BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has called for forming resistance committees at polling centre level to prevent any attempt to hold national elections without the participation of the main opposition party.
Reiterating the demand for a nonpartisan government for overseeing the national elections, she on Saturday said no elections would be allowed under Sheikh Hasina.
The opposition chief was addressing the 18-Party alliance rally in Sylhet on Saturday afternoon at the Alia Madrasa ground amid drizzles.
Cautioning the government against holding elections without BNP, the opposition chief said “[voting] Centre-based resistance committees will have to be formed to prevent the Awami League’s unilateral elections. The people should be included in the committees. I am ordering to form the committees from now onwards.”
“A unilateral election will not be allowed and it will also not be acknowledged anywhere,” she said referring to appeals from foreign countries for an election with participation of all political parties.
According to the Constitution, the Awami League-led incumbent government will oversee the forthcoming 10th parliamentary election as the caretaker government system was annulled through the 15th constitutional amendment. The elections will be held between Oct 24 and Jan 24 next year.
The BNP has already threatened to boycott the polls if it was held under a partisan government. But the ruling party leaders have said the elections will take place even if the main opposition does not participate in it.
While referring to Prime Minister’s comment about holding elections as per the Constitution, the BNP Chairperson reminded the Awami League about 2007.
“Why did not you agree to go to polls under then Justice KM Hasan following the Constitution that time? You are the President of Awami League, how can the elections be held under you?”
“That’s why the polls won’t take place under you. You can scream as much you want but you will have to leave before elections,” Khaleda said referring to Hasina.
The BNP chief announced to launch tougher agitation after Oct 25. “Awami League’s time ends on Oct 24. If the demand for a non-party government is not met by then, we will begin our movement from Oct 25.”
Again referring to the Prime Minister she said, “Many of your party leaders have gone abroad. Many have also booked tickets with open visa. You won’t find anyone around you when the resistance committees are formed. You will see only us.”
Khaleda also assured BNP would not be vindictive if it comes to power next term. “We will keep you with due honour. We don’t believe in politics of vengeance.”
She asked the government officials to be impartial. “No one will lose their jobs. You think about the country and people. Don’t open fire on the people without any rhymes or reasons.”
“That’s why I’m still telling you [Sheikh Hasina] to pass the bill for nonpartisan government in Parliament. Stay in power until your term ends. But we’ll meet on the streets if the polls is held unilaterally,” Khaleda warned.
The Leader of the Opposition is holding rallies at different places across the country to rally support for the opposition’s movement and upcoming programmes to press for a nonpartisan government to oversee the general election.
Sylhet’s rally was the fifth in a series of the rallies to be held after Narsinghdi (Sept 8), Rangpur (Sept 15), Rajshahi (Sept 16) and Khulna (Sept 29).
Khaleda Zia arrived in Sylhet early on Saturday. She came to the rally venue at 3pm after offering prayers at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal and Hazrat Shah Paran.
During her 50-minute speech, she criticised the Awami League-led government for its corruption and partisan approach and went on to portray what the BNP would do if elected to power.
The government has turned everything including the administration, judiciary into partisan bodies, she said justifying her decision not to go to polls under the present government.
“The polls will not be free and fair under the current Prime Minister. Because all DCs, SPs, TNOs, OCs will work according to her directives.”
“Without non-party government there won’t be equal opportunities for all. Level playing field is needed for an impartial election. Anything else won’t work.”
Criticising the incumbent Election Commission (EC), the former Prime Minister said, “The present EC is loyal to the government and is a spineless institution. They are incapable of holding a fair poll.”
Proceedings of the rally at Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground had started at 12pm amid drizzling with recitation from holy Quran. Metropolitan BNP President MA Haque presided over the rally.
As the BNP chief arrived at the venue, thousands of leaders and activists of the opposition welcomed her with huge applause.
Leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir and other constituents of the opposition alliance thronged the venue since morning.
BNP and its affiliated organisations started coming in processions from Saturday noon. Chhatra Dal and Shibir activists had clashed over seating arrangements at one point around 1:30pm. Later, the central opposition leaders calmed the student activists.
Strings of banners were also put up around the venue seeking to know the whereabouts of missing Sylhet district BNP unit President M Ilias Ali.
The central Organising Secretary, Ilias Ali had gone missing one and a half years ago from Dhaka’s Banani. He is yet to be found.
All opposition leaders including Khaleda Zia mentioned Ali while addressing the rally. Khaleda said the BNP leader was ‘abducted’ because of his strong stance against Tipaimukh dam.
Ali’s wife Tahsina Rushdir Luna also addressed the rally.
Thousands of leaders and activists on buses and trucks had come from 12 Upazilas of Sylhet and adjacent districts- Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj.
Hundreds of makeshift gates, banners, festoons and billboards welcoming the opposition chief were placed all over the city. The rally venue and adjacent streets were also decked up.
Source: bdnews24
