Govt to be forced for fresh polls, says Khaleda

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia reiterated Saturday the government will be forced to hold a fresh election under a non-party administration through a united movement after Eid, reports UNB.

"The country's people are ready to take to the streets. We' together with people will force this government to arrange a fresh election under a non-party administration after Eid," he told an Iftar party.

National Democratic Party (NDP), one of the partners of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the party at a city hotel.

Khaleda, also a former prime minister, said the country's people through boycotting the January-5 election responding to their call have sent out a message that they do not want this government.  "People have got fed-up with the government's misrule. They have no confidence in it."

Narrating the sordid state of the country, the BNP chief said people are passing through a critical time. "People are getting killed and made disappeared regularly. This situation can't be continued."

She called upon all to get united to save the county and its people from the Awami League (AL) government's misrule and repressive acts.

Senior leaders of BNP and the 20-party alliance attended the Iftar party.

Another report adds: Fakhrul seeks apology from him

BNP lambasted Saturday Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad for his remark that Ziaur Rahman had come to power wading through blood and branded him as the main promoter of spoiled politics, reports UNB.

Addressing a discussion, BNP spokesman Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir  called upon the former military dictator to seek apology for this 'false' remark about BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.

Referring to an article of Ershad published in a national daily, the BNP leader said, "Ershad said Ziaur Rahman had assumed office walking over blood. In his open letter in the newspaper, he had resorted to falsehood to hush up his offences. We strongly condemn his remark and urge him to seek apology."

Sammilita Nagarik Committee arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the release of ex-BNP MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.

Mirza Fakhrul, also the party acting secretary general, said Zia had not grabbed power as he was rather given the charge to run the state through a civil-military uprising.

He alleged that Ershad had grabbed power with guns by ousting an elected and democratic government in 1982. "Ershad is the main promoter of the country's contaminated politics. He had annihilated democracy."

The BNP leader also came down hard on Prime Minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and some ministers, including Hasanul Haq Inu and Quamrul Islam, for what he said their indecorous remarks about BNP and its senior leaders. "The language they use in their speeches is devoid of political etiquette. They speak in this fashion as they think Bangladesh is their paternal property."

Mirza Fakhrul accused the government of conspiring to hang onto power with the force of gun by establishing a reign of terror in the country.  "Awami League is a party of conspiracy. They're carrying out killings and forced disappearances with RAB and police being alienated from people."

He said the government is not holding the elections in Dhaka city corporations fearing a massive debacle as they faced in other city polls. "Awami League won't win even 20 seats if a fair national election is held right now under a non-party administration."

He demanded the government arrange a fresh election immediately to overcome the ongoing political crisis.

The BNP leader urged his party men to get ready for waging a strong movement to force the government to concede to their demand for a fresh election under a non-party administration.

Claiming that BNP leader Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu was implicated in the BDR carnage case through conspiracy to hide the misdeeds of the ruling party.

He demanded the government immediately release Pintu and withdraw the false cases against him.