The BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, alleged on Thursday that fresh talks between the Opposition and the government over election-time interim government has not yet been held due to the latter’s “reluctant attitude” to take any such step. “Our party chairperson Khaleda Zia has expressed her intention to sit across the table to resolve the prevailing political crisis, but the government is not paying attention to her pleas. This has created a serious situation in the country,” he said.
Alamgir was talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of late President Ziaur Rahman, marking his 32nd death anniversary. Khaleda and her party’s senior leaders and activists also went to the grave to pay their respects to the party founder.
Earlier, the BNP drew up a 15-day programme to observe the 32nd death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman. As part of it, leaders and activists of the party’s different front and associate bodies paid respect to the memory of Ziaur Rahman, who was also the party’s founder.
Alamgir also alleged that the government is trying to foil prospects of initiating a series of talks among the country’s major political parties by sending Opposition party men to jail on motivated charges. “The government’s stubborn stand over the CG issue is only destroying the democratic features of Bangladesh. Hopefully, good sense will prevail and the government will restore the non-party caretaker government (CG) system. Otherwise, our anti-government campaign will be intensified to establish people’s democratic and fundamental rights,” he added.
“Anyone raising his voice against the government’s misdeeds are being subjected to physical torture. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had established democracy in the country. We’ll protect it even by sacrificing the last drop of our blood,” Alamgir told reporters.
Alamgir returned home from Singapore on Wednesday evening, 15 days after his treatment at the Singapore National University Hospital.
After placing wreaths at Ziaur Rahman’s grave, Moudud Ahmed, standing committee member of the BNP, told reporters that the CG provision must be restored to the constitution. “We’ve not yet placed any proposal regarding the poll-time management. We want restoration of the CG system, which has been annulled through the 15th amendment to the charter,” he said.
The BNP will take part in the upcoming budget session of Parliament scheduled for June 3, but it will not place any proposal over the CG issue before the House, Moudud added.
He said the Opposition would respond positively if the ruling party invites it to select the chief of the election-time administration, provided that the government creates a congenial atmosphere for a fruitful dialogue.
Milad and doa mahfil were held at the grave, seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of the late President.
The Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP front, organised a voluntary blood donation programme at the grave premises. Khaleda, along with her party’s senior leaders, visited at least 23 different spots across the capital, including Farmgate, Mohammadpur, Ghigatala and Sonargaon Road, and distributed food among the poor.
-With The Independent input
