Staff Reporter :
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday demanded to form an ‘election-time government’ beside the neutral Election Commission to hold free, fair and inclusive national polls.
She made the demand while addressing a rally organised by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) marking its 38th founding anniversary at the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh in the capital.
Khaleda Zia said the BNP has put ahead the demand to the President last month while they met with the head of the state to discuss about forming the next EC.
“We told the President that only neutral EC is not sufficient to hold a participatory election. It needs an election-time neutral ‘supporting government’ to help with every logistic support to the EC to hold such acceptable election,” she said.
The BNP chief said it is not possible to hold a participatory election under the Awami League government. She said BNP always wants to elect public representatives through fair polls but the Awami League did not want that. She alleged that the AL only wants to cling to power.
Khaleda Zia also labeled the government autocratic saying it is destroying the country and the young generation to cling into the power forever.
“The government wants only to cling into the power forever. They never could think to leave the power. They are destroying the country and the future of the young generation,” she said.
The BNP chief also questioned, “If for these reason the freedom fighters had sacrificed their lives?” The government is framing new laws only for strengthening its power, she alleged.
Khaleda Zia also accused the government of staging drama by arranging various incidents in the name of militancy and extremism.
“Bangladesh is not a land for militancy. It is not a fertile land for extremism. The government is behind all militant activities, forced disappearances and killings. The people of the country understand it,” she said.
“Who is behind the terrorist acts in the country? It is the government and the ruling Awami League men who are involved in killing, forced disappearances and other unlawful activities,” she asked.
She added the ruling AL men are insulting teachers, doctors and the government officials. Even they are insulting police men everyday. These incidents are published in newspapers regularly.
Khaleda Zia also blamed law enforcers for the killing of innocent people.
“The law enforcers should honour their uniforms. They should not shoot people only to save the AL government’s power. Are you not Bangladeshi? How a Bangladeshi can shoot another Bangladeshi?” she asked.
The BNP chairperson said the people also want to know whether foreign nationals are included among the law enforcers.
She also accused of presence of foreign nationals in the country and asked the government to make clear how many foreign intelligence personnel are working in the country now.
The former Prime Minister accused of the government as it is taking huge commission from the big projects like the Padma Bridge.
Khaleda Zia told the JCD leaders and activists that the BNP will go to power again.
“I was beside you in the street in the movement against autocrat Ershad. Now we are restructuring our party. We will announce movement in due time and will go to power,” she said.
The BNP chief said the people of the country want to get rid of this government. “The people of the country want to get respite from the suppressions of the government. They are looking upon the BNP for help him.”
She said there is no democracy in the country. The government has killed it by holding one-sided national polls on January 5 in 2014.
BNP chief ask the JCD leaders to stand with the people of the country. “Only popularity is not everything to come in power. It needs many more beyond popularity for getting in state power. I hope you, the JCD men, will do that,” she asked.
Earlier, the BNP chief came to the dais at 4:00pm and launched the programme by releasing balloons and pigeons.
Razib Ahsan, the president of JCD, presided over the programme.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Senior leaders Dr. Abdul Moen Khan, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Aman Ullah Aman, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Abul Khair Bhuiyan, Fazlul Haque Milan and Asaduzzaman Ripon, among others, were present.
