BNP wants next polls after JS dissolution

BNP leaders yesterday (Wednesday) demanded that the next general election should be held after dissolution of the present Parliament and resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Speaking at a nationwide human chain programme, the leaders also demanded that a level playing field should be created for the polls by freeing political leaders, including party chairperson Khaleda Zia, and withdrawing false cases filed against opposition leaders and activists.

“Our chairperson and other political leaders have to be released. False cases have to be withdrawn. The Prime Minister has to resign after dissolving Parliament. Only then could a level playing field be created to hold the next parliamentary polls,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He was speaking at a human chain programme in front of the party's central office at Naya Paltan in the city. Hundreds of party leaders and activists joined the hour-long human chain, which began at 11:00am and ended at 12:00pm.

Party leaders and followers, holding banners, festoons and placards, chanted slogans to have their party chairperson freed from jail.

 As part of the eight-day long programme, the BNP organised the human chain programme across the country, including the capital city of Dhaka, protesting against, what it said was, providing punishment to the former premier in a baseless and fabricated case and demanding her unconditional release from jail.

The BNP secretary general said their only call to the party rank and file was to carry out a united movement to free the party chairperson, restore democracy and protect voting rights.

He alleged that the health condition of Khaleda Zia is deteriorating in jail, but she is not being allowed treatment in a hospital of her choice.

“The chairperson’s personal physicians are not allowed to meet her and she is not allowed to undergo treatment in the hospital of her choice,” he said.

Referring to Tuesday’s visit of Khaleda’s relatives, Fakhrul said they learnt that Khaleda Zia is too ill to come down to the ground floor from the first floor of the prison. He accused the government of keeping the former premier in a dark and damp room of the abandoned central jail for about two and a half months.

The BNP leader said Khaleda has been kept in prison as the ruling party is afraid of her. “If she remains outside, the Awami League-led government cannot resist the ongoing movement for restoration of democracy and its defeat is certain,” he added.

He criticised the government for carrying out propaganda against the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, and said it has fallen into its own pit after digging it for others by initiating a debate on Tarique Rahman’s status.

In British law, there is no provision that citizenship will be rejected if anyone deposits passports.

The government is carrying out a false propaganda. Tarique Rahman did not give up his citizenship and is very much a citizen of Bangladesh, Fakhrul claimed.

BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain accused the government of planning to hold another January 5-like general election.

“People will not allow that to happen. They have rejected the government and will give a fitting reply through the ballot if they get a chance,” he said.  

BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said there is no political freedom in the country and the Constitution is not being followed. Among others, BNP leaders Abdullah Al Noman, Mohammed Shajahan, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Ahmed Azam Khan, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Amanullah Aman and Joynal Abedin Faruk were present at the programme.

A large number of law enforcers had been deployed at Naya Paltan for the programme, but they did not create obstacles.

A special judge court handed down a five-year jail term to Khaleda in a graft case, and sent her to the Old central Jail at Nazimuddin Road on February 8.

Since then, the BNP has been observing various peaceful programmes, including leaflet distribution, countrywide demonstrations, human-chains, sit-ins, token hunger-strikes and protest processions demanding her release.

 

BNP wants next polls after JS dissolution

BNP leaders yesterday (Wednesday) demanded that the next general election should be held after dissolution of the present Parliament and resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Speaking at a nationwide human chain programme, the leaders also demanded that a level playing field should be created for the polls by freeing political leaders, including party chairperson Khaleda Zia, and withdrawing false cases filed against opposition leaders and activists. Our chairperson and other political leaders have to be released. False cases have to be withdrawn. The Prime Minister has to resign after dissolving Parliament. Only then could a level playing field be created to hold the next parliamentary polls, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He was speaking at a human chain programme in front of the partys central office at Naya Paltan in the city. Hundreds of party leaders and activists joined the hour-long human chain, which began at 11:00am and ended at 12:00pm. Party leaders and followers, holding banners, festoons and placards, chanted slogans to have their party chairperson freed from jail. As part of the eight-day long programme, the BNP organised the human chain programme across the country, including the capital city of Dhaka, protesting against, what it said was, providing punishment to the former premier in a baseless and fabricated case and demanding her unconditional release from jail. The BNP secretary general said their only call to the party rank and file was to carry out a united movement to free the party chairperson, restore democracy and protect voting rights. He alleged that the health condition of Khaleda Zia is deteriorating in jail, but she is not being allowed treatment in a hospital of her choice. The chairpersons personal physicians are not allowed to meet her and she is not allowed to undergo treatment in the hospital of her choice, he said. Referring to Tuesdays visit of Khaledas relatives, Fakhrul said they learnt that Khaleda Zia is too ill to come down to the ground floor from the first floor of the prison. He accused the government of keeping the former premier in a dark and damp room of the abandoned central jail for about two and a half months. The BNP leader said Khaleda has been kept in prison as the ruling party is afraid of her. If she remains outside, the Awami League-led government cannot resist the ongoing movement for restoration of democracy and its defeat is certain, he added. He criticised the government for carrying out propaganda against the partys acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, and said it has fallen into its own pit after digging it for others by initiating a debate on Tarique Rahmans status. In British law, there is no provision that citizenship will be rejected if anyone deposits passports. The government is carrying out a false propaganda. Tarique Rahman did not give up his citizenship and is very much a citizen of Bangladesh, Fakhrul claimed. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain accused the government of planning to hold another January 5-like general election. People will not allow that to happen. They have rejected the government and will give a fitting reply through the ballot if they get a chance, he said. BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said there is no political freedom in the country and the Constitution is not being followed. Among others, BNP leaders Abdullah Al Noman, Mohammed Shajahan, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Ahmed Azam Khan, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Amanullah Aman and Joynal Abedin Faruk were present at the programme. A large number of law enforcers had been deployed at Naya Paltan for the programme, but they did not create obstacles. A special judge court handed down a five-year jail term to Khaleda in a graft case, and sent her to the Old central Jail at Nazimuddin Road on February 8. Since then, the BNP has been observing various peaceful programmes, including leaflet distribution, countrywide demonstrations, human-chains, sit-ins, token hunger-strikes and protest processions demanding her release.