Stating that an unbearable situation has been prevailing in the country, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Saturday that ousting the current government is the only option to overcome misrule and protect the country and its people.
“There is only one way left for us. That way is removing this government. Because they have already proved that they have done the most damage to Bangladesh,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ unity (DRU) organised by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal, marking its 43rd founding anniversary.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s call to the opposition parties to join the next polls, Fakhrul said no election will be held in Bangladesh until a non-party neutral government is installed.
He said the country’s people will not participate in any polls like what happened in 2014 and 2018.
“We are trying to talk to all the political parties and bring them under the same umbrella. The first thing that needs to be done is to force the Prime Minister to resign by handing over power to an impartial caretaker government,” the BNP leader said.
Besides, he said parliament must be dissolved and a fresh election commission will have to be formed under the caretaker government for holding a credible election.
Fakhrul called upon the alem-ulema to mobilise public support for waging a movement to restore democracy, and people’s rights and establish a pro-people government.
“We don’t say anything unfair as we urge the government to come to the right path. We don’t say to put BNP in power. We say that whoever the people want, should be in power and they’ll run the country,” he observed.
Saying that the nation is going through a very difficult time, the BNP leader urged people from all walks of life to get united to defeat the current ‘fascist’ and ‘repressive’ regime. “It is very difficult for a democratic party to defeat a fascist force. So, we must get united.”
He said the government has let loose police to suppress the opposition leaders and activists by implicating them in ‘false’ cases.
“Many of us blame police. Police are just doing it at the behest of the government. It’s Sheikh Hasina and her government who are responsible for all the misdeeds. The crime of police is that they are obeying the illegal orders or instructions of the government.”
The BNP leader also slammed the government for its move to collect ‘information about opposition leaders, activists and well-wishers by police across the country,” Fakhrul said.
Fakhrul also accused the government of regulating the media and politicising all the state institutions. “An intolerable atmosphere prevails everywhere in the country now. Everything, even the mosques, is being controlled by the government. I learned a few days ago that they (the govt) would determine the sermon of Jumaa prayers. What could be worse than that? They don’t hesitate to do these things.”
Though the people of Bangladesh believe in religious harmony and the freedom of religion, the BNP leader said the government is trying to create division among them and is continuing repression on people of all religions.
He alleged that the ruling party leaders are indulging in ‘widespread’ plundering and corruption in every sector like Bargis, a notorious group of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century.
“They have taken up many projects in the name of developing the power sector and siphoned off huge sum of money by indulging in plundering,” the BNP leader added.
Fakhrul bemoaned that many alem-ulema have been tortured and sent to jail by the incumbent government only for preaching Islam.
The BNP leader said the government has been trying to malign alem-ulema and harass them in many ways.
“They didn’t withdraw even a single case filed against the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam,” Fakhrul concluded.
Source: United News of Bangladesh