BNP announces march to meet one-point demand

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday announced 'Road March' programmes for July 18 and 19 to realise its one-point demand -- holding the next general election under a neutral caretaker government.
"We demand the government to resign immediately and hold a free, fair, credible and participatory national election under a neutral election-time caretaker government," BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a rally in front of the party's central office in the capital's Naya Paltan area.
He also demanded of the government to abolish the parliament, reconstitute the Election Commission (EC), release all leaders and activists of opposition who are now in jail, and withdraw false cases against the party leaders, including its acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
The BNP leader said their newly announced programmes will also be observed by other like-minded parties and alliance simultaneously.
He also said the national elections will not be allowed under the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime.
Mirza Fakhrul called upon the government to realise their demands, otherwise, he warned, the BNP and other like-minded parties and alliance will compel the government to realise their demands.
Regarding the abolishment of caretaker government system, he said that former chief justice Khairul Haque was solely responsible for destroying the system.
He called upon the government officials including police to remain neutral and not to carry out any illegitimate order of the government.
He also termed the present government fascist and plunderer of public money.
Mirza Fakhrul said that their party chairperson as well as the leaders and activists have been struggling to restore democracy in the country.
The BNP leader said that people could not lead their life decently due to price hike of essential commodities even after 50 years of our country's independence.
He also alleged that Begum Zia was denied proper medical treatment.
"Today, people have decided not to allow the government to run the country further as the government has destroyed all government institutions including judiciary," he said.
He further said the people of the country don't have their voting rights and freedom of speech.
BNP along with other opponents have been on the movement to realise 10-point demands, including immediate resignation of the government and holding national elections under an election-time neutral caretaker government.
Several thousands of BNP supporters and leaders from different areas in the capital and different districts, including Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Cumilla thronged the rally venue. The BNP stalwarts and activists chanted anti-government slogans holding banners there.
BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moin Khan said that the government has killed many leaders and activists of BNP over the last 14 years. He also said that the government has killed democracy, established misrule and snatched people's economic rights by plundering public money.
BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must leave the power. He also said the Constitution is for the people, not for Sheikh Hasina.
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said people of the country know how to topple the Awami League government.
Convener of Dhaka North unit BNP Aman Ullah Aman presided over the rally. He said the people of the country no longer want to see this government in power.
Vice-chairmen of BNP advocate Ahmed Azam Khan, Abdul Awal Minto, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Mir Nasir, Barkatullah Bulu, Barrister Shahjahan Omar, standing committee members Begum Selima Rahman, Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and others were present at the rally.

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