BNP announces 'non-cooperation movement'

BNP has announced a "non-cooperation movement" against the government starting on Wednesday, urging the voters to boycott the lopsided national election slated for January 7, 2024.
During a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that their party's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman announced the movement.
The non-cooperation movement includes stopping any cooperation with the government by people from all walks of life, the administration and government officers and employees, abstaining from election duties by the officials and employees related to the election and boycotting the January 7 polls
It also includes not going to the polling stations, not providing the government with any taxes, and considering whether depositing money in banks is secure or not and not by people and not appearing before the courts in 'false' and 'fictitious' cases by BNP and other opposition leaders and activists from now on.
Rizvi said BNP, on behalf of all the opposition parties who have long been in a movement, has announced the fresh movement as part of their move to establish people's rights and establish a pro-people government through a credible election.
"There is no alternative to starting all kinds of non-cooperation with the illegal government of fascist Hasina from today for the sake of establishing the rights of every citizen. We call upon the government officials at all levels, including that of administration, and patriotic people not to cooperate with this illegitimate government," the BNP leader said.
Describing the January 7 polls as a dummy election, he urged the people not to be part of it. "Boycott the dummy election on January 7 and don't participate in the game of monkey on January 7 in the name of a dummy election. None of you go to the polling station…that is your democratic right."
Rizvi alleged that the list of those who will be announced by the Election Commission as MPs on January 7 has already been prepared. "So, the officials and employees involved in voting process on the January-7 dummy election should refrain from performing their duties."
As part of not cooperating with the current government, he called upon people to stop paying all taxes and utility and service bills.
Stating that Banks are one of the means of plundering public money by the current regime, the BNP leader called upon people to consider whether it is safe to deposit money in banks.
He also instructed the lakhs of leaders and activists of BNP and other opposition parties to refrain from appearing in courts from today in false and ghost cases since the 'fascist' government has snatched the freedom of the courts to ensure justice.
"It is the final time to establish a government of the working people through this non-cooperation movement by resisting the present fascist Hasina's mafia government, which has been working against the interests of the common people," Rizvi said.
He urged people from all walks of life to start non-cooperation with the current illegal government and encourage others to do so rising above their identities of party, religion, opinion and caste and creed to make the movement a success.
"By winning this movement, a free, fair, impartial and participatory election will be held in the country, keeping the fascist Hasina out of state power," the BNP leader said.
He assured that government officials and employees and the patriotic people who will be affected by non-cooperating with the government will be given proper compensation when the next democratic government is formed.
An FE report adds: In another virtual press briefing, the party has also announced four-day programmes starting today to press home their demand for resignation of the government.
The programmes include three-day mass contact on December 21, 22 and 23 and a daylong blockade on December 24. The programmes will be held across the country in favour of the one-point demand and the non-cooperation movement.
BNP and like-minded political parties have been observing a series of programmes to press home their demand for resignation of the Awami League-led government.