ANTI-GOVT MOVEMENT AHEAD OF POLLS

AL won’t allow ‘BNP anarchy’

The ruling Awami League (AL) will not allow its arch rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to create anarchy in the name of ‘tough anti-government movement’ ahead of the next general elections scheduled to be held in December 2018. AL insiders said BNP leaders and workers will not be allowed to take to the streets and create anarchy, especially in Dhaka, in the name of a movement to realise their demand for the elections under a neutral, non-party administration.

Like last year, the administration has already denied the BNP permission to hold a rally in Dhaka over the January 5, 2014 elections. BNP had boycotted the polls and 153 AL candidates had been elected unopposed.

After the lopsided elections, BNP had carried out a three-month-long violent ‘protest’ to foil the poll results. Since then, the BNP has not been able to carry out any tough street protest due to the hard stance of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Several central leaders of the AL claimed that the BNP will try to create anarchy ahead of the next polls, but it will not be allowed to do so.

AL general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said they are not worried about BNP’s movement, as the party has not been able to stage any tough agitation on the streets in the last nine years.

“So, I hope that this time, too, the BNP will not be able to wage any tough anti-government movement. Yes, they will try to hatch a conspiracy against the government and spark anarchy ahead of the next polls, but they will not succeed,” he said.

AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, “BNP will try to create anarchy this year to destabilise the government. But we will remain alert. If they try to do so, our law enforcers will take care of them.”

Requesting anonymity, an AL executive committee member told this correspondent that under no circumstances should the BNP be allowed to take to the streets ahead of the polls.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has said several times that her party will not join the next polls under the Hasina government. Along with that, she has also threatened that no elections “will be

allowed to be held” without the BNP.

Party insiders said BNP will launch a tough movement if the government does not hold the next general election on the basis of mutual understanding. They said BNP will not allow AL to hold a one-sided election again.

At a press conference yesterday, BNP’s senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said a mass movement will be waged under Khaleda’s leadership to oust the “unelected government”.

“In 2018, people will get their rights back under the leadership of Khaleda Zia. The countdown to the end of the unelected government has begun,” he said at a press conference in the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

“We will have no alternative to a movement if the government does not hold the next general election in a fair manner based on mutual cooperation,” he added.

 

ANTI-GOVT MOVEMENT AHEAD OF POLLS

AL wont allow BNP anarchy

The ruling Awami League (AL) will not allow its arch rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to create anarchy in the name of tough anti-government movement ahead of the next general elections scheduled to be held in December 2018. AL insiders said BNP leaders and workers will not be allowed to take to the streets and create anarchy, especially in Dhaka, in the name of a movement to realise their demand for the elections under a neutral, non-party administration. Like last year, the administration has already denied the BNP permission to hold a rally in Dhaka over the January 5, 2014 elections. BNP had boycotted the polls and 153 AL candidates had been elected unopposed. After the lopsided elections, BNP had carried out a three-month-long violent protest to foil the poll results. Since then, the BNP has not been able to carry out any tough street protest due to the hard stance of the Sheikh Hasina government. Several central leaders of the AL claimed that the BNP will try to create anarchy ahead of the next polls, but it will not be allowed to do so. AL general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said they are not worried about BNPs movement, as the party has not been able to stage any tough agitation on the streets in the last nine years. So, I hope that this time, too, the BNP will not be able to wage any tough anti-government movement. Yes, they will try to hatch a conspiracy against the government and spark anarchy ahead of the next polls, but they will not succeed, he said. AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, BNP will try to create anarchy this year to destabilise the government. But we will remain alert. If they try to do so, our law enforcers will take care of them. Requesting anonymity, an AL executive committee member told this correspondent that under no circumstances should the BNP be allowed to take to the streets ahead of the polls. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has said several times that her party will not join the next polls under the Hasina government. Along with that, she has also threatened that no elections will be allowed to be held without the BNP. Party insiders said BNP will launch a tough movement if the government does not hold the next general election on the basis of mutual understanding. They said BNP will not allow AL to hold a one-sided election again. At a press conference yesterday, BNPs senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said a mass movement will be waged under Khaledas leadership to oust the unelected government. In 2018, people will get their rights back under the leadership of Khaleda Zia. The countdown to the end of the unelected government has begun, he said at a press conference in the partys Nayapaltan central office. We will have no alternative to a movement if the government does not hold the next general election in a fair manner based on mutual cooperation, he added.