The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, said on Tuesday that her party would launch an intensive movement on the caretaker government (CG) issue after Eid-ul-Fitr. She called upon the people to make the movement a massive success. “If the next general election is conducted under the CG system, the ruling Awami League (AL) would face a severe setback. So, it’s determined to arrange the next parliamentary poll under its own management,” she said.
“No general election will be allowed under the supervision of the ruling party. We’ll wage an intensive movement to resist such moves after the adding that the countrymen should come forward to make the movement a huge success.
Khaleda was addressing an iftar party, hosted by the pro-BNP Peshajibi Parishad, in honour of professionals on the LD Hall premises of the Parliament Complex on Tuesday.
The AL knows that it would be ousted from power if the next poll is held in a free, fair and impartial manner, she claimed. “We must remain prepared to wage a movement in an organised way to accelerate the AL’s defeat and to hold the next general poll under a non-party CG,” she said.
Terming the government as repressive, Khaleda said professionals are being held responsible for protecting the country and its people from the repressive acts carried out by the government.
Taking part in the iftar party, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) chairman AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury said the ruling AL would not be able to apply force as it is almost at the end of its tenure.
He said government officials will not be able to take steps in the interest of holding of an impartial general election with Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet members in office.
He also criticised the Election Commission for finalising a draft amendment to the Representation of People Orders, so that the premier and her cabinet members could carry out election campaigns from their respective offices.
“We will enforce a collective movement after the month of fasting to force the government to meet our CG demand,” he said.
BNP leaders RA Gani, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, former Dhaka University VC Emajuddin Ahmed, film maker Chashi Nazrul Islam and leaders from journalist communities attended the party.
In a separate discussion, BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah on Tuesday slammed the Election Commission (EC) for its move to scrap the scope of rebel candidature in the next general election.
He termed the move as a government plot. “The ruling AL has cooked up this plan, so that it can identify any candidate in the parliamentary poll as a rebel candidate. It’s doing everything to make its mission a success,” he alleged. On Sunday, election commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz said the EC had finalised the draft amendment to the Representation of People Order.
Rejecting the EC’s move, Shah said: “The Premier is very influential. She is running the country on her own whims.”
He was addressing a discussion on “Repression on the Opposition party men and election under a non-party CG oversight”, organised by Zia Sangskritik Jote at the National Press Club.
Besides, BNP leader Zainul Abdin Farroque blamed the ruling AL for indulging in unbridled corruption, saying that it would never be able to return to power even if the next general election is held under its own management.
He urged the government to shun the path of vengeance and confrontation ahead of the next general election.
“Implicating the Opposition’s senior vice-chairman, Tarique Rahman, with motivated charges will be rendered ineffective. Tarique will return home at an appropriate time to face the legal battle,” he added.
He was addressing a discussion on “PM’s irresponsible remarks against Tarique Rahman and Political Culture”, organised by a pro-BNP youth front, at the National Press Club.
-With The Independent input
