The opposition BNP on Friday held its mass processions in the capital to press home its demand for the resignation of the Awami League government.
The processions, organized by BNP’s Dhaka South and North city units, started at 4pm.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir kicked off the Dhaka South city unit’s procession at Doyaganj. It ended at Naya Paltan.
The BNP leader slammed the government for oppressing the opposition leaders and activists to suppress the ongoing movement. “The entire country has become a jail. They arrested many of our leaders due to the fear of losing power.”
Fakhrul urged the government to quit with dignity and hand over power to a non-partisan neutral government.
He said: “There is no way, there are mountains in the north and Bay of Bengal in the south, there is no other way to go. Resign now...Hold elections under a non-partisan, impartial caretaker government, dissolve the parliament, and organize a fair election by forming a new Election Commission.”
He commented that the Awami League government has taken out funds again and said that they will give pension allowance.
“This is their new trick to steal money,” he added.
Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a member of the party's standing committee, said: “One thing can be said, Sheikh Hasina will not be able to stay in power. We will not go to any election under the ruling party. If India wants to keep Sheikh Hasina in power again like 14 years ago, the people of this country will not stand idly."
BNP Standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that those who are in favour of democracy in Bangladesh are BNP’s friends.
Meanwhile, Dhaka north city unit BNP organized another rally at 4pm which started from DNCC Market in Gulshan 1 and ended at Mohakhali Bus Terminal.
The party’s Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas inaugurated the Dhaka North city unit BNP’s procession near the DCC market in Gulshan.
He said the ruling party leaders are resorting to lies to mislead people as they have been in power by vote rigging. The government has been using the state machinery to subdue the opposition in a bid to cling to power.
The BNP leader urged the government officials and employees to play their role neutrally and stop harassing and oppressing the opposition leaders and activists.
He also urged the government to allow BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced medical treatment.
“We have no more fear. The people of the country are not afraid of forced disappearances and murders. People are not afraid to die,” he added.
BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said that they are marching on the streets to show the red flag to the government. “The meaning of the red flag is that you have to leave the field.”
Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP convener Aman Ullah Aman presided over the short rally.
BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, Jubo Dal Central Committee Senior Vice President Mamun Hasan and others were also present at the rally.
The BNP and like-minded parties are holding a mass rally in the capital to demand the release of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and the establishment of a non-partisan neutral government.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the two processions, carrying banners, festoons, and portraits of the party's top leaders.
Apart from BNP, Ganatantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, LDP, Gonoforum and many other parties are observing the program separately in different areas of the capital.
This is the fourth program of the opposition's one-point movement with the goal to remove Awami League from power.
A similar program was also held in all metropolitan cities arranged by BNP and other opposition parties.
Law enforcement personnel are on high alert to ensure security.
