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BNP insists no election is possible before Khaleda walks out of jail
No election will be possible in Bangladesh with its chief Khaleda Zia in jail, the BNP has warned.
Published : 9 July 2018, 02:53 PM
Updated : 9 July 2018, 02:53 PM
Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued the warning at a token hunger strike for Khaleda’s freedom at the Kazi Bashir Auditorium premises in Dhaka on Monday.
Speakers at the event urged the policymakers of the party not to contest in general elections without Khaleda.
“It is clear from their speeches that parliamentary election will never be held in Bangladesh with the leader of the country Khaleda Zia in jail,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
He demanded immediate release of the former prime minister and her proper treatment.
“We also demand that the election be held with a non-partisan government after desolving parliament and reforming the Election Commission. The army should also be deployed. Otherwise, there won’t be any atmosphere for fair election,” he said.
The BNP has been demanding that the next parliamentary election is held with such a government in power that can facilitate fair election.
The party says fair election is ‘impossible with Sheikh Hasina as prime minister’.
Now it is also demanding release of Khaleda, who has been jailed for corruption, as a pre-condition to contesting the polls.
The Awami League has refused their demand for a non-partisan polls-time government. The ruling party also refutes the allegation that it influenced court verdict jailing Khaleda to prevent her from contesting elections.
“Khaleda Zia is not being given the least she deserves. She has been denied proper treatment. The government is plotting to keep her and the BNP away from elections and politics,” Mirza Fakhrul alleged.
Standing Committee member Mosharraf Hossain said, “The government wants to repeat the farcical election of Jan 5, 2014 keeping the BNP and 20-party alliance out. But the people won’t let it happen.”
He urged the people to join the movement for Khaleda’s freedom.
Another member of the BNP’s policymaking body, Moudud Ahmed, pitched for protests for Khaleda’s freedom if they lose the legal battle.
“Get ready for our next programme,” he said.
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