BNP rejects AL’s ‘lopsided polls-time’ govt
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday questioned the intention of the ruling Awami League in forming a 'lopsided election-time government' to hold one-sided parliamentary polls again.
Alleging that the AL is talking about such election without BNP's participation, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir discarded the poll-time smaller cabinet a day after the AL general secretary Obaidul Quader divulged the government’s plan,
"He (Quader) yesterday (Wednesday) said their polls-time interim government will be formed, and the election won't remain halted if BNP boycotts it. They exactly want the BNP not to join the polls," the BNP leader told a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, reports UNB.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organised the discussion to mark the 'black day of newspapers'.
Mirza Fakhrul said as a democratic party, the BNP wants a national election to be held later this year. "But, that election must be held in a fair and credible manner. It won't be an election if you (AL leaders) roam here and there by helicopters after snatching opposition's rights to expression and sending its leaders and activists in jail."
He said a level-playing field must be created and an election-time neutral government must be installed considering the country's political culture.
Besides, the BNP leader said the current parliament must be dissolved and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will have to be released from jail to ensure a level-playing field.
On Wednesday, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said there is a possibility of forming a polls-time government in October. "It won't be a new government, but the incumbent one will take charge, and the size of the cabinet will be smaller.
About the BNP's participation in the next general election, he said, "If BNP doesn't participate in it that doesn't mean it'll be a unilateral election. Other parties will participate in the polls and it will be an inclusive one."
Fakhrul asked his party colleagues to get ready to take to the streets overcoming all the obstacles, and urged other political parties and seasoned politicians to come forward to forge a national unity to save the country and overcome the current political 'crisis'.
The BNP leader questioned whether Awami League or any other element is running the country. "Awami League has got so much bankrupt politically that it's now can't use its political experience. They're only deceiving people."
He urged the government to engage in talks and take steps to hold the next general election under a non-party neutral administration.
About Gazipur city polls, Fakhrul said the election commission is not working neutrally to arrange a credible election there on 26 June.
He alleged that the current government's rule is more dangerous than that of one-party BKSAL rule in 1975.
The BNP secretary general, however, urged his party colleagues not to get frustrated, but to take preparation to realise their all demands through a tougher struggle.
"There's no reason to think we'll go to power if there's an election. We've no option but to go to people to realise our demands. As a politician, I think, when there's a crisis, we need to go people and learn from them," he observed.