AL govt obstacle to fair polls: BNP
Staff Reporter :
BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday said the Awami League government is the obstacle to fair polls in Bangladesh.
“The USA has announced that those who obstruct the elections will not be given visas. We want to say from this rally that those who are obstructing fair polls, democracy or people’s right to vote in Bangladesh are the current government,” Dr. Mosharraf said while speaking at a rally in the capital on Saturday.
He said also the USA has rejected the current government by announcing its new visa policy for Bangladesh.
The BNP leader said the new visa policy of the USA is very shameful for the Awami League saying that the Awami League has brought this shame to the country.
Dr. Mosharraf said the government is giving the foreigners a false commitment that the next general election will be
conducted in a free and fair manner under them, but it’s not possible for them to arrange a credible election.
The country’s people as well as foreigners have seen that two previous elections held under it were not worthy of the name, he added.
“The democratic countries, including the USA, are saying the next polls must be free, fair and inclusive. They understand that there was no fair election under Sheikh Hasina in the past, nor will it be in the future,” he said.
He also said BNP and most other opposition parties will not participate in the election if it is held under Sheikh Hasina.
“The international community is seeking a participatory election and the polls won’t be inclusive without the BNP.”
As part of the party’s countrywide programme, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units organised the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next generals under a non-party neutral government. It also meant to protest against the arrest and harassment of party leaders and activists in false cases.
BNP also organised rallies in 15 other districts for registering the party’s protest against the filing of fictitious cases against opposition leaders and activists, soaring prices of essentials, frequent power cuts and the all-pervasive corruption by the Awami League government.
Mosharraf said the prime minister went to different countries to seek their favour to hang onto power again, but failed.
“This government is not elected by the people. Not only we, but also the entire world is saying that elections in 2014 and 2018 held under the current government were no polls,” he said.
The BNP leader said the ruling party leaders have realized that they are going to face a debacle in the next polls. That’s why they’re trying to resort to different tricks and blueprints, he added.
He said a ruling party business syndicate has increased the prices of all essential items unusually to make their pockets heavier.
Mosharraf called upon the people from all walks of life to get ready to oust the current regime through a mass uprising. Dr. Mosharraf urged to the law enforcement agencies not to obstruct peaceful programmes of people and file false cases and arrest people at the behest of the government.
