BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam on Saturday said the government’s “threats” will not work this time as countrymen will not return home until their ‘goal of restoring voting rights are fulfilled.’
“The prime minister has issued a threat that we’ll face the fate of Hefajat if we try to wage a movement. We would like to say that people have woken up this time. So, these threats won’t work this time. People who have taken to the streets, won’t return home without realising their demands,” Fakhrul said.
Speaking at the divisional rally in Sylhet, he also said election must be held under a non-partisan caretaker government and warned that those who are against election under caretaker government system will turn into “public enemies”.
The BNP leader said their party’s main goal is to restore people’s rights that “have been lost, including the right to vote.” “We’ll establish a government of people through people’s votes…our movement can’t be stopped by opening fire and gunning down our leaders and activists.”
Referring to the ruling party leaders’ remarks that the election will be held as per the constitution, he said their party does not accept the charter that was amended by the current government.
He said that the government has annulled the caretaker government system using the judiciary, creating a scope for holding the election under a partisan government.
Fakhrul said the caretaker government that was included in the constitution by Khaleda Zia, must be restored to ensure a credible national election. “No election will be held in Bangladesh without the caretaker government.”
He said the restoration of the caretaker government system is the only way to resolve the country’s political crisis.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
