BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday warned that their party will wage a street movement if the government fails to reach an understanding over the holding of the 11th parliamentary polls under a neutral government.
"People won't accept it if the government again tries to hold an election like the one on January 5, 2014, ignoring our demands for having a non-party election-time neutral administration. People will take to the streets to realize their demands," he said.
Mosharraf, a BNP sanding committee member, came up with the warning while speaking at a discussion arranged by Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the 53rd birthday of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Mentioning that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said that no fair election could be held under a partisan government in 1996, he alleged that she was now contradicting her statement out of self-interest.
"People are now worried about the next election process."
The BNP leader added that their chairperson Khaleda Zia would unveil the framework for the election-time supportive government at a suitable time.
"We would like to call upon the government to take steps to hold the next polls in a credible manner, with the participation of all parties, by accepting our framework."
He claimed the government wanted to hang onto power through a staged election, after convicting BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and the party's senior leaders, as it was afraid of losing in fair polls.
"I would like to say it clearly that the people won't allow the government to hold the next polls under Sheikh Hasina," the BNP leader added.
He also urged the government to create a level-playing field, to ensure a proper election atmosphere and the participation of all parties in the general election.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
