The BNP’s acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has come down heavily on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for expressing doubts about holding of the next general election. “In a democratic set-up, if anyone says that there may not be any general election, the comment can be construed as being seditious in nature,” Alamgir, also the Opposition spokesperson, said while addressing a meeting demanding release of the detained Amar Desh acting editor, Mahmudur Rahman, at the National Press Club on Wednesday afternoon.On Sunday, the Sheikh Hasina downplayed the need for a caretaker government for holding free and fair elections, referring to Saturday’s election to four city corporations where BNP favourites won all mayoral polls.
“Don’t try to bring in an unconstitutional government. It will not be good for anyone. There might not even be any polls if the CG system is restored,” she said.
Rejecting the PM’s views, Alamgir said the government is ignoring constitutional obligations by taking a position against holding of the next general election. The Awami League is planning to hang on to power by illegal means.
The government is claiming that the four city corporation polls were held in a free, fair and peaceful manner. On this plea, the government is trying to ensure the Opposition’s participation in the next general election, he alleged.
“The government’s efforts will go in vain and I want to tell the ruling Awami League clearly that we will never take part in any election if the CG provision is not restored to the Constitution,” he said.
Such remarks are being made to prolong the Awami League’s stay in power in a planned manner, but the government should not think that people are foolish, he said, adding that people are prepared to launch a movement against any such move.
A provision has been incorporated in the Constitution by the 15th amendment that the ruling Awami League will remain in power without holding any election. The real character of the ruling party has been unmasked by its statement against the CG provision, he said.
The government is spreading misleading messages in public and private administrations, as well as in the judiciary, to stiffle the voice of the people ahead of the general election, he alleged.
The Awami League talks about democracy for political reasons. But in reality, it believes in autocracy and so the embargo on TV talk-show and political activities has been imposed, he said.
The government has taken away people’s fundamental rights by incorporating the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill-2013 into the Act by voice vote. It may be pointed out that the Act would allow the court to accept videos, still photos and audio clips from the social media on the Internet as evidence. Under this law, the police can instantly start investigation into and file a case against any crime supposed to have been committed.
The Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad organised the programme where Pro-BNP educationists Sadrul Amin, AFM Yusuf Haidar, BNP chairperson’s adviser Joynal Abdin and Kamal Uddin Sabuj, president of the National Press Club, spoke. Chashi Nazrul Islam was in the chair.
Earlier, at a separate programme, BNP standing committee member Mahbubur Rahman observed that there is no alternative to restoring the non-party caretaker government provision in the interest of democracy.
“The next general election will have to be held under a non-party CG if we want to uphold democracy. The nation is standing before a dark tunnel. We have to wage a collective movement against the ruling Awami League,” he warned.
Mahbubur Rahman, also a former army chief, was addressing a meeting on “Holding the Next General Election Under a Non-party CG System” organised by the Desh Bachao Manush Bachao Forum at the National Press Club on Wednesday.
Sheikh Hasina has exposed an autocratic attitude as she said no election will be held if the Opposition wants restoration of the CG provision.
Referring to reports published in the UK daily, The Guardian, on Tuesday, Rahman said the country is heading towards violence and anarchy ahead of the general election.
He said people of four cities have sounded the alarm for the government by their verdict in the civic body polls. Several ruling party leaders and ministers are terming their election debacle as an ominous sign, he added.
Later, responding to a query over the meeting between BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jatiyo Party chairman HM Ershad in Singapore, he said both leaders are undergoing treatment in the same hospital there. “If any talk takes place between them, it’s just coincidence,” he said, adding: “I don’t know anything more on this.”
The BNP chairperson’s advisers, Haidar Ali, Ruhul Alam Chowdhury, BNP leader Ismail Hossain Bangel and others spoke at the meeting, with Rafiqul Islam Ripon, president of the forum, in the chair.
-With The Independent input
