BNP announces 7-point list of demands, two programmes

The BNP has announced a seven-point list of demands, including a general election under a neutral polls-time government, and two days of programmes during its public meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 30 Sept 2018, 01:01 PM
Updated : 30 Sept 2018, 01:01 PM

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcements from the rally on Sunday evening.

“This seven-point list of demands comes with a programme schedule. After this we will continue the movement step-by-step.”

According to the announcement, programmes will be held in the first week of October at the district-level and rallies in divisional cities

Rallies will be held in district towns on Oct 3 and signed petitions will be delivered to the district administration. The following day will feature rallies in divisional cities and the delivery of signed petitions to the divisional commissioners.

The protests will force the government to release of their jailed chief Khaleda Zia and all the detained activists, and ensure return of their acting chief Tarique Rahman from London, Mirza Fakhrul said.

Five of the party’s seven demands are similar to those of the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya of AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Dr Kamal Hossain. The BNP has added the demands for release of Khaleda and withdrawal of cases against Tarique. 

BNP’s 7 demands:

>> Release Khaleda and withdraw all cases against her before announcing the schedule of the next general election. Withdraw cases against Tarique and other BNP leaders and activists also.

>> Dissolve parliament during the polls.

>> The government must step down and an election-time neutral government must be formed following discussions with all political parties.

>> Deployment of the army with judicial powers at all the polling station during the election for fair polls.

>> No use of electronic voting machines or EVMs in the polls.

>> Local and international monitors must be given the opportunity to observe the elections without any hindrance to ensure fair polls.

>> Reform the Election Commission. Withdraw sentences of and charges against all opposition leaders and activists before the vote. Halt proceedings of all political cases between the announcements of the schedule and the results. And withdraw all cases against students involved in the protests for reforms to the quota system in government jobs and road safety measures, and journalists and others who were “charged after expressing their views”.

Mirza Fakhrul also announced a 12-point charter of targets - what his party will do if it returns to power.

Khaleda’s party says it will form a national consensus to put an end to the politics of vengeance.

“Our target is to establish a state based on fairness through ensuring good-governance at all levels if we can form a government after getting the people’s mandate,” Mirza Fakhrul said.

 

Khaleda, who is currently serving a prison sentence over the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, was designated as the chief guest at the event. A chair was left empty for her on the stage in political symbolism.

The BNP’s previous rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan was held on Nov 12, 2017. Khaleda had spoken at the event.

The main banner featured photos of party founder Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda and Tarique. The demand for release of Khaleda, withdrawal of cases against Tarique and election under a non-partisan government were written on it.

BNP leaders and activists started to arrive in the venue around 10am while the rally was scheduled to start at 2pm. The programme ended at 5:30pm.

A large number of law enforcers were deployed in and around the Udyan.

‘BNP will repeal Digital Security Act’

BNP National Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed told the rally that the party would repeal the recently passed Digital Security Act as the passage of which he said was a “hit on freedom of speech”.

“It’s the most heinous dark law,” he said.

“Mark my words. We will repeal the act within seven days if we get the power, because we believe in freedom of journalism,” he added.

He also urged the journalists to “force the government to cancel the law” through protests.

“Can we accept that police have the powers to enter any office or house anytime without any warrant?” Moudud asked, pointing finger at certain parts of the new law.

Earlier in the day, the government held a meeting on the law with media representatives and said the cabinet would discuss the complaints of the Editors’ Council regarding nine sections of the Act.