Staff Reporter :BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has renewed her party’s demand for holding a national election under a non-partisan government immediately.She also urged the government to engage in talks to find out a solution to the paralysed political situation of the country and to ‘restore’ democracy. The BNP Chief said this while addressing a mammoth rally on Tuesday arranged by her party to observe January 5 as the ‘Democracy Killing Day’, showing the party’s disapproval to the 10th Parliamentary Polls held on this day in 2014.”Let’s bring a solution through talks and restore democracy. We don’t have any grievance, complaint and anguish against anybody… we had suffered and also forgotten it. So, I would like to tell all there’s no reason to be afraid of. You [govt] made mistakes and it’s enough to realise that,” she told the rally held in front of her party’s Nayapaltan central office in the city. “The government is staying in power forcibly. That’s why the Election Commission’s present responsibility is to immediately arrange a free, fair and impartial national election,” she said.”We want an end of the prevailing chaotic situation through discussions and would like to work together for the sake of democracy,” she said.Khaleda Zia urged the people from all walks of life to get united for raising their voice peacefully against the current repressive regime and for restoring democracy and getting rid of repressive acts and misrule. The BNP Chief said the ruling party has resorted to vote rigging and irregularities in the polls to show people it has vast popularity. “If you want to show your popularity then hold a fair election under a non-party administration,” she asked the government. She also lambasted the Election Commission (EC) for its failure to hold impartial elections, saying the Commission and the government have destroyed the country’s democracy. “Bring back people’s voting rights and the democracy of the country.”The BNP Chief also demanded resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed. “Why the CEC still holds the office,” she questioned.Criticising the EC for not deploying army in the recently held Municipal elections, she said, “It has served the government’s purpose one-sidedly.”Appreciating the government for finally allowing her party to hold the rally, she called for restoring people’s all other democratic rights. “Or else, it can’t say when people will arise and put up a strong resistance.”Khaleda Zia also demanded the release of all ‘political prisoners’, including Nagorik Oiky convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, her party’s arrested leaders and activists, and withdraw the ‘false’ cases filed against them.She called upon all the law enforcers not to carry out the government ‘unjustified orders’ and ‘repress’ people.The BNP Chief also assured officials and administration and law enforcers that her party will not sack anyone if her party returns to power. “We’ll rather establish good governance and promote officials on the basis of seniority, competence and merit without considering anyone’s affiliation to BNP or Awami League,” she said. Pointing at the government, she said, “Whatever initiatives you (govt) have taken to establish monarchy by resorting to killing, enforced disappearance and hanging onto power with muscle power, will bring no good result for you.”Referring to incidents of attacks on Udichi, Ramna Batamul and CPB rally, she alleged that the country experiences the rise of militancy when AL comes to power. Khaleda Zia urged the government to cut down the prices of fuel, power and agricultural inputs, and meet the demand of the demonstrating public university teachers and restore their dignity.Chaired by BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy the rally was addressed, among others, by party senior leaders Jamiruddin Sircar, Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Nazrul Islam Khan, Dr Moyeen Khan and Abdullah Al Noman.
