Illegal regime won’t last for long, she says
Demanding immediate cancellation of Sunday’s ‘farcical‘ elections, opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Monday urged the government to quit and reach a compromise for holding a free, fair, peaceful and inclusive national election under a non-party neutral administration.
In a statement, Khaleda, also the chairperson of BNP, thanked and greeted the country’s democracy-loving people and voters for what she said boycotting the farcical and stigmatic elections.
“The blemished and mock elections not only demonstrated people’s no-confidence in the government but also proved free, fair, impartial, peaceful and inclusive polls are not possible without a non-party neutral administration and acceptable Election Commission,” she claimed.
The BNP chief further claimed that the voters fully boycotted with hatred the voter-less unilateral stage-managed elections. “They (people) didn’t respond to the acts of killing democracy and rejected the Awami League’s this shameless showdown.”
Khaleda said the people of Bangladesh have staged a silent revolution in favour of their rights and democracy and against the autocratic regime’s plan to prolong it.
“People at home and elsewhere in the world have seen in their own eyes and through the media how the voter-boycotted the stage-managed, hated and farce elections were held. The polling stations across the country were empty,” she stated.
The former premier alleged that the ruling party is trying to prolong their power by snatching people’s rights by defeating the country’s people by force through resorting to terrorism and abusing the state power.
She said the government has no moral and constitutional base to remain in power as people have rejected the “one-sided and staged-managed” election. “No one has the jurisdiction to run the country without people’s mandate.”
Pointing at the international community, Khaleda said a scope has been created for militancy what she said she had reined in with an iron hand to raise head again due to the current autocratic rule, which may threaten the peace and stability of not only Bangladesh but also the whole South Asian region.
“So, the world conscience must be more vocal in favour of restoration of democracy in Bangladesh and free exercise of democratic norms and rules.
The ex-prime minister warned the government that it would not be able to overcome the current crisis and problems by keeping her under apparent house arrest, isolating her from people and oppressing people and the opposition. “It’ll only deepen the crisis and become irresolvable one.”
Mentioning that their ongoing movement will continue until the final victory, Khaleda asked party leaders and activists to implement the action programmes to be announced from the centre in coordination with local leaders. “I also call upon all political parties and forces and individuals to intensify the movement.”
The opposition leader urged all, including the administration and law enforcers to refrain from involving unlawful acts, killing and repression. “Work for restoring healthy and normal situation and stay with people. Ensure security for life, property, and dignity of all citizens, including religious minority communities.”
Khaleda called upon the country’s people to get united for restoring their rights by facing all falsehood and evil-designs. “The illegal regime won’t last for long.”
Source: UNB Connect
