The BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on Monday termed Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina’s recent statement on the caretaker government issue as an ominous sign for democracy. “Our concerns have increased following the Prime Minister’s statement. She used the language of an autocrat,” he said. Alamgir was briefing reporters after a secretary-level meeting of the BNP-led 18-party Opposition alliance at the BNP headquarters at Naya Paltan.
He said it is difficult for a country to uphold democracy if its Prime Minister chooses to adopt such tones.
Hasina told Parliament on Sunday that the next general election would not be held under any unconstitutional government under the name of a non-party caretaker system.
The BNP leader said leaders of the Opposition alliance have expressed satisfaction over the victory of alliance-backed candidates in four city corporation elections across the country. He said the leaders have termed the victory as the people’s verdict against the misrule, corruption and failure of the present government to run the country.
He, however, expressed optimism that the government would heed the voice of the people.
Announcing a fresh programme, Alamgir said the BNP-led 18-party Opposition alliance would stage upazila and thana-level demonstrations across the country on June 22, demanding withdrawal of false cases filed against Opposition leaders and unconditional release of all detained leaders. The demand to restore the caretaker government provision would also be raised.
The BNP joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, LDP leader Dr Redwan Ahmed, Khelfat leader Ahmad Abdul Quader, Jamiyat-e-Ulamaye Islam leader Mufti Mohammad Wakkas, Jamaat leader Redwan Ullah, NPP leader Fariduzzaman Farhad and Bangladesh NAP leader Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, among others, took part in the meeting.
Addressing a youth rally at the National Press Club, BNP standing committee member Dr Mosharraf Hossain challenged the Prime Minister’s authority for making the comment on the caretaker government system.
“Who are you to say how the election will be held? Whether the general election will be held under a caretaker government would be decided after the present government’s tenure ends,” he said.
The BNP leader termed the Prime Minister’s comment as an outburst of her autocratic and fascist mentality.
Organised by the Swadhinata Forum, the rally was also addressed, among others, by BNP leaders Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Khairul Kabir Khokan, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Khaleda Yasmin. Abu Naser Rahmatullah, president of the organisation, presided.
Addressing another meeting at the National Press Club, the BNP standing committee member, ASJ Hannan Shah, said serious political moves have come to the fore after the city corporation polls. “There is nothing to rejoice. The final victory lies ahead. We’ll celebrate after our victory in the next national election,” he added.
The meeting was organised by the Bangladesh Jatioyatabadi Ganotantrik Sangsad, with its president Shahidullah in the chair. Prof AFM Yusuf Haider, Abdus Salam, Dr Sukomol Barua and others addressed the meeting.
-With The Independent input
