Hold polls at reasonable time, says Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the interim government to hold the national election within an appropriate timeframe to help eliminate uncertainty in the country.
"The interim government can hold the general election at rational and suitable time if political parties cooperate with the government," he said.
The BNP leader came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after paying tributes to late president Ziaur Rahman by placing a wreath at his grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Thursday, marking the National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
Lauding the interim government for its efforts over the last three months, Fakhrul said, "Of course, they have many good things during the period. I hope it would be possible to address the challenges if they arrange the polls at perfect time."
"At that time, Ziaur Rahman had introduced multi-party democracy replacing the one-party BAKSAL rule. He transformed the state-controlled economy into a free market economy and thus opened up new economic opportunities. He had founded the nationalist party and introduced nationalist philosophy."
The BNP leader alleged that the previous fascist Awami League (AL) government had subjected BNP members to various forms of repression over the last 15 years.
"This Awami League filed false cases against six million BNP men. They were involved in enforced disappearances of 700 people. They wanted to establish fascism by killing thousands of people, but with the help of the Almighty and students as well as the masses, the expansionists were defeated on August 5," he said.
BNP Standing Committee Members Mirza Abbas, Khandakar Mosharaf Hossain, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, AZM Zahid Hossain, party chairperson's adviser Amanullah Aman, joint secretaries general Khairul Kabir Khokon, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anie and other leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies were present.
Meanwhile, UNB adds, BNP is all set to take out a colourful rally in the capital today (Friday) to observe 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day', commemorating the 'civil-military uprising' of November 7, 1975.
The rally is scheduled to be brought out at 2:30pm from BNP's Nayapaltan central office.
It will then proceed to Manik Mia Avenue via Kakrail intersection, Kakrail Mosque, Matsya Bhaban, Engineering Institute, Shahbagh, Hotel Intercontinental, Bangla Motor, Karwan Bazar and Farmgate.
Senior BNP leaders, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will briefly address the gathering before the rally begins.
Similar rallies will be arranged in every division of the country.
BNP standing committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said they have already made the necessary preparations to ensure the rally's success and massive participation from its rank and file. "This will be a massive rally that will make history. The martyrs of August 5 will be remembered in the rally," he said.
Zahid said the leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies from Dhaka's south and north city units will participate in large numbers.
Besides, he said, BNP leaders and activists from districts around Dhaka, including Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Munshiganj, will also join the rally.
On October 31, BNP declared a 10-day programme to mark the day extensively, aiming to highlight its true historical significance and background for the younger generation.
As part of the programme, the party flag was hoisted atop all its offices across the country on Thursday morning.
BNP leaders and activists, led by party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, placed wreaths and offered fateha at the grave of their party founder and former President Ziaur Rahman.
The party also arranged a discussion meeting at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, on Wednesday.
On November 7, 1975, amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians jointly freed then Chief of Army Staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka Cantonment, paving the way for him to come to power.

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