Thousands converge for BNP rally in Faridpur

Staff Reporter :
Thousands of leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) joined the party’s divisional rally in Faridpur on Saturday, defying various obstacles, including transport strike.
The rally at the Komarpur Abdul Aziz Institution ground, about six kilometres away from Faridpur district town, was organised by the district unit of BNP as part of their ongoing movement programmes.
BNP leaders and activists from five districts – Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Gopalganj – gathered there in advance from the adjacent districts, fearing obstacles by ruling party men, police, and hassles caused by the bus strike.
They flocked to the rally venue since Wednesday and many of them stayed overnight there.
Though bus communication remained halted between Faridpur and the rest of the country since Friday morning, the BNP activists came to Komorpur Abdul Aziz Institution’s premises by train, trucks and small vehicles like human haulers, auto rickshaws, three-wheelers, motorbikes, and micro-buses.
BNP leaders alleged that their activists were obstructed at different entry points and police check posts and C&B Ghat by law enforcers from joining the rally.
 Speaking at the mass rally, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the ruling Awami League leaders and activists had laundered Tk 10 lakh crore from the country to abroad in the past 12 years.
“Awami League is looting the country’s resources. They have depleted the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Even they have stolen from mega projects to unemployment allowance, old age allowance, and widow allowance,” the BNP leader alleged.
Fakhrul also called upon Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign immediately, saying that the next elections should be held under a non-partisan caretaker government. He said that the people would not allow Awami League to play with elections.
“The movement this time is the fight to get back our rights to food, votes and lost democracy,” said Fakhrul adding, “But it will not be possible without election under a caretaker government.”
He also said that a national government is necessary to repair the administration. “We want to reform the judiciary for the sake of justice. We want to reform the administration for good governance. We want to resist corruption.”
Criticising the government over its misrule, Fakhrul said, “The Awami League government has destroyed the country, economy and politics as well as our future.”
About the caretaker government, he said, “The caretaker government system was enshrined in the Constitution and free and fair elections were held under the system. But the Awami League has destroyed the system.”
Criticising the comments of AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, he said, “He (Quader) said that Awami League is struggling to institutionalise democracy. Those who have destroyed democracy are telling about the institutionalisation of democracy. It is ludicrous.”
About the transport strike, Fakhrul said, “The government has imposed the transport strike by their lackeys. Police have set up check posts on the ways and ask us where we will go. This is the democracy of Awami League.”
Slamming the presence of casino kingpin Samrat in the Jubo League rally in Shurawardy Udyan on Friday, he said, “He (Samrat) is now freed on bail and sits on the front row of the Jubo League rally in front of the Mancha. What a country it is!”
“Awami League thinks that the country is their parental property, their ancestral property. We the general people are the servants. But it will not go on. People have stood up. They will not return home without the election under caretaker government,” he continued.
Regarding their demands, he said, “We want the resignation of the present government right now. We want an interim caretaker government that will form a new EC. The EC will then hold a free and fair election to form a national government.”
About the mass upsurge, he said, “Isn’t it a democratic country? Did not the people have the right to live? You (AL) have killed our leaders and workers by bullets. But we will not allow it now. All people have stood up.”

He said the AL-government promised to ensure rice Tk 10 per kilo, people will get jobs and fertilizers will be distributed free, but nothing has happened.
“We did not want this country where our boys will be hawkers or motorcycle riders to lead their lives,” he added.
Mentioning the name of Hazi Shariatullah, Dudu Mia and Sheikh Mujib, he said, “People in this area fought for independence, democracy and people’s rights. Following the legacy, people have gathered here for establishing democracy.”
Among others, BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Vice-Chairman AZM Zahid Hossain and Faridpur Division Secretary General Shama Obaid, also spoke, in the rally, which was presided over by Faridpur City BNP Convener ASM Kaiyum and moderated by district BNP Member Secretary AK Kibria.
An adequate number of police and other security officials had been deployed around the rally venue and at different points of the town to prevent any untoward incident.
The rally in Faridpur is the 6th one by the BNP at the divisional level as five others were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur and Barishal.
BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.
As part of its ongoing movement, the main opposition BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities, denouncing the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.