AL firm on holding polls, BNP determined to resist
With both sides poised for a showdown, the nation appears to be heading towards a major crisis. The ruling party is set to hold the general election
under its own supervision and the Opposition is determined to launch a massive agitation to foil any attempt to hold the election under a partisan government.
Apprehensive of what could be in store, civil society members are hoping against hope that the two sides reach a consensus now.
“There is no time to waste. Let us foil the government’s move by waging a massive movement”, the BNP’s acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said on
Friday, urging the party’s frontal organisations to hit the road.
On the other hand, AL leaders on Saturday iterated that no one would be able to foil the election. The party also asked its rank and file to be active on the streets.
Against the backdrop of the BNP’s threat to paralyse the country ahead of the election, the ruling Awami League is planning to put up a stiff resistance.
Asked to comment on the BNP’s threat to resist the election under the partisan government, Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said those who
will try to create trouble, “we will take care of them”.
“We are not worried about the Opposition’s threat. Nevertheless, the AL is ready to face them,” Hanif told The Independent. He added that party leaders and workers
will be on the streets to help members of law enforcement agencies so that BNP-Jamaat elements are not able to carry out subversive activities.
On Friday, at a meeting in the city, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the nation would be paralysed as soon as the schedule of the 10th
parliamentary election is announced.
Talking to The Independent, Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafarullah said people are aware about the Opposition’s movements and threats. They can only damage
state resources. “So, we are not worried. We know well the Opposition’s strength to launch a movement. Earlier, they issued a 48-hour ultimatum, but were not
successful. This time if they try to crate anarchy in a bid to foil the election, stern action will be taken,” he said.
The senior Awami League leader said people want election. Awami League leaders and workers, along with the people, will take to the streets if the Opposition tries to
create anarchy.
The Dhaka City Awami League on Saturday held an extended meeting with party leaders over the Opposition’s threat to paralyse the country. Party leaders said that as
soon as the Election Commission (EC) would announce the poll schedule, the country would witness poll activities like campaigning and rallies.
Speaking at the meeting, Dhaka City Awami League general secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya called upon party leaders and workers to remain alert so that the
BNP-Jamaat cannot carry out destructive activities ahead of the election.
Besides, at a city programme, Awami League advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta said there is no use of issuing threats one after another as the BNP does not know
how to forge a movement. The EC will announce the poll schedule in time as per constitutional provisions. No one can stop it and the election will be held in due time.
“A political party has the right to boycott election, but it does not have any right to foil it as it is unconstitutional,” he said.
BNP insiders said the 18-party alliance is mulling over enforcing an indefinite hartal, non-cooperation movement or laying siege to the Election Commission if the poll
schedule is announced this week.
While talking to The Independent, BNP standing committee member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain said: “We are thinking about various options so that the government is
forced the meet our demand for poll under a non-party caretaker administration. A decision will be taken depending on the latest political situation.”
Commenting on their next course of action, BNP leader Abdullah Al Noman said: “We are prepared to face the government as well as the EC. We are even prepared to take
part in the election.”
“Khaleda Zia is now mulling over formulating a new movement organising committee to boost the agitation soon after the poll schedule is announced,” another source
said.
-With The Independent input
