Staff Reporter :
The BNP on Sunday urged all the democratic forces to get united to oust what it said the present ‘undemocratic government’ at a massive rally held in the capital.
The party also announced an eight-point charter of demands and a 12-point goal to hold fair and inclusive national polls under a neutral government.
“The government must free BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from the jail. The incumbent Parliament must to be dissolved and a neutral government formed for holding a fair and acceptable national election,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while presiding over the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan.
The BNP secretary general asked the party men that if the government does not accept their demands should they start all out agitation to compel the government to free party chairperson from jail and form a neutral government for holding fair and inclusive polls. The party leaders, activists and supporters responded hugely at the rally and chanted various slogans in favour of their demands.
The party’s eight-point charter of demands include unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and withdrawal of false cases against her before announcement of the election schedule, withdrawal of all false cases against the party’s acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and all other political leaders, dissolving Parliament and stepping down of the government before polls, forming neutral government consulting with all political parties and reconstitution of the Election Commission.
Mirza Fakhrul also presented a 12-point vision of his party from the rally.
In its 12-point vision, the party said it will ensure good governance, take steps to improve the country’s political culture, get rid of the politics of vengeance, fight against extremism and not allowing Bangladesh’s territory to be used to carry out criminal activities against other countries, including India. The party also announced nationwide rallies at district headquarters to press home its eight-point charter of demands and submit memorandum to Deputy Commissioners’ offices on October 3.
It will also hold rallies at divisional headquarters and metropolitan cities and submit memorandum to divisional commissioners on October 4.
Thousands of leaders and activists of the party started to throng the Suhrawardy Udyan from Dhaka city and its surrounding districts from 10:00am though the rally was scheduled to start at 2:00pm.
Huge numbers of the party men joined the programee. The rally venue was turned into a human sea. BNP men came to the venue in processions carrying banner, festoon, placard with images of late president Ziaur Rahman, imprisoned BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
The party men chanted different slogans demanding release of Khaleda Zia and also raised anti-government slogans.
Law enforcers are deployed at different points while water cannons, prison vans and armoured personnel vehicles were placed near the meeting venue.
The party leaders alleged that police have arrested several leaders and activists on their way to the rally.
Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain was the Main Speaker of the rally, while a chair was reserved for its jailed Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia as a mark of respect.
The party Standing Committee Members Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Jamir Uddin Sircer, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mian, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr. Moin Khan, Vice Chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Major (rtd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Advocate Mahbub Hossian, Barkatullah Bulu, Mohammad Sajahan, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Joint Secretary Generals Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Organising Secretaries Fazlul Haque Milan and Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, among others, addressed the rally.
Dr. Mosharraf Hossain asked the government to free Khaleda Zia from jail and give her treatment in any private specialized hospital soon. He warned the government should not delay Khaleda’s release any more.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed asked the party men to take to the street to press home their demands.
Mirza Abbas said, the government is trying to make obstacle to form national unity. “If the effort of national unity fails the BNP must continue its agitation strongly,” he said.
Gayeshwar Chandra Roy warned the AL leaders that they cannot able to flee from the barricade of people after stepping down.
