PM forgets for how many days she called hartals in the month of Dec: Fakhrul
BNP on Monday alleged that the government is snatching people’s democratic rights one after another in a bid to impose an autocratic rule in the country as it has failed to run the state.
“When people across the country have started raising their voice against the government’s misrule, failure and corruption, it has swooped on theme with the steamroller and snatched their democratic rights one after another,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.
He came up with the allegation while talking to reporters after a secretary general-level meeting of the 18-party alliance at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
Fakhrul said they have long been urging the government to resolve the ongoing political stalemate over the caretaker government issue through discussions.
“But instead of responding to our call, they’re making indecent remarks deepening the crisis. The government should resolve the crisis without further delay.”
Accusing the government of obstructing the opposition’s peaceful programmes, the BNP leader warned that it will face dire consequences if it blocks any peaceful programme of the opposition.
Fakhrul came down heavily on Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir for his remarks that Jamaat did not apply to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner seeking permission for its rally in the capital, saying he lied before the nation.
Refuting the home minister’s remarks, he said Jamaat on November 29 applied to the DMP seeking permission for the rally. “The false remark of the home minister is a glaring example of Awami League’s foul politics and the government’s autocratic attitude.”
Denouncing the government’s action, the BNP spokesman demanded the Jamaat be allowed to exercise its constitutional and democratic rights, including holding rally.
Fakhrul alleged that police damaged a stage of BNP at Pllabi in the city erected to hold a milad mahfil.
Recalling that Awami League had also enforced hartal in December during 1996, the BNP leader again said they have announced action programmes for December to realise people’s rights not to save war criminals.
“The prime minister has criticised us for announcing programmes for December, but she has forgotten for how many times she enforced hartals in December. December is a month of establishing people’s rights through struggle. We’ve announced the programme to realise our demand for restoring the caretaker government.”
When his attention was drawn about the Prime Minister’s call to sever ties with Jamaat, Fakhrul said, “We do the politics of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, not hers. So, it matters little what she said about us.”
Addressing a rally in Moulvibazar on December 1, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Khaleda to sever link with Jamaat-Shibir and cautioned that otherwise she will also have to face the trial for corruption, killing and nepotism along with the Jamaat-Shibir.
BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Miah, joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and secretaries general of the alliance partners were present at the briefing.
Source: The Daily Star
