The opposition BNP, on Sunday, criticised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for calling the recently elected mayors of five city corporations as corrupt and terrorists.
“The PM is perplexed over the utter failure of her party-backed mayoral aspirants in the recent civic polls. Instead of taking lessons from the debacle, she is passing unbecoming and unjustified comments against elected representatives of the public,” BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said.
The opposition leader was addressing a meeting on “Politics is on which direction”, organised by All Community Forum, at the National Press Club.
Khan said people of the five cities had given a fitting reply to the Awami League-led administration, for its failure to address issues affecting the common man.
The remarks came a day after Sheikh Hasina told a gathering at Ganobhaban: “Those who are honest and contributed to development did not win, but those involved in corruption, terrorist activities, underground politics and murders emerged victorious in the recent municipal corporation polls.”
She added: “I think all local government elections should take place on a partisan basis as in England and many other countries in the world.”
Rejecting the PM’s allegation, Khan said the government has taken an anti-democratic stance, on the basis of brute majority in Parliament. “Please get back on the right path to democracy immediately by shunning the path of politics of vengeance,” he added.
The BNP leader urged the PM to “save the country and its people”, from politics of confrontation, over the demand for a non-party caretaker government (CG). “The PM should sit for talks on the issue immediately, as 90 per cent of the people are in favour of the general election being held under a CG,” he said.
Khan said Awami League would face dire consequences if it tried to hang on to power forcibly.
BNP leaders Ahmed Azam Khan, Abdus Salam, Syed Motzzem Hossain Alal and others also spoke at the function, which was chaired by forum adviser, Ashrafuddin Bakul.
In another meeting on Sunday, BNP acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that a certain section, with petty political interests, was trying to trigger religious disturbances ahead of the general election in the country.
“There’s a plot to divide the countrymen by exploiting their religious sentiments. But, our nationalistic party believes in communal harmony and political unity,” the BNP leader added. Alamgir, who is also the opposition spokesperson, was addressing a meeting on the eve of Rath Jatra at Shamibagh here.
Alamgir said his party will remain active to safeguard the rights of the Hindu community. “We will ensure the overall interest of Hindus and all other minority groups and will raise our voices, if the government passes any law against their religious interest,” he added.
-With The Independent input
