Movement a must to make govt meet demands: BNP

Only a movement will make the government concede the demand for fresh elections under a non-party administration, says BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 19 August 2014, 02:49 PM
Updated : 19 August 2014, 02:49 PM

“The government is formulating laws to illegally cling on to power. Now, Parliament is being given the power to impeach judges,” he said while addressing a 20-Party Alliance rally at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan Tuesday afternoon.

“This Parliament does not have people’s representatives. If this Parliament gets this (impeachment) power, Awami League’s decisions will become its decisions. This way, they (AL) wants to ensure that they remain in power for good.”

Talks will not help meet the demand, Fakhrul said, stressing that there was no alternative to a movement.

People need to stand against the government to make it give election immediately, he added.

The rain pounded the crowds within an hour of the commencement of the rally around 3pm. It was called in protest against the newly introduced National Broadcast Policy.

During 30 minutes of downpour, BNP supporters in small groups and processions were seen coming to the rally venue from various city areas.

A large number of activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir were seen among the alliance supporters at the venue.

The banner on the stage announced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia as the chief guest, but she could not come because of her illness, said the party’s Dhaka metropolitan unit Convenor Mirza Abbas.

Shibir’s Secretary General Atiqur Rahman gave the first speech after the rally kicked off.

Abbas presided over the rally while Member Secretary Habib-Un Nabi Khan Sohel moderated it.

The rally was the second programme of the BNP-led alliance after they boycotted the Jan 5 national elections. Similar programmes were held in all districts and metropolitan areas in the country on Tuesday.

Their first post-election programme was held on Saturday when they took out a black-flag march in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country to protest against Israel’s attack on Palestinians in Gaza.

Tuesday’s rally venue was covered with different banners and festoons bearing images and greetings from different party leaders.

Some banners sought the release of all leaders from jail including former BNP MP Nasir Uddin Pintu and Daily Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman.