Govt out to wipe out opposition: Fakhrul

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged on Saturday the government has got desperate to eliminate the opposition parties, reports UNB.

He said the government has become frantic so that no one can raise his/her voice against its misdeeds and unjust acts.

In a statement, he also said, "They (govt) are also desperately using the state machinery to foil different democratic programmes of BNP and other opposition parties."

The statement was issued condemning the imposition of section 144 in different of Thakurgaon over a programme of the BNP secretary general, and attacks on BNP leaders and activists by law enforcers in different thanas of the city while staging demonstration on Saturday in protest against the denial of permission for a rally here to mark January 5.

Fakhrul said the government is obstructing BNP's peaceful programmes with an aim to establish a governing system without having any opposition.

He said misdeeds and injustice have seriously spread everywhere in society as the government is running the country depending on law enforcers and resorting to bloodshed, arrogance and falsehood.

The BNP leader warned that the government will not be able to resist a mass upsurge and suppress their justified movement with repressive acts.

Four rallies of BNP were allegedly foiled on Saturday as the local administration imposed section 144 in Akhanagar, Ruhia, Patiadangi and Dholarhat areas of Thakurgaon sadar upazila.

Fakhrul, who was scheduled to join the rallies, returned home from Sahjalal International Airport in the city canceling the visit following the restriction on the programmes.

Protesting the restriction on his programme, Fakhrul said the government did it as it fears public gathering and ignores people's democratic rights.

He also said the government exposed its low mentality by foiling his scheduled programmes in Thakurgaon. "I strongly protest and condemn it."

Meanwhile, terming rhetoric Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader's comment that the next election will be held under Sheikh Hasina, BNP said on Saturday the countdown has begun for the 'removal' of the current government.

"The year 2018 will be the year of bringing back people's rights under the leadership of Khaleda Zia removing stigma as the countdown has begun for the ouster of the regime elected without people's votes," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He came up with the comment while speaking at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader said the Awami League general secretary is making 'hollow statements' on the 11th parliamentary polls only to save his party post and cabinet portfolio.

He said the ruling party leaders resorted to a path of threat and trickery realising that they will face a serious debacle in a fair and credible election.

Comparing Awami League with an empty vessel, Rizvi said it is now beating the drum to mislead people and suppress its opponents with various threats.

He warned the ruling party that people have started wakening against the misrule, misdeeds and plundering by the government, and to restore their 'lost' rights.

"People will surely thwart under the leadership of Khaleda Zia any move to hold another tainted election like that of January 5, 2014. People will resist those who killed democracy and sentenced their rights," the BNP leader observed.

Rizvi alleged that law enforcers along with ruling party cadres attacked their scheduled black-flag processions on Friday at different parts of the country, including Mymensingh, Bandarban, Khulna, Narayanganj, Jhalakati, Barisal, Chittagong, and Dhaka's Keranigonj, and arrested many BNP leaders and activists.

He condemned the attacks and arrest of their party men and demanded their immediate release.