18-Party threatens govt again

The 18-Party alliance has threatened tougher agitation if the government does not meet its demands including a non-party government and release of the arrested leaders.

BNP-Rally

BNP Standing Committee member Khadaker Mosharraf Hossain at a rally in Dhaka on Thursday urged the Awami League-led government to meet the demands.

“Otherwise there will be tougher programmes in future. The government will be held responsible if the country heads towards conflict.”

The rally was held in front of the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters in protest at the arrest of the senior party leaders and in demand of their release. Top leaders of the opposition coalition that the BNP leads also addressed the rally.

The opposition leaders demanded 16th Amendment to the Constitution in order to reinstate the election-time caretaker government system, which was annulled by the government in June 2011 through the 15th Amendment.

Khandaker Mosharraf said, “I’m telling the government, don’t waste anymore time. Reinstate the non-party government system, and there won’t be any political unrest in the country anymore.”

He also urged the government to release the BNP senior leaders including Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to create the ‘environment’ for discussion on the poll-time government.

Apart from those of the BNP, leaders and activists of its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir were seen at the rally in huge numbers.

Mosharraf said the government wanted to hold a one-sided election by keeping the senior opposition leaders behind bars.

BNP Vice-Chariman Sadeque Hossain Khoka protested the oppression on the opposition. He said, “We are not angry with the police. But those who are blindly following this failed and anti-people government, I want to tell them that there is still time, be aware.”

“Otherwise, names and addresses of those who will open fire on general people will be gathered. They will definitely face justice one day,” he added.

Source: bdnews24