BNP will not contest polls under Awami League

Online desk: BNP will no longer contest polls under the “illegitimate” Awami League government, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.

“We will not fall into the trap of an election under Awami League anymore. The people of this country know very well that if there is an election under the Awami League, then that election will never be free and fair,” he said while addressing a gathering of Chittagong Metropolitan BNP activists at a community centre in Kazir Deuri, Chittagong on Saturday afternoon.

He also called upon BNP leaders and activists to prepare for the movement to restore democracy and the people’s right to vote.

Fakhrul said Hasan Mahmud, a man from Chittagong, has repeatedly said that the BNP is behind a plot to destroy communal harmony. “However, the Awami League is causing these incidents. If these incidents do not happen, then the people would agitate for their rights.”

In order to divert the people’s democratic rights movement, the government is systematically carrying out communal incidents in different places, including Chandpur, Noakhali and Chittagong through their agencies, the BNP leader claimed.

“There are many dangers in front of us. Ordinary people are having a difficult time now. This government speaks of democracy, but they do not believe in democracy. They are depriving people of their rights in a well-planned manner. They established a dictatorship wrapped as a planned democracy,” he alleged.

Fakhrul further said those who want to liberate Bangladesh through revolution must be like soldiers.

“There must be an ideal among them. They must have love for the party and a sense of obedience to the commander,” he added.

Earlier on Friday, Fakhrul attended a doa and milad mahfil for Khaleda Zia’s recovery organized by the Chittagong Metropolitan, North and South District BNP at the Jame Mosque adjacent to the Chittagong Metropolitan BNP party office.

At the program, the BNP leader had made the same allegations that the Awami League government was supporting the Comilla incident and communal attacks.

“Such incidents took place at the behest of a government that has tarnished the image of the country.  The BNP has always maintained communal harmony.  This did not happen in our time,” he said.