Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said that Awami League’s desire for a fair election was like the devil listening to the scriptures.
‘The Awami League general secretary yesterday (Thursday) said the prime minister wants a free and fair election in the country so that everyone can vote. It’s like the devil listening to the scriptures,’ he said.
Speaking at a human chain programme, the BNP leader said that Awami League is now talking about a fair election after destroying the election system and three national elections.
Fakhrul said that the election system has now reached such a state in the country that a Shariatpur MP said he would select the chairmen and members in the UP polls.
‘We can’t imagine such a scenario of our country. We fought for democracy in 1971, but they (govt) have now established a one-party rule by throwing that democracy into the Bay of Bengal,’ he said.
Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the programme in front of the National Press Club, protesting at the growing price hike of daily essentials.
Fakhrul alleged that the current government cannot tolerate dissent and criticisms at all.
He claimed that police attacked their party leaders and activists from behind without any provocation while they were returning home after a peace rally in front of their Naya Paltan central office on Tuesday.
The BNP leader said the law enforcers charged batons and opened fire on their leaders and activists, leaving many of them injured.
‘But cases are now being filed against our hundreds of leaders and activists. Why are you so sacred? You fear us as you’ve lost the ground beneath your feet. You won’t even get the escape route the day people will take to the streets,’ he said.
Fakhrul called upon the administration not to take a stand against people by abetting the government that had been indulging in plundering and anti-people activities.
He said that ruling party leaders were becoming millionaires through corruption and looting while people were getting poorer.
The BNP leader said that people were going through immense sufferings as the prices of essential commodities, including that of rice, pulses, eggs, potatoes, onions, sugar, kerosene oil and edible oil were continuously soaring since the government lost control over the market.
He said that the ruling party business syndicates were hiking the prices of the essentials and making a quick buck. ‘People are now living in a suffocating situation in the country… there’s now no alternative to waging a strong movement to get rid of it,’ he said.
