Opposition BNP on Saturday threatened to go on self-imprisonment if the government does not reinstate the caretaker government system to oversee the next general election.
“BNP knows how to force the government to accept its demand. If needed, we’ll go on self-imprisonment to realise our demand (CG),” said opposition spokesperson Shamsuzzaman Dudu.
The BNP leader was speaking at a pre-hartal press-briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the capital.
On Friday, the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance called a nationwide daylong hartal for Sunday demanding restoration of the caretaker government system, release of its arrested leaders and activists and withdrawal of the ban on holding public meetings and processions.
Dudu alleged that police have already started arresting opposition leaders and workers ahead of the shutdown.
Referring to the opposition’s anti-government campaign, the BNP chairperson’s adviser said there will be no movement if the government accepts the demand for non-party interim government to oversee the next general election. “BNP has no problem in allowing the government to complete its full term.”
About dialogue with the government for breaking the political standoff, he said, “We (BNP) are ready to sit-in a dialogue anywhere if the government makes clear the dialogue agenda. BNP is now in both movement and discussions.”
In a scathing attack on the Information Minister, the BNP chairperson’s adviser said: “Attacks on the media have marked a rise since Hasanul Haq Inu assumed office as Information Minister.”
Referring to setting fire to the effigy of party standing committee member Moudud Ahmed in the city on Friday, Dudu dismissed the involvement of his party men in the incident.
Dhaka city unit BNP member secretary Abdus Salam, assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony and others were also present at the pre-hartal press-briefing.
Source: UNBConnect
