Dhaka, Mar 10 (Just News): BNP on Saturday alleged that its Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been put in jail as part of an 'evil design' of the government to hold another lopsided election to hang on to power.
"The government wants to hold another one-sided election as it did in 2014. That's why they sent Khaleda Zia to jail as part of their blueprint," said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a rally in the city here, he further said, "The government won't be able to implement its blueprint. We'll surely restore people's democratic and voting rights by freeing our leader (Khaleda) from jail.
Khulna district and city units BNP jointly arranged the rally in front of the party's city office at KD Ghosh Road demanding Khaleda's immediate release from jail.
The party sought permission to hold the rally at Hadis Park, but police allowed it to stage it in front of the party office.
Huge law enforcers were deployed around the rally venue to fend off any untoward incident. Law enforcers were also there at important points of the city and around the Hadis Park.
BNP standing committee members Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice chairmen Barkatullah Bulu, Netail Roy Chowdhury and central leaders of the party and the 20-party alliance addressed the programme presided over by Khulna city unit BNP Nazrul Islam Monju.
BNP has a plan to hold rallies in all divisional cities gradually to have their chairperson released from jail. It was the first divisional rally of the party.
The party is also scheduled to hold rallies at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan on March 12, Chittagong on March 31 and Rajshahi on March 31.
Fakhrul said they have been carrying out peaceful programmes since their chairperson was sent to jail on February 8 without responding to various provocations by the government and law enforcers.
He said the law enforcers attacking their peaceful programmes and arresting their leaders and raiding their houses to spread panic.
Accusing Awami League of establishing a state of plundering, the BNP leader said the government is using the law enforcers and administration like its party cadres to escape public wraths for its widespread corruption and misdeeds.
He said the huge presence of people in their rally braving various obstacles and fear of arrest has demonstrated that they are united against the current government.
Fakhrul said their movement is not for only ensuring their chairperson's release from jail, but also for restoring people's voting and all other democratic rights.
He called upon the people of all walks of life to get united to make their movement a success.
The BNP leader said Khaleda Zia has been kept in solitary confinement at old Dhaka's abandoned central jail under huge mental pressure. "But she won't bow down to any pressure and threats like in the past."
BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said Awami League is now doing politics depending on police and administration as people are not with it.
Mentioning that their party founder Ziaur Rahman had freed people from one party Baksal rule, he said they will now free the country from 'plunderers and restore democracy'.
Nazrul Islam Khan said their party will not allow Awami League to hold a lopsided and stage-managed election again.
He also said their party chief Khaleda Zia will be released from jail through bail and she will participate in the next polls.
Amir Khosru Mahmud said Awami League does not want to allow BNP to hold any rally as it fears people and their gatherings.
(Justnews/ys/0030)
