The BNP has hinted at toughening its ongoing agitation after Oct 24 to press for a non-party caretaker government to supervise the forthcoming national election.
The party’s Standing Committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia asked BNP activists to get ready for ‘detention and being jailed’ in the interest of the movement.
“Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia will announce a slew of new programmes if the government does not accept the caretaker demand by Oct 24…we’ll have to be ready to face detention to make the agitation a success,” he said at an event in Dhaka on Friday.
He said the demand for a non-party caretaker government cannot be realised without such preparations.
Mia alleged the government was ‘threatening’ officials with the intention of holding a one-party election.
“These threats won’t work,” he said.
As per the Constitution, the 10th national election will take place under the incumbent government between Oct 25 and Jan 24. The BNP and its allies have been holding street agitations, alleging that election under a partisan body will not be free and fair.
The opposition has been threatening a tougher movement if the caretaker provision is not restored.
Mia said the government must dissolve Parliament before the polls.
He termed the Election Commission (EC) a ‘puppet of the government’.
“We believe this puppet body (EC) is incapable of organising a free and fair election,” he said.
Source: Bd news24
