BNP on Friday alleged that Awami League wants to score goals in an empty field in the upcoming election without the participation of the opposition parties.
“She (Sheikh Hasina) does not want the opposition parties to join the election. They're used to scoring goals in empty fields and getting walkovers. We've said people will no longer accept this kind of election," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He made the remarks at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, trashing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remark that her government wants all parties to take part in the 12th parliamentary election.
As a liberal democratic party, Fakhrul said, BNP wants to join the election but it has to be a genuine election, not a farce.
He said a fair and credible election cannot be held under those who stuff ballots the night before the election, got 154 people elected without voting, barred the opposition candidates from participating in the electioneering and arrested opposition leaders and activists to make the field empty.
“It can’t be accepted that election will be held by unleashing a reign of terror…this is how the military dictators prolong power as they’re afraid to go to people and seek votes from them. This is the reality," the BNP leader said.
He said Sheikh Hasina has been staying in power by deceiving and intimidating the country’s people and resorting to falsehood.
Fakhrul said there is no reason for the BNP to be afraid of participating in fair elections. “Rather, they (AL) are worried that they’ll not be able to retain power if the election is held in a credible manner. That is the bottom line. That's why they’re completely depriving people of voting rights by using various techniques and deceptions. So, people now don't go to the polling stations to cast their votes.”
No scope for talks with AL
He alleged that Awami League like the other authoritarian government in the world has turned the election into a farce and a game only to cling to power.
Under the circumstances, the BNP leader said there is no alternative to oust the current regime through a united movement by the opposition parties.
"We are holding talks with those who do not accept this government and those who think this regime has destroyed democracy in the country (to wage a simultaneous movement,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said there is no scope for BNP to hold a dialogue with Awami League until it quits power by accepting their demand. “They must go by handing over power to a caretaker government.”
Cops ‘illegally’ collecting opposition’s info
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has questioned the legitimacy of collecting information about opposition leaders, activists and well-wishers as per the direction of the Special Branch of the police across the country.
He said the Superintendent of Police of Rangamati District on September 25 asked the OCs of all the police stations in the district to collect information about the leaders and activists and patrons of BNP and other opposition political parties who are involved with the ongoing anti-government movement.
“BNP has come to know from reliable sources that as per the instructions of the Special Branch in Dhaka, Superintendents of Police of all districts across the country have such issued instructions following a wireless message to the OCs of all police stations in their respective areas to collect information about the opposition leaders and followers,” Fakhrul said.
He said police can’t collect information about the leaders and workers of the opposition political parties in this way as per the constitution or any other existing laws or regulations of the country. “The information sought by the Superintendent of Police from the OCs through the wireless message or any other means is illegal and arbitrary. It’s an extrajudicial and unauthorised action.”
The BNP leader said the law enforcers’ such a directive has been issued with the nefarious purpose of suppressing the ongoing democratic movement and pro-democratic forces. “BNP strongly condemns such illegal activities and urges the law enforcement agencies to stop such illegal activities and refrain themselves from doing it in future.”
In response to a question, the BNP secretary general said information is being collected only about the opposition leaders and activists, but also about their supporters and donors.
"The police is a state force, not a party force. The police force is not supposed to collect this information officially. We think their intention is to file cases against the opposition leaders and activists and harass them by collecting information about them,” he observed.
