BNP will succeed in anti-government agitation, Khaleda believes

Bangladesh is going through ‘dictatorship’ and everything is happening here following the ‘dictator’s wish’, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has said in a jibe aimed at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The BNP chief, addressing a gathering of freedom fighters in Dhaka on Sunday, urged the leaders and activists of her party to prepare for launching ‘a movement to bring down the dictator and restore democracy’.

She was optimistic that they would achieve success in the movement this time following the failures to stop the Jan 5 2014 parliamentary elections and to topple the Hasina government in early 2015.

“There is no democracy in the country. No election is actually being held. So get ready for the next programmes we are announcing. Get ready for movement, struggle, election, everything,” the former prime minister told her supporters.

“We believe, we will succeed in restoring democracy,” she added.

She asked the 1971 freedom fighters to help the BNP achieve its goal with their experience.

The BNP chief urged every political party other than the ruling Awami League to join forces with her party in its ‘struggle for democracy’.

She reiterated the party’s demand for the dissolution of parliament before the next general elections and formation of a neutral polls-time government.

“No election with Hasina in the power can be fair,” she asserted again.

The Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal held the council to elect leaders at Dhaka Mahanagar Natyamancha in Gulistan coinciding with the Victory Day celebration.

Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat and Sadeque Ahmed Khan were elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the front.

In her speech at the programme, Khaleda, in an apparent reference to Hasina, said, “Now Bangladesh is experiencing dictatorship. Everything happens to her wish. Her orders are conveyed to people everywhere.

“That’s why no one of the Awami League faces cases and punishment no matter what crime they commit,” the BNP chief said.

In contrast, she added, the BNP leaders and activists are being ‘harassed’ with 'fabricated cases' despite them having committed no crime.

She also alleged the ruling party was organising rallies itself to seek votes but not letting the other parties do so.

“Is it called democracy?” she asked.

Speaking about the resignation of former chief justice SK Sinha following his criticism by the ruling party for scrapping parliament’s powers to sack judges, the BNP chief termed the incident a ‘judicial coup’.

She also criticised the government for reshuffling the administration a year before the next parliamentary elections.

Khaleda alleged the people were in ‘unspeakable misery’ due to the hike in prices of essential commodities.

“The ruling party leaders are destroying the country’s economy through lootings,” she said.

She also highlighted some parts from ‘Vision-2030’, the party’s work plan if it comes to power.

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