BNP bid to make platform with parties that boycotted Jan 5 polls

BNP standing committee member Tariqul Islam called upon the party leaders and activists Sunday to get ready putting behind the differences of opinion for waging a strong movement to oust the current government, reports UNB.
"Division within the party must be removed to free country from extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, and restore democracy. Nationalist forces must get united and take to the streets to unseat this regime," Tariqul made the call while addressing a discussion organised by Ziaur Rahman Foundation at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the city Sunday on the occasion of unveiling the cover of a book titled 'Ziaur Rahman, the first President of Bangladesh and Proclaimer of its Independence'.
Tarique Rahman,BNP senior vice chairman and eldest son of Ziaur Rahman, edited the 143-page book.
About the book, Tariqul said Awami League (AL)'s real face has been unmasked in the book that contained the statements of the sector commanders and renowned journalists about the country's independence and the role of Ziaur Rahman.
"Awami League had carried out propaganda to bury facts with lies. They even publicised the truth as false using the state machinery and the media. I think this book, edited by Tarique Rahman, will help people know the undistorted history of the War of Liberation in 1971," the BNP leader said.
He alleged that the current regime was carrying out false campaigns against Ziaur Rahman to cover their failures. "They (AL) are conducting the propaganda against Ziaur Rahman and his family as they can't tolerate them and BNP."
He said there is no alternative to toppling this regime through a united movement to establish people's basic rights and democracy.
BNP standing committee members Dr RA Goni, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Gano Shasta Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, DU Prof Mahbub Ullah, Prof AFM Yusuf Haider and film director and producer Gazi Mazharul Anwar addressed the function with Dhaka University ex-VC Prof Imajuddin Ahmed in the chair.
Another report adds:  BNP is trying to make a platform with the parties that boycotted the January-5 polls.
"Holding a fresh inclusive and acceptable election is now a demand of time. Efforts are on to make a platform with the political parties that boycotted the January-5 election to launch a vigorous movement," BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the comments while talking to local journalists at his ancestral home in Thakurgaon Sunday.
Asked how long he will perform as the BNP acting secretary general, Fakhrul said his party's national council will be held very soon where a decision will be taken in this regard.
He said they are in touch with CPB, Ganoforum, Bikolpodhara Bangladesh (BDB), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob) and some left and other parties to forge the coalition.
Fakhrul lamented that no government in the past obliterated democracy the way the current regime did it.
Criticising the government for the 'growing incidents of killing, abduction and forced disappearance', he said the government is killing opposition leaders in a planned way to establish a one-party rule.