BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the Awami League government is having nightmares about losing power since it has no confidence in Bangladesh's people.
'We want to hold a rally at Naya Paltan peacefully on December 10. But they (Awami League) have lost their sleep in fear of losing their power. They themselves are saying that their thrones will be overturned,” he said.
Speaking at a massive rally, the BNP leader also said that the party had many rallies at Naya Paltan, even in presence of Chairperson Khaleda Zia, earlier without any chaos.
“You know you've committed many misdeeds when you have no confidence in your country's people,” he noted.
The senior leader also alleged that Awami League is not a political party anymore. “They have looted the country's people, and have turned into looters. They have tortured the countrymen.”
Mirza Fakhrul added: “This government is in a crisis, and hence it has engaged in a futile attempt to wipe out the opposition party with fake cases, enforced disappearances, and murders. But as nothing could harm BNP, Awami League is now scared of losing its power.”
He later told the rally that BNP has been demanding people's rights in all of its rallies across Bangladesh. “There is no substitute for change to restore a healthy environment in Bangladesh.”
The BNP senior leader later alleged that the Awami League government has systematically destroyed Bangladesh's economy.
“Awami League campaigned for elections under the caretaker government, but they stopped the method when they came to power. It is not possible to hold a fair poll without a caretaker government,” added Mirza Fakhrul.
He also claimed that under this government, some 600 BNP leaders were victims of enforced disappearances. “Among them, nine were executed, and 25 were sentenced to life in prison. This is what the Awami League government's real face is.”
As part of the party's divisional program, BNP's Rajshahi city unit arranged the rally on the Rajshahi Madrasa ground on Saturday.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies from eight districts under the division participated in the rally.
The leaders and activists from Natore, Bogra, Pabna, Sirajganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat and Chapainawabganj started arriving at the rally venue in processions since morning, braving transport strikes.
Law enforcers took adequate measures to maintain the law and order situation in and around the city centering the rally and setting up check-posts at all entry points.
BNP activists from the districts under the divisions came to the city by train, trucks, boats and other vehicles like human haulers, auto rickshaws, three-wheelers, motorbikes, and micro-buses from Wednesday, as a bus strike was underway in Rajshahi division.
Besides, the Rajshahi auto-rickshaw owners association also enforced an indefinite strike on Friday afternoon. BNP leaders alleged that the strikes are meant for obstructing mass waves toward their rally.
The rally in Rajshahi was the ninth one by BNP at the divisional level as eight others were held in Chittagong, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barisal and Faridpur, Sylhet and Comilla.
As part of the move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities. The party will conclude the divisional programs by holding its last rally in Dhaka on December 10.
The organizers said the rallies are meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Jessore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
