Reiterating that the current parliament has not been formed with the people’s mandate, BNP on Wednesday demanded that a fresh election be held under a neutral administration to establish a “pro-people” government.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated this at a human chain formed in front of the National Press Club, to protest the start of the maiden session of the new parliament.
Addressing the program, Fakhrul said: “Awami League established one-party rule in 1975, annihilating democracy. In the same style, they have now formed a government and parliament without the people’s mandate by snatching people’s basic rights.
“They [Awami League] destroyed democratic institutions using state machinery, and resorted to terrorism to restore its one-party rule.”
Pointing out that BNP rejected the election results just after the vote, Fakhrul added: “Today, we renew our demand for a fresh election, annulling the election results so that a government and parliament can be formed with the people’s verdict.”
Fakhrul alleged that the new parliament was formed through a “fake” election on December 30 where law enforcement agencies indulged in stealing votes and snatching people's voting rights.
He said thousands of leaders and activists of BNP were kept away from the election through arrests before the polls.
"They [Awami League] have cemented all conspiracies to turn the country into a failed state by annihilating democracy and snatching people's rights by creating an awful situation," he said.
The BNP leader also alleged that their party chief, Khaleda Zia, was sent to jail after being convicting in a “false” case ahead of the general election.
He demanded that the government immediately release Khaleda and other arrested party leaders and activists from jail.
Fakhrul also called on the people, irrespective of their political belief and opinion, to get united to protect their own voting and other rights, and form a new government through a credible election.
The BNP leader came up with the demands just four hours before the 11th parliament went into its maiden session.
Leaders and supporters of BNP formed a human chain around 10:30am in front of the Jatiya Press Club, 30 minutes before the scheduled time, and dispersed around 11:55am.
They chanted various slogans demanding a fresh election be held, and that their chairperson, Khaleda Zia, be released from jail.
It was the first political program of BNP after the party's drubbing in the December 30 election. But the presence of party leaders and activists was much thinner at the human chain, compared to other such programs arranged before the polls.
A large number of law enforcement agents were deployed around the venue to avert untoward incidents, but no one was arrested.
