‘Action against saboteurs after polls’

The Forests and Environment Minister of the poll-time government has said that actions against those responsible for the recent acts of sabotage will be taken after a new government takes over following Sunday’s elections.

“After the elections, stern measures will be taken against those who are terrorising people and creating anarchy,” Hasan Mahmud said at a programme on Friday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital.

He alleged BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman wantes to push the country into chaos.

File Photo

The Awami League’s Publicity Secretary also claimed none of these two (Khaleda and her son) wanted political agreement with the government.

The programme was organised by Bangabandhu Academy in memory of the ruling party’s late leader Abdur Razzaq.

State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam at the programme said, “The parliamentary elections will be held in time to uphold democracy in the country. No one will be able to foil that.”

The Opposition is boycotting the 10th parliamentary election and as a result, only 147 constituencies will see balloting on the polling day as candidates in 153 seats have already won uncontested.

The BNP-led 18-Party alliance has also declared to thwart the polls through its movement for a non-party election-time government.

It had enforced several nationwide blockades in the past month and also started enforcing an indefinite blockade from Wednesday.

The Opposition has also announced a 48-hour countrywide general strike from Saturday amid their blockade.

Leaders of the two major political parties – Awami League and BNP – had held talks several times over the nature of the polls-time dispensation, but that initiative has hit the dead end.