Accept polls-time govt demand or face ouster

Fakhrul warns AL

FE Team | Published: July 23, 2022 23:02:55

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday warned that Awami League will be ousted from power through a street movement if it fails to accept their demand for an election-time government, reports UNB.
He also said there is no scope for their party to engage in talks with the government on any other issue, except the election-time government.
"If the government doesn't take any step to accept our demands (especially polls-time govt), then the solution will come only through a street movement," the BNP leader said.
He voiced confidence that this time they will be able to ensure the fall of the Awami League government through a movement with people's spontaneous support.
Fakhrul came up with the remarks while speaking at 'Meet the Ocab' programme at the Jatiya Press Club organised by the Overseas Correspondents Association of Bangladesh.
He said they will initiate a simultaneous movement with all other opposition parties in the days to come to realise their demands.
"We have the experience of carrying out simultaneous movement in the past. You surely didn't forget that we carried out such a movement in 1990…we're now in talks with the political parties following that model," the BNP leader said.
He also said the opposition political parties will initiate the movement from their respective positions. "The movement itself will later determine in which direction it may go."
Fakhrul, however, said the government can resolve the political crisis and pave the way for a credible election peacefully by incorporating the election-time administration into the constitution.
"Everything is possible if the government wants. We have made it clear that we'll go to the election only if it is held under a neutral caretaker government," he said.
The BNP leader said the constitution was amended for the sake of elections in the past, including in 1990.
"Awami League also amended the constitution and changed many parts of it. So, if you want, you can do it as there is a term Doctrine of Necessity. It's now necessary for the interest of the people. So, the constitution should be amended and the next election must be arranged under a non-partisan government," the BNP leader observed.
Narrating the experiences of recent elections, including the 2014 and 2018 national polls, he said an acceptable and credible election is not possible under a partisan government. "No Election Commission can work neutrally under a partisan government…even KM Nurul Huda (former chief election commissioner) who conducted a stigmatised election in 2018 said the election under a partisan government is very difficult."