Dhaka, Dec 15 (Just News): BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused the government of using state power and trying to prevent the people from casting their votes for BNP.
He made the statements in a press briefing organized at Bogra’s Woodburn Public Library auditorium on the last day of a two-day long election campaign on Saturday.
Fakhrul, who is contesting the election from Bogra 6, said: “BNP men are still being attacked and cases are also being filed against them.
“There are attempts of removing us [BNP candidates] from the election.”
Stating that even one vote matters, Mirza Fakhrul said: “The ‘Sheaf of paddy’ symbol is thriving in Bogra constituencies as the people want a change.”
“People want Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release and if the public comes forward, no one will be able to stop us.”
The BNP leader said: “The Election Commission is helpless. They are just obeying the government’s orders and have failed to create a level playing field for the election. The administration is not neutral; they are helping the government to win the upcoming polls.”
Speaking about the harassment towards the party men, he said: “I am saddened that the attacks, harassments and arrests of BNP leaders and activists have not stopped even after the election scheduled was declared.
“Apart from me, there were attacks on leaders like Dr Kamal Hossain and ASM Abdur Rab.”
Regarding the caretaker government, the senior BNP leader said: “When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought caretaker government against Jamaat and Jatiya Party, we had agreed to it. There were strikes for 173 days.”
He added that the following three consecutive elections were conducted fairly.
Fakhrul said: “However, Awami League abolished the caretaker government system after coming to power in the 2008 election. In 2014, Awami League formed the government after coming to power in the election, which was boycotted by BNP.”
Later, they revised the constitution and the removed the caretaker government system.
Responding to a query, Mirza Fakhrul said: “We will go to the Election Commission in two to three days and ask it to the give armies the responsibility to monitor over the election with the power of magistracy to ensure free and fair polls.”
BNP Chairperson's Adviser AKM Mahbubur Rahman, District BNP President Saiful Islam, BNP Bogra 1 constituency candidate Kazi Rafiqul Islam, Bogra 3 constituency candidate Abdul Muhit Talukder, Bogra 4 candidate Mosharraf Hossain, Bogra 5 candidate Golam Mohammad Siraj, and Bogra 7 candidate Morshed Milton, among others, were present at the conference.
After the press conference, Mirza Fakhrul also campaigned with various BNP leaders and activists in his electoral area.
