BNP chief’s Adviser Emajuddin Ahmed has alleged that a level-playing field has not yet been created for the city corporation elections, claiming Khaleda Zia is still ‘under siege’.
“The office of one of the large party in the country is still under lock and key. A three-time prime minister is under siege in her office,” the convener of pro-BNP professionals’ organisation Citizens’ Committee said on Friday from a rally in the capital.
Khaleda has been staying in her Gulshan office after calling for indefinite nationwide transport blockade from Jan 5 after police barred her from a party programme, which they feared could lead to political confrontation.
However, she has not stepped out even after police removed their barricade a few days later.
Meanwhile, a warrant for her arrest was issued by a Dhaka court after she did not appear in consecutive hearings of graft charges against her.
Several ruling leaders have urged her to attend court as a mark of deference to the law.
Apparently unwilling to leave her office, Khaleda had also skipped paying customary tributes to martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar and National Memorial on International Mother Language Day and Independence Day.
Her failure to do so invited harsh criticism.
Amidst all these, one of her key advisors, Emajuddin, alleged she was still under siege.
He warned, “Law enforcers should not bar any candidate anywhere.”
A large number of BNP leaders have been accused in cases of violence like arson, vandalism and firebombing which have claimed over 100 lives during the last three months of blockade and shutdown. Even though many BNP leaders have submitted nominations, most are yet to publicly start campaigning for Dhaka city polls.
The former DU vice chancellor said, “Even in such bad times, Khaleda Zia has nodded to participating in the polls. The anti-government movement will have to be strengthened by winning these polls.”
He added that members of the citizens committee will go to every ward in Dhaka on behalf of ‘pro-democracy’ candidates and slated the government as being ‘immoral’ and ‘without peoples support’.
“We have to connect with all pro-democracy sides and not stay limited to citizens committee. There is a 501 member committee in Chittagong, if needed we will have to make a 1001-man committee in Dhaka.”
“We will have to bring the three city corporations under our control through the polls. If we cannot ensure our win, we will have to suffer in the future. We will have to spread word of any misdoing we can identify all over the world. Youths will have to lead this.”
Source: bdnews24
