Two days after the prime minister’s proposal to form an all-party government with elected lawmakers, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Sunday said her party would take part in elections only under a non-party caretaker government.
“There will be no election under your [Sheikh Hasina] administration... it will not be allowed...it cannot happen,” she said while addressing the convention of pro-BNP professions’ body Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad in the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
“I will not deviate from my stance [demanding election under a non-party caretaker government] even if all of you backtrack,” the three-time premier told her supporters.
“You [Hasina] did not take part in the election scheduled to be held on January 22, 2007. You did not accept [former chief justice] KM Hasan as the chief of caretaker government that time. Now there is no rationale for accepting you [as the head of government].”
Khaleda said a non-partisan government was needed to “save democracy” and ensure a free, fair and credible election.
The prime minister in her nation address on Friday said the elections would be held within 90 days after October 25, and appealed to the opposition to give names of their lawmakers for the interim cabinet.
BNP will make its position clear on Hasina’s proposals today from a press conference at Hotel Sarina at 4:30pm.
On Sunday, the 18-party opposition alliance chief asked the government to insert non-party caretaker government provision in the constitution.
“It has been proved from the Awami League government’s activities that free and fair election is not possible under them. I want to tell the government that you still have time in hand to amend the constitution.”
Issuing a note of warning, Khaleda said: “If you [government] have planned to hold the election unilaterally using police, Rab and BGB, it will be a great mistake since it will be resisted.
“I am saying that in Bangladesh, the next election will be held under a non-party interim government and people’s government will be established.”
Several hundred pro-BNP professionals including teachers, lawyers, doctors, engineers and retired government officers, and party activists participated in the convention.
The event began at 3pm after the DMP granted the organisation permission asking it to wrap up the event by 6pm. Khaleda reached the venue at 4:20pm and the programme ended around 6:30pm.
Former Dhaka University vice-chancelllor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed presided over the convention which was addressed by leaders of different pro-BNP professional bodies.
During her about 20-minute speech, the BNP chief condemned the government for what she termed “misrule and misdeeds” in the last five years. She alleged that the government had politicised all the institutions including the civil and police administrations.
Alleging that a free and fair election was not possible under the incumbent government, Khaleda said before the electoral process began, the government had imposed ban on meetings and rallies – both indoor and outdoor and started arresting the opposition leaders and activists.
“When I was coming to the convention, the way the law enforcers have been deployed [on the streets] seemed to me a war-like situation is prevailing in the country.
“How is it possible to hold a fair election under you [Hasina]? If we take part in the election [under Hasina] it will only harm us,” she said.
The former premier also claimed that Hasina had welcomed all the unconstitutional forces, so she would not talk about democracy and constitution.
Khaleda also criticised the prime minister for cancelling the caretaker government provision from the constitution without taking the people’s mandate. “You could have gone for a referendum before cancelling the provision but you did it clandestinely. Now you are blaming the court whereas the court does not do anything without your direction.”
She claimed that the government’s popularity was going down while the demand for a non-party caretaker government gaining public support. “If you think you and your party are popular, then create a level-playing field to test your popularity and see who wins.”
Khaleda said the prime minister was seeking votes travelling on airplanes. “Your boat [party symbol] has leaked. None will get on board your leaked boat.”
She also alleged that the Awami League “lies in every step” and for this, “once the highest court termed prime minister wrong-headed. The country is heading towards wrong direction as it is directed by…”
Without naming any country, Khaleda said none would be allowed to expand its hegemony in the country.