Movement heads toward inevitable goal, nothing can stop it now: Fakhrul

The movement is heading towards its inevitable goal, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said. He said Awami League's threats, arrests, cases, trials carried out into the night -- nothing can stop the movement now.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam was replying to questions today, Tuesday, at a press briefing held in the afternoon at the BNP chairperson's office in Gulshan of the capital.

In reply to a question as to whether the one-point movement would be affected by Awami League's counter rally on 28 October, the day of BNP's grand rally, he said, "If Awami League is in government in Bangladesh, every step is a risk. There is no use in bothering about this risk. The people have arisen. They are determined to achieve their demands. The people are surging ahead peacefully with one movement after the other. Awami League's programmes are to disrupt peace in the name of peace. They are doing this very craftily."

The BNP secretary general said, "I want to say something very clearly, which you must note down. They cannot halt anything. No coercion, rallies, meetings, no matter what, nothing can stop us, the people of Bangladesh, from achieving our demands."

Mirza Fakhrul went on to say, "Whether it is arrests, cases, conducting trials late into the night, nothing can stop us. You may be assured that this movement is heading towards its inevitable goal and that is to ensure the victory of the people."

BNP has submitted a letter to the police regarding its grand rally at Naya Paltan. But the police has said they will not allow any rally to be held on the streets. When his attention was brought to the matter, Mirza Fakhrul said, "We have not got any such reply. We have informed them. There is nothing to seek approval for. We are supposed to inform the police and we have done so. Now it is up to them to decide one what they will do or not do."

Awami League has called for a rally. Jamaat-e-Islami has also called for a rally on 28 October at Shapla Chattar. When asked about the matter, Mirza Fakhrul said, "We have called for a peaceful programme to achieve our one-point demand. Other parties have their rights too in a democratic state, Awami League also has a right to hold its programmes. Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a programme, that is its right. Ganatantra Mancha is a part of the simultaneous movement and they have announced a rally too. Around 40 programmes have called for rallies."

Saying that this was part of the democratic movement, the BNP secretary general said, "This movement is not about just one party. It is not just a matter of BNP, it is about the people of the entire country. That is why we say this movement is about independence struggle, a struggle for freedom. This struggle is a struggle for freedom."

'AL led attack on Hindu Parishad procession in Cumilla'

BNP carried out an investigation into the 13 October attack on the Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad procession in Cumilla. The investigation report was released at the press briefing today, Tuesday. BNP's vice chairman Barkatullah read out the report.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam held the ruling Awami League responsible for the attack. He said, "It has been proven that the attack had been carried out by local Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League hoodlums at the orders of the Awami League member of parliament Bahauddin Nasim. We have said time and again that it is Awami league that basically leads all such terrorism. Awami League is a terrorist party."

"Awami League has been carrying out terrorism from the very beginning, said Mirza Fakhrul, adding, "They want to remain in power by carrying out terrorism and that is how they have survived. It is in their very bones, to come to power through terrorism and to remain in power in that way too. They are still doing that. They have spread a reign of terror all over the country."

He said, "Their aim was to ensure no environment conducive to an election. They have made arrangements not only to prevent the opposition, but to prevent the people from voting too. They have already decided on how to fill the ballot boxes. They have planned on how to come to power again by completely controlling the election and are proceeding accordingly."

Mirza Fakhrul said that the ruling party's assurances that the election would be free, fair and impartial and would be held in keeping with the constitution, were just ploys to fool the people.

Ansar bill a matter of alarm

A bill was placed in parliament yesterday, Monday, seeking to give the Ansar force the authority to arrest criminals, conduct searches and confiscate belongings.

Referring to the matter, Mirza Fakhrul Islam said, "Yesterday a bill was placed in parliament that is not only worrying, but an alarming matter too. They are destroying the state system, the institutions! All over the world it is only the police that can make arrests. Over there the ansars are being given that authority now, yet they don't even have the basic training."

The BNP secretary general said, "There are certain things of the police, that is separate. There is a code of conduct, separate laws under which all this is conducted. The task of the ansars is separate. The Ansar force is a separate institution and they have been prepared accordingly. It was Ziaur Rahman who modernised this force. Now they are passing a law to politicise this force. We condemn this. We demand that this law is not passed."

Speaking about the ailing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Mirza Fakhrul said, "Khaleda Zia is extremely unwell. We are saying this, you all have heard this, the physicians are saying so. She had to be taken to CCU last night again. This morning she was taken back to the cabin. She is in a very precarious state."