Fakhrul reiterates demand for holding polls under caretaker govt

FE REPORT

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday reiterated his party's demand for holding upcoming national elections under a neutral caretaker government.

He alleged that the opposition parties and their views are now being suppressed by the ruling party.

He said that there was no security for BNP leaders and activists either in the towns or in villages due to continued oppression by the ruling party cadres.

He also claimed the police are always ready to detain his party's leaders and activists following the directives of the government.

He made the observations in a statement issued on the day.

He alleged that the misrule by the present government is now at its peak. Passing days peacefully by the people in the country is now at stake.

Fakhrul further said that the lower-middle-income people have been passing a hard time due to the price hike of essential commodities including green chilli.

He also said that BNP leaders and activists were being detained and sent to jail at different parts of the country as they have protested the activities committed by the terrorists.

He demanded immediate release of BNP leaders of Jashore district unit.

The BNP leader further said that the government could not suppress the opposition parties and their strength by detaining the leaders and activists of the opposition. The repressions by the government on BNP leaders and activists would help them protest more vigorously against the government.

"The government could not stop massive wave of people on the streets. The government will be compelled to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral caretaker government," Fakhrul said.

Meanwhile UNB adds: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said there is no other way for the government but to resign to end the political deadlock and hold a credible national election.

"Our statement is very clear…resign immediately and dissolve Parliament. If you buy time unnecessarily, the country and its people will be affected and the democracy will be damaged," he told an anti-government rally.

The BNP leader called upon the current regime to take steps for establishing a polls-time neutral government for holding the next election in a credible way by forming a new Election Commission.

"This's the only way, there is no other way. So, do it as fast as you can. Otherwise, you won't find a way to escape. Your time is up," he said.

Fakhrul also warned that their party will force the government to resign through the ongoing movement by involving the people in it.

He slammed the government for what he said was continuing the arrest of BNP leaders and activists and repressing them.

"Our 386 leaders and activists were arrested in the last one month…so we have no option, but to put up a resistance against this regime," the BNP leader said.

He urged the opposition leaders and activists to get ready for making more sacrifices to defeat the current government on the streets.

BNP's Dhaka South city unit along with its different associate bodies organised the programme in front of the BNP's Nayapaltan central office to protest against the arrest of the opposition leaders and activists.

Thousands of leaders and workers of the party and its different front organisations joined the programme and brought out a procession that ended after parading through Kakrail and Shantinagar intersections.

Fakhrul said Awami League has been in power by holding stage-managed elections in 2014 and 2018, resorting to repressive acts and arresting BNP leaders and activists, including party chief Khaleda Zia.

He said the country's people want a free and fair election. "They (people) want to vote in that election. That election must be held under an impartial government. It has been proven that no election will be acceptable if Hasina is in power and her party is in government."