Turning down the BNP chief’s 48-hour ultimatum, Awami League general secretary Syed Ahsraful Islam on Sunday categorically said they will not accept the opposition’s demand for restoration of the non-party caretaker government system.
“Awami League’s source of power is people, not arms. Awami League had never accepted any ultimatum in the past and won’t do that this time, too. I’m, on behalf of Awami League, turning down Khaleda Zia’s 48-hour ultimatum,” he said.
A day after BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s 48-hour deadline for accepting the caretaker government demand, Asharf came up with his party’s formal reaction to it at a press briefing at Awami League President’s Dhanmondi office.
Addressing the 18-party’s Shapla Chattar rally on Saturday, leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia gave the government a 48-hour ultimatum to clearly announce that the next general election will be held under a non-party administration or face tougher programmes.
Ashraf went on: “The way Khaleda issued the threat from the rally was expected. Awami League never believes in issuing threats. You come to the negotiation table responding to the Prime Minister’s call as the people of the country do not want violence. Rather, they want to settle all the problems through discussions.”
Ashraf aid his party had never held a lopsided general election and will not do so in the future, too.
“The people of the country know the history of BNP as well as Khaleda Zia. Awami League never holds one-party polls. It’s BNP that held one-party polls in 1996 where no party, excluding BNP, did take part in. Awami League didn’t hold one-party polls and wouldn’t do in the future either,” he said.
Turning to Hefajat’s demonstration in the capital, Ashraf asked the leaders and activists of the Islamist group to leave Dhaka before the evening. “Or else, the government will take action.”
“It’s the duty of the government to save public life and property. The government is ready to do so and keep the public life normal,” he added.
Ashraf also warned that the government will not tolerate any chaos and disorder. “Don’t take the government’s generosity as its weakness. This time we’ve allowed you to come to Dhaka. But we won’t allow you to be in the capital and even come out of your houses in the future. The way the so-called Hefajat-e-Islam unleashed chaos today (Sunday), the people of the country wouldn’t tolerate that.”
Pointing at the Hefajat leaders, Ashraf said, “Awami League doesn’t care your bloodshot of eyes. We’ave defeated you in the country’s Liberation War. If you go ahead through the path of violence, Awami League alone is enough to resist you.”
In reply to a question, Ashraf said, “BNP, Jamaat and Hefajat are the same party. They hold the same ideology. In today’s (Sunday’s) rally all took part wearing caps. Are they all Hefajat men? The BNP and Hefajat men also participated in it by wearing caps. There lies the similarity of those parties.”
On sending letter to BNP for holding dialogue, the ruling party leader said that BNP has turned down the proposal. “If they accept the proposal, then we must send them a letter in this regard.”
Awami League leaders, Abdul Latif Siddique, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Ahmed Hossain, Hasan Mahmud and Abdur Razzak were, among others, present at the press briefing.
Source: UNBConnect
