Fakhrul urges people to join BNP’s Dhaka rally to say ‘no’ to govt

Staff Reporter :
The main opposition party-BNP has prepared to hold its today’s (Saturday’s) grand rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office with ‘historic gathering’ as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police finally nod for the venue.

The BNP made a plan to give a message to its activists’, supporters and the people of the country about its final course of action, which the leaders say will be tougher.

The party has prepared well to make the grand rally a success for strengthening its next phase of ‘tougher’ movement to ‘oust’ the government.

Party insiders said BNP is going to start its tougher phase of agitation after today’s rally as a final effort of press home its one point demand of resignation of the Awami League government and hold the next polls under a non-party caretaker government.

As part of the next course of action, the party has made a plan to encircle Prime Minister’s office demanding her resignation.

The party will announce the programme from the Saturday’s grand rally, insiders said.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday warned the government not to make obstacles of holding the grand rally in the city’s Nayapaltan in front of its central office.

He said if the government tries to make obstacles on holding the grand rally it (govt) will be responsible if any situation create.

The BNP Secretary General called the countrymen to
join to the grand rally to say ‘no’ to the government.

“Join the grand rally and tell the government in clear terms, “no, no more,” Mirza Fakhrul said while addressing a press conference over the grand rally on its central office in Nayapaltan on Friday.

Reaffirming that their grand rally will be held peacefully, he urged people from all walks of life to participate in it, to send a message to Awami League to step down and hand over power to a neutral government.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office, the BNP leader also warned that the government will be held responsible if it or the ruling party commits any excesses or creates any obstacles to the rally.

Fakhrul also said they will wait until the last moment if needed, for permission to hold the rally at Naya Paltan and then make a decision in this regard.

“We want to hold a rally at Naya Paltan as we sent a letter to the DMP in this regard. We will hold this rally in a completely peaceful manner, he said.

The BNP leader said their party still did not get any letter from the DMP permitting the party to hold the program at Naya Paltan.

“We still hope that they (DMP) will not create any obstacles and they will help to remove all kinds of obstacles in the grand rally.”

He said the main objective of their rally is to mount pressure on the current regime to quit and hand over power to a non-partisan government.

“We also want good sense to prevail upon the government to create a favourable atmosphere for a fair election by accepting our one-point demand.”

“The biggest thing is that there is no favourable environment for elections in the country,” the BNP secretary-general said.

Replying to a question, he said the BNP does not fear any violence as their party did similar programs peacefully in the past.

Fakhrul, however, alleged that the ruling party leaders are making various provocative statements like taking to the streets with sticks.

He said the government is trying to hold the entire people hostage with its repressive policy and using the police administration.

Under the circumstances, he called upon the people from across the country to join the BNP rally to restore their voting rights, freedom of expression and other democratic rights and establish a free and livable society and state.

“On behalf of BNP, we sincerely urge the people to come and join our grand rally on Saturday and to send out a message to the government to quit and not to stay in power anymore,” the BNP leader said.

He alleged that the government has turned the country into a failed state by destroying all state institutions and the economy and by resorting to plundering and siphoning off money abroad.

Besides, huge numbers of BNP leaders, activists, and supporters gathered in front of its Nayapalan central office and chanting different slogans calling resignation of the AL government.

Besides, the party leaders thought that today’s grand rally would be a significant one as it will be determined the next measures of the oppositions.

“If the PM not resign to fulfill their demand immediately, or if the law enforcement agencies subjugate the party from holding the planned encircle programme, the BNP will announce Dhaka blockade and nationwide strike prgramme then,” one of the party’s senior leaders said.

Policy makers and senior leaders of the party said that they think the time is dying fast. So, they have to wage their tougher movement right now.

When contacted, BNP Vice-Chairman, Barkatullah Bulu told The New Nation, “We have hold number of programmes like road march, human chain, street meetings, rallies and processions long days. All of our programmes were peacefully.

We will give the government chances to meet our demand and resign immediately, but they failed.”

“Now the time has come to start tougher agitation as the people of the country has demanded their voting right back. We will wage tougher movement for returning democratic process in the country,” Bulu said.

When contacted, BNP Joint-Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal told The New Nation, “Our programmes of the next course of action also will be democratic manner such as encircle programme, sit in, strike and blockades may take place as per the demand of the time.”

He said as a democratic political party, BNP’s every programme will upheld the democratic values.

Talking with The New Nation, BNP Standing Committee Member Goyeswar Chandra Roy told, “All of our programmes reflect the necessity of the times.

So, which programmes are coming will say the time. The BNP will take its political actions as per the demand of the situation.”

He said if the government fail to understand the desires of the people and do not resign soon, they will be regretted for this.