The opposition BNP on Friday alleged that the government is conspiring to create a civil-war-like situation in the country with an aim to cling to power by averting the next general election.
“We’re apprehending that the government is hatching a plot to create a civil-war-like situation in the country to avoid the election. The remarks of the Prime Minister’s advisers and senior ruling party leaders have exposed the government’s evil motive,” BNP standing committee Member Rafiqul Islam Miah told a discussion.
Deshpremik Nagarik Party, a pro-opposition platform, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
Rafiqul said a state of confusion has been created in the public’s mind about the prospect of the next election as the ruling party leaders are making contradictory remarks regarding the tenure of the government and current parliament session.
Accusing the government of creating the ongoing political crisis over the nature of the polls-time administration by scrapping the caretaker government system, the BNP leader said Awami League must resolve the problem as it has created it.
He said the BNP-led 18-party alliance will in no way allow the current regime to hold a lopsided election under a partisan administration.
Rafiqul termed the incumbent Election Commission “a subservient institution” and criticised it for its alleged efforts to register the Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF). “They (EC) are going to register a baseless organisation, BNF, at the behest of a government intelligence agency.”
He also said the Election Commission doesn’t have the capability to hold a free and fair election.
Addressing the discussion, opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abedin Farroque alleged that the Prime Minister is illegally conducting election campaign in favour of her party spending public money.
“There’ll be no use seeking votes for ‘boat’. We won’t allow you even to send the ballot boxes to the polling stations. We want to clearly state that no election will be held in the country keeping BNP out of the election race,” he warned.
Farroque called upon the government to arrange the next polls under a non-party government to protect the democracy and avoid violence.
Chaired by Deshpremik Nagarik Party chairman Ahsanullah Shamim, the programme was addressed, among others, by BNP international affairs secretary Nazimuddin Alam, executive committee member and former MP Helen Zerin Khan and Swadhinata Forum president Abu Naser Rahamatullah.
Source: UNB Connect