Staff Reporter :
BNP leaders on Thursday vowed to free its Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from jail through tough movement.
The party leaders cleared it while addressing to the party’s token hunger strike in the capital.
The token hunger strike was part of the party’s countrywide programme disagreeing with the verdict given in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case, and demanding Khaleda Zia’s immediate release from jail.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the programme at Mohanagar Natya Moncho, Gulistan in the capital city.
“The country is no more administered in a democratic way. It is an autocratic state now. We are swear to defeat the autocratic power and free democracy through united movement,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
The BNP leader said, the government has destroyed every national institutions of the country.
“The Judiciary has been destroyed; the Parliament has been made crippled and administration is turned subservient by this undemocratic government,” said Mirza Fakhrul.
He urged the party men to be united to defeat the ‘undemocratic’ government.
Dhaka University’s former Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Emajuddin Ahmed served the party leaders water to break the hunger strike at 3pm.
BNP Standing Committee Members Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Vice Chairmen Selima Rahman, Barkatullah Bulu, Mohammad Sajahan, central leaders Amanullah Aman, Jainul Abdin Faruk, Abdus Salam, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Fazlul Haque Milan, Syed Emran Saleh Prince, Shama Obayed and Afroja Abbas, among others, were gave speech.
Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “It will not be possible to hold election sans Khaleda Zia. We would not allow that.”
He said, “Former Chief Justice SK Sinha said when I had not got justice even being the chief justice, how will the ordinary people of the country get justice?”
Dr. Mosharraf also said, the government is trying to keep Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman out of BNP by using High Court.
The High Court on Wednesday asked the Election Commission not to accept BNP’s amended constitution as it allowed the convicted leaders to hold party posts.
Dr. Mosharraf said the party constitution has the consent of the party’s councilors. None has legal authority right to say anything about it.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed has asked the party men to take all out preparation for tough agitation to free Khaleda Zia from jail.
“We could not free our leader by only chanting slogans. We need to wage massive movement. You should take utmost preparation for tougher movement soon,” Moudud Ahmed said.
Mirza Abbas said, the government’s desire to keep Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman away from party leadership will not be successful.
“None cane erase Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman’s leadership in BNP. No effort will never be successful. Because they are staying in the hearts of all leaders and activists of the party,” Mirza Abbas said.
Jatiya Oikyafront leader and Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna expressed his solidarity with the hunger strike programme.
Manna warned the government not to conceal the truth in the name of dialogue.
He said the seven points demand of the Oikyafron included Khaleda Zia’s immediate release from jail.
Manna said, “The Oikyafront will not accept the government’s desire to hold national polls sans Khaleda Zia.”
He said, “The schedule of national polls must not be announced before resolving our seven points demand.”
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (ASM A Rab) General Secretary Abdul Malek Ratan also showed his solidarity with the programme.
He asked the government to free Khaleda Zia from jail soon. BNP leaders and activists joined the hunger strike programme from 10am to 3pm.
The party men carried banners, placards and festoons.
They chanted slogans demanding Khaleda Zia’s immediate release.
