BNP won't participate in polls under present govt, reiterates Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) categorically said on Friday that they will not participate in elections under the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina government.
"We (BNP) are on the streets. We are holding road marches. We have been on the movement with the people. Our message is clear that there will be no elections under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and we will not participate in that," secretary general of BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a rally in the Uttara area in the capital.
He said that the present government doesn't allow anyone to cast their votes. They (the government) used to take and hold anything by force, he alleged.
"The government is continuously saying that the elections will be held as per the Constitution whereas all the democratic countries are calling for elections under a caretaker government," he said.
"What's the Constitution? You (the government) have conducted surgeries different times (of the Constitution) in it," he stated.
He said that the European Union (EU) team visited Bangladesh to see themselves on elections situation.
He said that the EU team held meetings with the politicians, newspaper editors, Jatiya Party and Awami League.
He said that the EU team said that they will be informed whether they will send observers or not during the upcoming elections in Bangladesh after reaching their countries.
"They (EU) said that there is no environment conducive to elections in Bangladesh. So, they (EU) will not send observers. This message is being informed by all. Even the Jatiya Party said that if the government doesn't resign then free, fair and participatory elections will not be possible. The Sheikh Hasina government must resign for holding a free, fair and participatory elections," he said.
"We must have elections under a neutral caretaker government. Our sisters and mothers have waked up and they don't want to see the present government to remain in power. Please dissolve the parliament and pave the way for holding elections under a neutral caretaker government," said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
"There was no controversy about the elections held under the caretaker government previously in Bangladesh. But the ruling Awami League has annulled the caretaker government system by defying public opinions to perpetuate power," he said alleging that the government is trying to hold farcical elections again.
"We (BNP) held processions, and now holding road marches. We are on the movement with the people. We just simply want the resignation of the government and hold a free, fair and participatory elections under a neutral caretaker government," he said.
"The EU says that elections will not be free and fair under the present government. The government wants to hold elections like those held in 2014 and 2018. But people of the country will not allow them (the government to hold such elections)," he said.
"The government will not be able to suppress the opponents even filing false cases and sending them (opponents) to jail. The ruling party has looted the country over the last 15 years," he maintained.
He said that the prices of essentials are now beyond the capacity of the common people.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com