People won't get deceived thrice by joining polls under AL govt: Fakhrul

Terming the dialogue by the government as 'trap' BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reiterated on Saturday his party's call to the government to resign immediately and hand over power to a neutral and non-partisan caretaker government for holding free and fair national elections.
He said two farcical elections were held under the present government. He said BNP will no more fall to the government trap.
He came up with the remarks at a discussion marking the first death anniversary of party leader Gautam Chakraborty at Dhaka Reporters University (DRU).
Bangladesh Hindu, Bouddha, Christian Welfare Front organised the event.
He said that if there was a free and fair election then the ruling Awami League will bag less than 10 percent votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
"None will listen to their (government) talks, because they did not keep their words in the past," he stated.
He criticised the government for committing corruption in different sectors including the power.
He said that his party and other opponents are now struggling to restore democracy in the country and without democracy development could not be possible.
He said that international media was also saying that the economy of Bangladesh is now at bad state.
He said that the government claimed the development of the country's power sector.
He criticised the government for procuring air bus to commit corruption and thus they will create election fund for next elections.
Meanwhile, UNB adds: Stating that caretaker government is now the most live issue, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the people of Bangladesh will not be deceived thrice by participating in the next polls under the Awami League regime.
"Awami League leaders and ministers are saying the caretaker government is now a dead issue. Why is it a dead issue? This is the most live issue now," the BNP leader said.
He said the people of Bangladesh witnessed the parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2018. "They won't go back to face that situation again. There's no question of doing it."
Fakhrul said their party took part in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before the 2018 election with the hope of creating an atmosphere for a neutral election through discussions, but they were betrayed.
"We have been cheated twice (in the 2014 and 2018 elections). We would like to clearly say that the people of the country won't get cheated again for the third time," he observed.
The BNP leader said the next election must be held under a non-party caretaker government as the current regime has completely destroyed the voting and election system in the country in a planned way.
Referring to Law Minister Anisul Huq's comment in parliament that no one will be arrested during the next election as the administration will remain under the Election Commission, he said, "Who will believe these words? It is like the story of the cowboy on a tiger. We want to say clearly, no one will be misguided by these words of the current regime. Because you have never kept any promises that you made before the nation."
Fakhrul said the ruling party leaders are now not thinking safe their laundered money in the USA following the visa policy for Bangladesh. "They'll now get 2.5 percent incentive while taking back the money. The thieves will be rewarded and this is the principle of this regime."