Reaffirming the opposition’s stance on not joining the Prime Minister proposed all-party cabinet, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said they will force the government to arrange the next polls under a non-party administration through a tougher street movement, reports UNB. “Our lone target is to compel the government to hold the next election in a free and fair manner under a non-party neutral administration. Our street movement will continue until the government concedes to our demand,” he said. Fakhrul made the remarks while briefing reporters at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office about the second day of the 18-party’s 60-hour nationwide shutdown.
He also said they will gradually intensify their movement to force the government to retreat from its stance to hold a unilateral election under a partisan administration.
The 18-party spokesman said no party having representation in parliament except the Awami League-led 14-party will take part the “so-called” all-party polls-time government.
He alleged that the Prime Minister is going ahead with the plan of formation of the all-party government for holding a unilateral election as she could not leave the greed for power. “The 14-party and probably Anwar Hossain Monju’s parry, which have no representation in parliament, will join the polls under the all-party cabinet.”
He claimed that all parties having representation in parliament but Awami League are in favour of holding the next polls under a non-party caretaker government.
Referring to the recent attacks on Hindu community members at Bangram in Pabna, he said the government as part of its evil design attacked the minority to spoil the religious harmony in the county and misled people. “We condemn such heinous incident.”
The BNP leader also asked the leaders and activists of BNP and 18-party alliance to remain alert and play effective role in ensuring the security for life and property of the minority communities.
Fakhrul said people spontaneously took to the streets across the country in favour of their hartal defying and foiling obstructions and repression by law enforcers and ruling party ‘cadres’.
He claimed that an opposition activist was killed at Shitakunda in Chittagong by the law enforcers during the second day of the hartal till 4pm on Tuesday.
Besides, he said, police arrested over 600 opposition activists across the country during the hartal hours, while more than 2,100 were injured in attacks by law enforcers and ‘ruling party cadres’.
The BNP leader further claimed that over 9,000 opposition men were implicated in fresh ‘false’ cases and 13 activists sentenced to different terms of imprisonment by mobile courts.
He alleged that the ruling party leaders and activists equipped with firearms are attacking opposition men. “The Awami League cadres were provided with huge arms — both the legal and illegal in the last one month. They’re using the arms on opposition leaders and activists during the hartal.”
Fakhrul also alleged that the government has created anarchy over the hartal. “The opposition leaders and their family members are being harassed by attacks and police raid.”
-With UNB/The News Today input
