BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed described on Wednesday the Prime Minister's announcement to abolish the quota system in public service in the face of a students' movement as 'people's victory', reports UNB.
"The Prime Minister has announced that there'll be no quota system in the country as she could finally realise the intensity of the movement. They (govt) could also understand it'll be difficult for them to stay in power if the movement continues," he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a discussion organised by a faction of Labour Party (Iran) at the National Press Club in the city demanding deployment of army in the next general election.
Moudud further said, "I would like to say it's a victory of people while the government has suffered a defeat."
In the wake of a nationwide movement by students and job-seekers, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday announced that there will be no quota system in government jobs.
Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, urged his party colleagues to get inspiration from the students' movement to realise their rights. "We'll also establish our rights the same way. We'll also free Khaleda Zia through a mass movement."
Terming justified the students' demand for reform of the quota system in public service, he said the movement has reflected the outburst of pent-up anger of people and common students across the country. "The students also voiced their resentment against the way the country is run now."
Meanwhile, BNP alleged on Wednesday that the Election Commission's (EC's) move not to include the Defence Forces under the definition of law enforcement agency in the draft amendment to Representation of the People Order (RPO) is a sign of another lopsided national election.
"As per media reports, the draft of the RPO amendment has been finalised without including the Defence Forces under the definition of law enforcers. It has exposed the sign of holding a unilateral election," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.
During the dialogue with the EC, the BNP leader said, most political parties, including BNP, intellectuals and civil society members recommended deployment of army in the upcoming general election.
"We demanded the deployment of army with magistracy power, but the government has now taken the step to shut down the way for it," he said.
Rizvi also termed politically motivated the EC's move to overlook army in the definition of law enforcers. "It's also an anti-constitutional initiative."
About the ongoing quota-reform movement, he alleged that the government is trying to malign the students' spontaneous demonstration by making various unguarded remarks.
"The movement for reform in quota system is purely by students. But efforts are on to mislead people by raising questions about who are inspiring the agitators and who are not doing it," the BNP leader said.
He came down hard on Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury for describing the agitators as Rajakars' children, saying it is her tactic to confuse people.
Rizvi also accused the Chhatra League activists of 'brutally' repressing the demonstrators at different residential halls of Dhaka Universality over the few last days.
"We strongly protest and condemn it."
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