BNP warns of unrest like Arab World

Renewing the party's demand for midterm polls, a senior BNP leader says there would be unrest in the country as in the Arab World if the demand is not met, reports bdnews24.com. Party standing committee member Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain Sunday issued the warning at a gathering ahead of a rally marking the Independence and National Day. The rally, brought out from the party's central office at Naya Paltan at 4:00 pm, culminated at Moghbazar intersection after parading Kakrail, Shantinagar, Malibagh and Mouchak. Dr Hossain said: "The government has lost soil from beneath its feet due to pressure of its failure on all fronts, including the price hike." Alleging that the government could not fulfill any of the election pledges, he claimed that people lost their confidence in this government. "In the share market, 330,000 investors have turned paupers and our expatriate workers have started returning home," he added. Several countries in the Arab World are experiencing anti-government protests. Longtime rulers in Egypt and Tunisia have already been toppled while the unrest has spilled over to Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan and Yemen. The BNP leader also said: "BNP had succeeded where Awami League failed. This is why they make derogatory remarks on independence proclaimer Zia. The speaker has ruled recently to stop making such remarks in the House." He warned that BNP leaders and activists would react strongly if any derogatory remark on party founder Ziaur Rahman were made in the future. Urging the BNP activists to get ready for movement, Hossain said, "The government will not be able to prevent BNP from waging a vigorous movement by torturing as the party is now much stronger under Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman's leadership."