Bangladesh's capital can be cleared of Awami League (AL) men in just 30 minutes, BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka has claimed, but law enforcers must play a 'neutral' role for it to happen, reports bdnews24.com.
Khoka made this remark at a discussion in New York, where he has been staying for the past several months, while the BNP has been enforcing anti-government agitations from January 5.
"It won't take more than 30 minutes to clear Dhaka city of Awami League goons if police and RAB decide to act neutrally instead of working on behalf of the ruling party," said the former Dhaka city mayor.
"And I don't even have to return to Dhaka for it. One phone call from New York will be enough."
He, however, blamed the government for the arson and vandalism on transports that claimed at least 44 lives. The run up to the 2014 election, which the BNP sat out, had also been marked by violence and deaths during blockades by the BNP-led alliance.
"Awami League's goons are behind the petrol bomb attacks. A real investigation can blow the cover," said the former convener of BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan unit.
He advised the government to accept their demand and equated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to West Pakistani dictators.
"Ayub-Yahya, detached from the people, could not keep power even with their guns. The RAB, police and BGB cannot help save Sheikh Hasina."
"There is still time to hold elections through talks. Otherwise the government will have to face a dreary future … like those who opposed our Liberation War."
Khoka was being treated for cancer in New York. He was the chief guest at the discussion by BNP's cultural wing JASAS at Brooklyn's Green Party Center.
Protests will be held outside the United Nations (UN) headquarters and a memorandum handed to the UN General Secretary in support of the ongoing agitation in Bangladesh, it was announced.
