All but AL want poll-time neutral govt, says Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said all the parties, except the ruling ones, want an election-time neutral government system as fair polls are not possible under a partisan prime minister in Bangladesh's context, reports UNB.

"Ruling party leaders are loudly saying the election will be held under the Prime Minister. We've long been opposing it as a fair election is not possible under a partisan government. Your (AL's) stance was also against the election under a partisan prime minister in the past," he said.

The BNP leader further said, "We call upon you (govt) to think about people and take steps for talks and negotiations shunning your arrogance. All the political parties have already started saying that the election-time government will have to be neutral one as there is no alternative to it for a credible election."

Fakhrul came up with the remarks while inaugurating Dhaka city north unit BNP's member collection campaign-2017 at Nayapaltan Bhasani Auditorium.

He alleged that the government is trying to keep democracy and politics at bay through depoliticisation to perpetuate its power. "They (AL) have the dual character as they talk about democracy, but act against it. They don't believe in argument, logic and debate as they believe in muscle power."

The BNP leader said though their founder Ziaur Rahman had given AL the scope for doing politics by restoring multiparty democracy, its leaders now often make derogatory comments against him. He alleged the country has now been under the misrule of an individual. "False case is their main weapon. "We all must put up a strong resistance to get rid of it. Don't get panicked and work together to establish a pro-people government dislodging the current one," he told his party colleagues.

Fakhrul warned the government that there will be no point of intimidating BNP leaders and activists with false cases as they will continue their struggle until democracy and people's all the rights, including that to voting, is restored.

He alleged that the country's economy is not in a good shape now due to widespread corruption and plundering by Awami League leaders and activists.

Referring to media reports on declining growth in the RMG sector, the BNP secretary general said it is happening because of the governments' 'misrule', and failures.

He also criticised the government for what he said not standing beside the hillside victims in Chittagong and Rangamati and flood victims at different parts of the country with necessary relief materials and other supports.

"The ruling party leaders have no to time to think about common people. If you carefully see, you'll find a change in their lifestyle, appearance, car model and house design. They're also building houses abroad. So, they're busy with their own business." Fakhrul observed.

All but AL want poll-time neutral govt, says Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said all the parties, except the ruling ones, want an election-time neutral government system as fair polls are not possible under a partisan prime minister in Bangladeshs context, reports UNB. Ruling party leaders are loudly saying the election will be held under the Prime Minister. Weve long been opposing it as a fair election is not possible under a partisan government. Your (ALs) stance was also against the election under a partisan prime minister in the past, he said. The BNP leader further said, We call upon you (govt) to think about people and take steps for talks and negotiations shunning your arrogance. All the political parties have already started saying that the election-time government will have to be neutral one as there is no alternative to it for a credible election. Fakhrul came up with the remarks while inaugurating Dhaka city north unit BNPs member collection campaign-2017 at Nayapaltan Bhasani Auditorium. He alleged that the government is trying to keep democracy and politics at bay through depoliticisation to perpetuate its power. They (AL) have the dual character as they talk about democracy, but act against it. They dont believe in argument, logic and debate as they believe in muscle power. The BNP leader said though their founder Ziaur Rahman had given AL the scope for doing politics by restoring multiparty democracy, its leaders now often make derogatory comments against him. He alleged the country has now been under the misrule of an individual. False case is their main weapon. We all must put up a strong resistance to get rid of it. Dont get panicked and work together to establish a pro-people government dislodging the current one, he told his party colleagues. Fakhrul warned the government that there will be no point of intimidating BNP leaders and activists with false cases as they will continue their struggle until democracy and peoples all the rights, including that to voting, is restored. He alleged that the countrys economy is not in a good shape now due to widespread corruption and plundering by Awami League leaders and activists. Referring to media reports on declining growth in the RMG sector, the BNP secretary general said it is happening because of the governments misrule, and failures. He also criticised the government for what he said not standing beside the hillside victims in Chittagong and Rangamati and flood victims at different parts of the country with necessary relief materials and other supports. The ruling party leaders have no to time to think about common people. If you carefully see, youll find a change in their lifestyle, appearance, car model and house design. Theyre also building houses abroad. So, theyre busy with their own business. Fakhrul observed.