Hold talks for fresh polls

Khaleda calls on govt

The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, yesterday called upon the Awami League-led government to take measures for holding fresh parliamentary polls by holding dialogues and reaching an understanding.
“We want an end to the current political impasse through talks. We want to work together to restore democracy by holding talks and reaching an understanding,” she said while addressing a mammoth rally in front of the party headquarters at Naya Paltan in the city.
The former Premier accused the present government of manipulating previous elections, including the just concluded municipality polls. She asserted that that no election could be held in a free and fair manner under the Awami League government.
She blamed the government for enforced disappearance of the party leaders and activists and called upon it to return to the path of democracy by shunning the path of abductions, killings and enforced disappearances.
"Otherwise, you (ruling party) will not be able to stay in power because we don’t know when people will go for a tougher movement," she warned
Citing several instances of polls irregularities, Khaleda alleged that the ruling alliance, in association with the Election Commission, destroyed democracy by holding “voter-less January 5 polls.” The Awami League government wants to show its popularity by manipulating elections, she said.
She termed the EC as "spine-less" and "loyal" to the ruling alliance as it had failed to hold impartial polls.
The BNP leader demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. “Why is the CEC still holding office? He should resign,” she said.
Referring to the election of 154 lawmakers unopposed in the last parliamentary polls, she said they cannot be  people’s representatives.
The BNP organised the rally to mark the second anniversary of the 2014 January 5 parliamentary polls that the party had boycotted. It observes the day as “Democracy killing day.”
The rally, permission for which was given just hours before the meeting with some conditions, began at 2:00pm.  The party chief reached the venue at about 2:40pm. Thousands of people joined the rally that stretched from Fakirerpool to the Nightingale intersection at Kakrail.

Leaders and activists of the BNP and its front and associate bodies attended the rally carrying colourful placards, festoons and banners with portraits of the party’s founder, the late President Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and their elder son Tarique Rahman.
During her hour-long speech at a street rally, the first in over a year, Khaleda criticised misdeeds of the government in different sectors, including economy, education, energy and industries.
 She, however, extended an olive brand for resolution of the current political impasse facing the country through talks.
 The rally ended with the speech of the BNP chairperson a few minutes after the time schedule set by the police. The  police had asked party leaders to hold the rally between 2:00pm and 5:00pm.
The BNP chairperson warned the Awami League that attempts to rule the country by using a system of monarchy would not yield good results.
“The AL had earlier tried to rule the country this way and it is trying again. But the governance system that involves killing people or subjecting them to enforced disappearance will not be good for the future,” she added.
Khaleda alleged that the AL fears the success of her party’s rallies, and that is why it does not allow the BNP to hold rallies.
She criticised the AL government for enacting laws one after another to trap her party leaders and activists and obstruct the people.
The BNP chief called upon the countrymen to unite and fight for restoring democracy, rule of law and justice.
Presided over by the BNP standing committee member, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, the rally was also addressed, among others, by the party’s acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdullah Al Noman, Md Shajahan, Selima Rahman, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Khandker Mahbub Hossain.
The BNP had earlier announced plans to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, but the Dhaka Metropolitan Police allowed the gathering outside the party office on certain conditions.

Hold talks for fresh polls

Khaleda calls on govt

The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, yesterday called upon the Awami League-led government to take measures for holding fresh parliamentary polls by holding dialogues and reaching an understanding. We want an end to the current political impasse through talks. We want to work together to restore democracy by holding talks and reaching an understanding, she said while addressing a mammoth rally in front of the party headquarters at Naya Paltan in the city. The former Premier accused the present government of manipulating previous elections, including the just concluded municipality polls. She asserted that that no election could be held in a free and fair manner under the Awami League government. She blamed the government for enforced disappearance of the party leaders and activists and called upon it to return to the path of democracy by shunning the path of abductions, killings and enforced disappearances. Otherwise, you (ruling party) will not be able to stay in power because we dont know when people will go for a tougher movement, she warned Citing several instances of polls irregularities, Khaleda alleged that the ruling alliance, in association with the Election Commission, destroyed democracy by holding voter-less January 5 polls. The Awami League government wants to show its popularity by manipulating elections, she said. She termed the EC as spine-less and loyal to the ruling alliance as it had failed to hold impartial polls. The BNP leader demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Why is the CEC still holding office? He should resign, she said. Referring to the election of 154 lawmakers unopposed in the last parliamentary polls, she said they cannot be peoples representatives. The BNP organised the rally to mark the second anniversary of the 2014 January 5 parliamentary polls that the party had boycotted. It observes the day as Democracy killing day. The rally, permission for which was given just hours before the meeting with some conditions, began at 2:00pm. The party chief reached the venue at about 2:40pm. Thousands of people joined the rally that stretched from Fakirerpool to the Nightingale intersection at Kakrail. Leaders and activists of the BNP and its front and associate bodies attended the rally carrying colourful placards, festoons and banners with portraits of the partys founder, the late President Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and their elder son Tarique Rahman. During her hour-long speech at a street rally, the first in over a year, Khaleda criticised misdeeds of the government in different sectors, including economy, education, energy and industries. She, however, extended an olive brand for resolution of the current political impasse facing the country through talks. The rally ended with the speech of the BNP chairperson a few minutes after the time schedule set by the police. The police had asked party leaders to hold the rally between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. The BNP chairperson warned the Awami League that attempts to rule the country by using a system of monarchy would not yield good results. The AL had earlier tried to rule the country this way and it is trying again. But the governance system that involves killing people or subjecting them to enforced disappearance will not be good for the future, she added. Khaleda alleged that the AL fears the success of her partys rallies, and that is why it does not allow the BNP to hold rallies. She criticised the AL government for enacting laws one after another to trap her party leaders and activists and obstruct the people. The BNP chief called upon the countrymen to unite and fight for restoring democracy, rule of law and justice. Presided over by the BNP standing committee member, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, the rally was also addressed, among others, by the partys acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdullah Al Noman, Md Shajahan, Selima Rahman, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Khandker Mahbub Hossain. The BNP had earlier announced plans to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, but the Dhaka Metropolitan Police allowed the gathering outside the party office on certain conditions.