BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas on Saturday said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is promoting a peaceful program and aims to bring down the government without violence.
However, if the government hinders this peaceful agenda “we will not remain silent,” he said at a rally in Naya Paltan, following a mass procession organized by the Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units of the BNP.
“If the Awami League government remains in power, this country will lose its independence and sovereignty,” the senior leader of the opposition remarked.
He claimed that the government is attempting to retain power by targeting, abducting, and killing BNP leaders and activists.
"The government wants to stay in power by troubling the BNP in various ways. If the government truly understood the sentiment of the country's people, they would not be in power," he added.
Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said: "We must continue our movement until this struggle reaches its conclusion."
"The residents of Dhaka city have rallied behind the march, ensuring this movement's success. Given the momentum of this movement, one must decide whether to align with India or another entity," he remarked.
BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy commented: "There is a plot against Khaleda Zia's life."
"Releasing Khaleda Zia equates to the return of democracy," he said.
"If we all unite and take to the field, no force on Earth can halt our progress. Hence, it's vital to mobilize and demonstrate on the streets," he added.
BNP Dhaka Metropolitan North convener Amanullah Aman demanded that BNP chief Khaleda Zia should be given the opportunity to seek better treatment abroad; otherwise, the government will be held responsible if her condition worsens.
“We gained freedom with the blood of millions of people. If necessary, the demand for democracy and elections under a non-partisan caretaker government will once again be sought with blood on the streets,” he added.
At this time, he urged everyone to remain on the streets to stand firm on the opposition’s one-point demand.
BNP Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman said that the government is turning to foreigners to stay in power.
She also claimed the government is trying to sell the country to remain in its position illegally.
She added that this government is so cruel that it does not provide sick individuals with opportunities for proper treatment.
BNP Vice Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu, Mohammad Shahjahan, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Joint Secretary General Sayed Moazzem Hossain Alal and BNP Metropolitan South convener Abdus Salam were present at the rally organized by BNP Dhaka Metropolitan South and North unit.
The opposition BNP started the mass processions at around 3:50pm on Saturday, with leaders and activists of the party joining them holding banners.
The processions are held as part of the party’s one-point movement demanding the resignation of the government.
Dhaka North BNP started its procession at Rampura's Better Life Hospital after 3pm.
It passed Abul Hotel, Malibagh Railgate, Mouchak, Malibagh Mor, Shantinagar, Kakrail and Nightingale More before ending in front of the BNP's central office at Naya Paltan.
Even before the procession started, the leaders and activists of the opposition’s north unit began gathering near the temporary platform in the Rampura area to take part in the mass procession, echoing demands for the government's resignation and the institution of a caretaker regime.
Meanwhile, Dhaka South BNP started its procession after 2:30 from Kamalapur, which passed Pir Jangi Shah Mazar, Arambagh and Fakirapool intersection.
The south unit’s leaders and activists started gathering at the Kamalapur Stadium area at 1pm, shouting anti-government slogans.
This is the sixth program in the one-point movement of the opposition party to mount pressure on the government to quit and hold the upcoming election under a non-partisan administration.