Chattogram, Oct 27 (Just News): Jatiya Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain today warned that the ruling quarter will have to face trial in future if it does not accept their seven-point demand for holding the next general election in a free, fair and inclusive manner.
“Accept our seven-point demand immediately. Otherwise, you (government) would have to face trial in future,” Dr Kamal, also president of Gono Forum, came up with the warning while addressing a rally in Chattogram city this afternoon.
"People gave their verdict in favour of the seven-point by raising their hands today. A mass verdict was also given in Sylhet in this regard. We would like to tell the government to accept the demands before time runs out. Or else, you'll have to face trial," he said.
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Dr Kamal further said, "If you violate or ignore peoples' decision, you can't even imagine the punishment that you will get for it."
Claiming that holding public rally is a constitutional right, Kamal said the government did not allow the Oikyafront to stage its rally at the Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram and that the ruling quarter must be held accountable for its denial.
“People are the sole owner of the country but they are now being deprived of the state facilities,” he also said, blaming the government for frequently violating the country’s constitution.
During his speech, thousands of supporters and activists of the newly floated election-oriented alliance started chanting slogans demanding immediate release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.
Responding to their call, Kamal said, “It is not a matter of raising demand to free her (Khaleda Zia) from jail rather it is the issue of getting her released from imprisonment.”
“Khaleda Zia has been confined in jail. The government will have to be held accountable and must be punished for such confinement,” he sounded a note of caution.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who also addressed the rally, said leaders and activists of the Jatiya Oikyafront will return home only after realising its seven-point demand including holding of the next general election under a polls-time non-partisan government and ensuring immediate release of imprisoned BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
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“We have faced many repressive acts of the government. Even, many of us have met the fate of enforced disappearance and killing. We will not bow our head to any misdeeds. We will return home only after realising the seven-point demand,” he said.
Before landing in jail, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia told her party men to form a greater national unity to build a strong resistance against the government’s misdeeds and wrongdoing, he said.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam also criticised the government for implicating Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of BNP who is now staying in London, with false and politically motivated cases and said that all the efforts will go in vain.
“Tarique Rahman will return home immediately and will face the case,” he added.
JSD President ASM Rab said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept in a lonely and abandoned jail house in a bid to push her on the verge of death.
“Such offences will never be forgiven,” said Rab who was the leader of the 1969 mass uprising in East Pakistan. and was the first person to hoist the Flag of Bangladesh on 2 March 1971 as the vice president of Dhaka University Students' Union.
Earlier this afternoon, Jatiya Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain and other leaders of newly formed alliance joined the alliance’s second rally in Kazir Dewri area in Chattogram city.
Apart from Fakhrul, BNP Standing Committee Members Moudud Ahmed, Abdul Moeen Khan, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman and several top leaders of the Oikyafront were also present at the rally.
Supporters and leaders of the alliance, carrying banners, placards and festoons were seen rushing to the rally venue since the morning.
Before the rally formally kicked off, a number of local leaders delivered speeches to garner people's supports in favour of the seven-point demand.
The Jatiya Oikyafront -- an alliance of BNP, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab), and Nagorik Oikya -- held its first rally in Sylhet on October 24.
