Democracy couldn't be restored until AL govt unseated: Fakhrul

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 12 (UNB): Accusing the government of turning Bangladesh into a crematorium, BNP leaders on Wednesday said removing the ruling Awami League from power was the only option to restore democracy in the country.
"We fought the War of Liberation for democracy. After 50 years of independence, we are fighting again for its restoration. It's a big and tough struggle, and we must win it," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a massive anti-government rally in Chattogram.
"We have no other alternative but to win this battle. Either we'll turn victorious, or we'll die in this fight," he told his supporters on Polo Ground in the city.
He warned that if their current movement fails, democracy will vanish from the country and the nation's existence will be at stake.
"We want to get democracy and people's rights back," he said.
As part of the party's planned divisional programme, Chattogram city unit BNP organised the rally in the port city where tens of thousands of their activists and leaders joined.
Wednesday's programme was the first divisional rally to denounce the ongoing power crisis, unusual price hikes of daily essentials and killing of five opposition activists in police firing in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore during recent anti-government protests.
BNP on September 27 announced to hold public rallies in all divisional cities. The party will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.
On Wednesday, Mirza Fakhrul also accused the government of destroying the country's economy and all the state institutions by indulging in corruption and plundering over the last 15 years.
"This monstrous regime of Awami League had turned Bangladesh into a crematorium. They plundered public money and laundered it abroad," he said.
BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdury said that their party leaders and activists were attacked and prevented in different areas, including in Mirsarai and Sitakunda, from joining the rally.
He said their many leaders and activists were injured as they were attacked, and their vehicles were damaged by law enforcing agencies and ruling party 'cadres' on their way to the rally.
Chowdhury said BNP activists had been arrested by police while their homes were raided overnight on Tuesday.
He said a small section of the members of police, not the entire police force, is involved in such activities to make the government happy.
"Despite attacks and various repressive measures, the government could not prevent the mass wave towards our rally. Several lakhs of people joined our rally," Chowdhury said.
He said the people of Chattogram sent out a message to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down immediately through their spontaneous participation in the rally.
The BNP leader hoped that their ongoing movement will succeed soon as people are eagerly waiting to get rid of the current fascist regime.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of opposition BNP activists and leaders joined an anti-government rally in Chattogram city amid tight security on Wednesday as part of the party's series of protests.
The rally began on Wednesday afternoon at the city's historic Polo Ground where presence of police and other security officials was noticeable as the authorities say they remained alert to prevent any untoward incident from happening.
Organisers said the rally was meant to denounce price hike of daily essentials and fuels, death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The BNP has long been demanding that next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League.