Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) asserted on Friday that public support for the ruling Awami League government has drastically declined. “Public support for the government is virtually non-existent as evidenced by the low voter turnout in the first phase of the Upazila Parishad elections held on Wednesday,” stated Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, during a rally in front of the party’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka.
Roy criticized the recent elections, claiming, “The voter turnout yesterday was even lower than that of the January 7 election. The government claims the voting was fair, yet they have rigged the election by pre-stamping ballots with Awami League seals.”
The rally, demanding the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, her permission to receive medical treatment abroad, and the withdrawal of what they describe as ‘fabricated’ cases against the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, drew a significant number of participants.
“We demand the release of all political leaders, including our leader Begum Khaleda Zia, and those imprisoned for participating in the movement to restore democracy,” Roy added.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP Senior Joint Secretary, also spoke at the rally, accusing close associates of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of amassing significant wealth. “Someone close to the prime minister is now the third richest person in the world. You have only enriched your circle and affiliates like the Chhatra League and Jubo League, neglecting the general populace and exacerbating the plight of the poor,” Rizvi alleged.
The rally, which started at 4:00 PM with a recitation from the Holy Quran, saw participation from central party leaders and supporters from various parts of Dhaka, who joined in with banners and festoons. The event was presided over by Abdus Salam, convener of Dhaka South unit of BNP, and moderated by member secretary Rafiqul Alam Majnu.
A heavy presence of law enforcement was noted around Nayapaltan and adjoining areas due to the rally.
