Brushing aside the ruling party leaders’ claim that the next national election to be held on completion of the current government’s five-year tenure, BNP spokesman Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the election will be held much ahead of 2019.
“There was no participation of people in the January-5 election. People didn’t accept the polls. So, the next election will be held much ahead of 2019, no matter what the ruling party leaders are saying. We do believe people will force it to hold the fresh election,” he said.
Fakhrul, also the BNP acting secretary general, came up with the remarks at a meet-the-press programme arranged by Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) at its auditorium.
Mentioning that it is not possible to develop the country by snatching people’s rights and annihilating democratic system, he said Awami League grabbed power through an illegal election against people’s will putting the country into a deep crisis. “It’s necessary to free democracy to overcome the crisis.”
Replying to a question when BNP will launch the decisive movement, the BNP leader said it is not possible to say any specific date for launching the movement but as soon people will get united and vocal as earlier the movement will be launched. “BNP doesn’t believe in politics of trump card.”
He, however, said the BNP-led 20-party alliance will gradually intensify the ongoing anti-government movement and will put it into the ‘top gear’ to force the government to hold the next election under a non-party administration through talks. “The government must sit in dialogue with BNP.”
The BNP spokesman assured that they will not take to the streets and wage any fierce movement if the government engages in dialogue and ensure people’s voting rights.
Asked about people’s perception that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is very comfort-loving person and lost her fitness for waging a strong movement, Fakhrul said she is the most tested leader of the country who led the fight against HM Ershad’s autocratic regime for nine years and still has enough strength to launch such an agitation again.
As his attention was drawn to the media reports that the BNP chief did not join Tuesday’s 20-party rally at Suhrawardy Udyan due to rain, Fakhrul said “This allegation is absolutely untrue. A person can fall ill any time. She could not attend the rally due to her sudden illness.”
Disapproving the government’s move to restore parliament’s authority to impeach the Supreme Court judges, he said the government has already politicised the judiciary. “It has taken he moved to establish is full control over the judiciary so that no judge can defy the government’s direction.”
Criticising the government for formulating the National Broadcast Policy, 2014, Fakhrul said BNP will revoke the policy if it returns to power and ensure full freedom of the press.
He also said their party will not make any anti-people law if it is voted to power.
Source: UNB
