder. It has been hatching conspiracies to hang on to power even after completion of its tenure,” he said, adding that people would resist such conspiracies.
Alamgir warned that the country would not accept an election without a caretaker government. He urged people to launch a united movement to demand a non-partisan dispensation to conduct the polls.
The BNP leader said Ziaur Rahman had emerged as a beacon during a crisis for the people. “He guided the nation from darkness towards light. Our party’s pledge on this year’s founding anniversary is to implement the ideals of Ziaur Rahman,” he added.
Earlier, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with senior party leaders and activists, placed wreaths on the grave of Ziaur Rahman. The opposition leader also inaugurated a blood donation programme, organised by Zia Sangkritik Sangathan, on the mazar premises.
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Dr Moyeen Khan, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, AZM Zahid Hossain and Abdus Salam, Juba Dal president Moazzem Hossain Alal, Habibunnabi Khan Sohel, Shirin Sultana and Chhatra Dal president Abdul Quader Bhuiyan were present on the occasion.
Ziaur Rahman had founded BNP on September 1, 1978, with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh.
-With The Independent input
