Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) expressed the hope on Thursday that it would get back state power again within a short span of time.
Vice-chairman of the party Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed expressed the hope while addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the capital.
Earlier BNP formed the party's Independence Day Observance Committee with Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed as its convener.
"BNP is not a pessimist party. BNP is a popular party. BNP would have been in power if the election on January 7, 2024 had been held under a neutral and caretaker government," he said.
He said that BNP leaders and activists suffered a lot of oppressions in the hands of the government which leaders of other opposition parties did not suffer.
"BNP will come back to power shortly. The ruling clique does the politics of talking. If the people went to the polling centres (on January 7, 2024) then the ruling Awami League leaders wouldn't have any scope to talk," he continued.
"The War of Liberation was a war of ordinary people and it was not for any particular political party," he said.
"Those who never thought about country's independence have now become the main bearing force of the independence," he commented.
He said that BNP will announce a programme this month that will let the people know about contributions of the ordinary people and Z Force to the country's independence in 1971.
Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said the state coffer is being depleted due to corruption committed by the ruling clique.
"Mega corruption is being committed in the name of mega projects," he told the media on Wednesday after visiting the city residence of BNP Dhaka South unit member secretary Rafiqul Alam Maznu who was released from prison recently.
"The government is doing whatever it likes with the force of guns and bullets. But we (BNP) do believe in peaceful politics. We believe in democracy," he said.
"The ruling party claims that they are the force of pro-liberation but in practice they work against the spirit of the War of Liberation and that type of politics BNP doesn't follow," he added.
"It is possible to remain in power if you have guns, teargas, water canon… then why not they would remain in power? They (ruling Awami League) remain in power in such way. Are they in power with the love and supports of the people? Did they come to power through public votes,? he said.
Convener of BNP Dhaka South unit Abdus Salam, president of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal Afroza Abbas and Dhaka south Jubo Dal leader Omar Faruk Munna were present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com