18-party threatens to continue movement

 

The BNP-led 18-party alliance on Monday threaded to continue the ongoing movement if the government does not take effective steps for fresh elections to restore peace in the country.

 

“We urge the Prime Minister to take steps for a fresh election through talks forgetting all divisions and retributions and it’ll help restore peace,” said Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, one of the key alliance leaders.

 

Col Oli, also the president of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), made the call a press conference at his Mohakhali DOHS residence.

 

He also said they will reconsider their action programmes if the government comes up with the announcement for fresh elections.

 

The LDP chief described Sunday’s voting as an election of farce and fraudulence. “The majority voters did not go to cast their votes. We came to know from the media reports that the voter turnout is only 3-12 percent. But the Election Commission and government showed it 40 percent resorting to fraudulence.”

 

He lamented that the government has maligned the nation through the controversial election.

 

As his attention was drawn to BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman’s call for continuing the movement when he is saying for talks, Oli said Tarique’s announcement is appropriate one.

 

“Our stance is clear. The government must say first they’ll arrange the election very soon through discussions with all political parties. Only then, we’ll consider our agitation programmes,” the alliance leader said.

 

“We still believe, the government-created crisis can be resolved through discussions,” he added.

 

The LD chief alleged that the government has kept opposition leader Khaleda Zia under house arrest at her Gulshan residence.

Source: UNB Connect