A BNP senior leader alleged on Monday the government is not taking any step for ensuring better treatment of his chairperson Khaleda Zia as part of its 'plot' to hold the next polls without her participation, reports UNB.
"We've demanded a better medical treatment of our leader by sending a delegation to the Home Minister, but the government is not paying heed to it as it wants to hold another voter-less election keeping BNP and Khaleda Zia out of the race," he said.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain came up with the comment while speaking at a discussion organised by Khulna Divisional Students Forum in Dhaka at the National Press Club in the city demanding the release of Khaleda Zia and arrested BNP leaders from jail.
Mosharraf said people will take to the streets to exercise their franchise if the government tries to hold another January 5-like 'lopsided' election.
He alleged his chairperson has been kept in an abandoned jail after convicting her in a 'false and fabricated' case at the behest of the government.
Mosharraf warned the government will be held responsible if Khaleda's health condition deteriorates sharply for lack of treatment.
The BNP leader said the government is regularly arresting their leaders and activists to suppress its opponents as it cannot tolerate criticism.
He came down hard on the government for what he said arresting his Dhaka south city unit leaders on Sunday during their meeting over formation of a committee of the unit.
"It seems there is no scope for even holding an indoor meeting in the country as the government has established unwritten one-party Baksal rule with the help of state machinery," Mosharraf observed.
He said the ruling party leaders are making unguarded remarks about BNP as they have got scared apprehending the consequences they will have to face after losing power.
Mosharraf, who visited Gazipur election areas on Sunday, said BNP's mayoral candidate will win the May-15 polls with a big margin. "Awami League also knows they'll get one-fourth votes. A big mass wave has been created in favour of the BNP candidate."
He also warned the elections to Gazipur and Khulna city corporations are an acid test for both the government and the Election Commission ahead of the 11th parliamentary polls.
The BNP leader asked his party leaders and activists to get ready to take to the streets together with people to restore their voting right and free Khaleda from jail.
Meanwhile, BNP alleged on Monday the government has been making wholesale arrests of BNP leaders and activists to spread panic among voters in Gazipur and Khulna city corporations, reports UNB.
"Our Dhaka south city unit senior leaders were arrested yesterday (Sunday) to influence the two city polls and spread panic among our leaders and activists and general voters there," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He came up with the allegation at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.
The BNP leader said Gazipur police recently arrested 45 Jamaat leaders and activists, including its mayoral candidate who later stayed away from the race and extended support to BNP candidate Hasanuddin Sarkar.
He said the motive behind the arrest is to create an alarming situation in Khulna and Gazipur so that common people there cannot raise their voice to exercise their voting rights.
Under the circumstances, Rizvi said, his party fears that the elections to the two city polls will not be held in a fair and credible manner.
He alleged the Election Commission has so far failed to take any action against the violation of the election code of conduct by the ruling party men and stop the 'evil' efforts by law enforcers.
The BNP leader urged the Commission to deploy army in the two cities for ensuring a credible balloting and check possible violence.
Rizvi alleged that Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader is making mockery over their Chairperson Khaleda Zia's illness with his various remarks.
He demanded the government immediately take steps to ensure better treatment of Khaleda at United Hospital in the city.
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