BNP alleged on Sunday it is Awami League, not BNP, is running after foreigners as it has got desperate to hold another unilateral election with a 'master plan', reports UNB.
"Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday (Saturday) said BNP is lobbying with foreigners to go to power. I would like to say BNP is a party of people and it believes in returning to power with people's mandate," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press beefing at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office in the city, he further said, "So, it's Awami League which is running after foreigners and lobbying with them in fear of losing power."
Rizvi said people are determined to exercise their right to franchise in the next election by any means. "The government has become worried realising people's such an attitude. They've got desperate to hold another election as per a local and international master plan."
The BNP leader said the prime minister is attending many programmes abroad where a secretary-level official is supposed to join. "The main motive behind is to woo the foreigners."
He said the ruling party leaders have already realised that it will not be possible for them to retain power through holding another voter-less and lopsided election like the one held in 2014.
"The entire world, except two to three counties, is showing a negative attitude towards the current illegal government. International organisations have already said they want the next election to be free, fair, neutral and inclusive one," Rizvi said.
The BNP leader said his party chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail in a 'false and fabricated' case as part of the government's blueprint. "The government is now restoring to various tactics to prolong her (Khaleda's) stay in jail."
The BNP leader said they will wait until the last moment for permission to hold the party's planned rally at Suhrawardy Udyan today (Monday) seeking Khaleda Zia's release from jail.
He also expressed the hope that good sense will prevail upon the government to finally give them permission for the rally.
"BNP has taken all the necessary preparations for the rally. Police are yet to inform us anything about the permission. They had given permission at night for our rallies in the past. So we'll wait until the last moment and we'll be able to make our rally a success whenever we get permission," Rizvi said.
He said his party's four-member delegation went to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police in the morning, but they were neither given permission nor denied it.
The BNP leader said there is no reason to deny his party permission as they are holding the programmes peacefully. "We'd a rally in Khulna yesterday (Saturday), and there was no violence and problem."
Referring to recent meetings of the ruling Awami League, Workers Party and Jatiya Party at Suhrawardy Udyan, he said BNP also has the right to get permission for holding its programme at the same venue.
"Is the Awami League-led grand alliance owner of the Suhrawardy Udyan that they'll give permission whoever they want? The government is showing such an attitude as it considers the country as its paternal property," he said.
Rizvi said BNP and all other parties have the equal right to stage rallies at Suhrawardy Udyan as it is a state property.
He said the country's people will once again realise how the government is strangulating democracy if BNP is not allowed to hold its rally on Monday(Today).
When sought his comment on the delay in passing the apex court order on Khaleda's bail petition, Rizvi said, "We don't want to give any reaction to it now as the High Court is going to deliver its order today (Monday). We'll come up with our reaction after examining the order."
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