DHAKA: Apparently changing the modus operandi of her anti-government movement BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia said the Awami League government would be ousted in popular uprising as happened in some Middle East countries.
“After the Eid, next course of movement will be declared. Not by hartal, siege or burning but the government will be ousted through popular uprising as being happened in some Arab countries,” she said addressing a mass hunger strike she led at the Engineers Institution premis es on July 13 (Wednesday).
The opposition leader warned that the government intention to hold a stage-managed election of Hasina-Ershad would not be allowed in the country.
“Election without caretaker government cannot be held in the country and any election without participation of BNP will not be acceptable,” she said.
In her hour-long speech, she once again said talks can be held on who will head the caretaker government and to constitute a neutral Election Commission, but not on the legitimacy of the caretaker government system. Bitterly criticizing the government for amending the constitution, the former premier said the amended constitution is nothing but an AL manifesto which will be thrown away.
Khaleda said her party will announce a fresh agitation programme after Eid. "The fascist government will be ousted through a peaceful movement like the one taking place in the Middle East," she said. Condemning police attacks on BNP leaders including Abdin, she said democracy is now being suppressed under law enforcers" boots. "I am asking all police and RAB personnel to stop repression. Remember this is not the last government. None will be spared. Stop the repression otherwise be prepared for dire consequences," she warned. "Intelligence agencies must stop their excesses. We know the names of all those who are involved in interrogations during remand. Consequences will not be good if they don"t restrain themselves," she added.
The BNP chief said it was Awami League leader Khandaker Mustaq who introduced martial law in the country, and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman reinstated multi party democracy.
"Awami League was behind all military governments. The Awami League chief expressed happiness after Ershad grabbed power in 1982, and she also admitted that Fakhruddin-Moeen Uddin government was the outcome of her movement," Khaleda alleged.
The leader of the opposition alleged that the government made the parliament ineffective.
Mentioning Gopalganj, the home district of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda said Bangladesh is now a prisoner of that district as "all of the police department and the civil administration are from there".
Referring to the deals which are expected to be signed with India soon, she said the government must inform the people what Bangladesh will get from India. "India is planning to set up a power plant at Bagerhat but we won"t allow it. A special EPZ is being built in Sylhet, which also will not be acceptable to us," she said.
Khaleda urged the people irrespective of class, profession, age, gender, opinion and political affiliations to join the future movement to protect the country, people, democracy, dignity of women and ensure welfare and prosperity of the nation.
Eight-hour mass hunger strike led by Khaleda from 10-15 am to 6:15 pm was organized by BNP to protest police assault on opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque at Manik Mia Avenue on first day of the 48 hour hartal on July 6.
The hunger strike was also organized in protest against police attack, arrest and cases against other BNP leaders and workers during the 48-hour hartal. The strike ended peacefully with leaders pledging to restore the provision of the non-party caretaker government in the Constitution and dislodge the present regime under the leadership of Khaleda Zia.
Apart from BNP and its front and associate organizations, various political parties, social and cultural organizations, professional groups and personalities expressed solidarity with the mass hunger strike.
Those expressed solidarity include acting Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Mokbul Ahmed, BJP chairman Andalib Rahman MP, IOJ secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami, Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mohammad Ishaq, JAGPA president Shafiul Alam Prodhan, NPP chairman Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu, Bangladesh People’s Party president Garib Newaz, LDP presidium member Redwan Ahmed, NDP president Golam Mortuza, NAP (Bhasani) president Anwarul Huq, Bangladesh Kalyan Party secretary general Abdul Malek, Muslim League secretary general Atiqul Islam, SCBA president Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, National Press Club president Kamaluddin Sabuj, Dhaka University teachers Prof Sadrul Amin Prof Tajmeri Begum and Prof Mahbubullah, Dr Zafarullah of Ganoshawstha, poet Al Mujahidi, Abu Saleh, Abdul Hye Shikder and Combined Professional Council convenor Mahmudur Rahman.
Leaders and workers of BNP and its front and associate organizations assembled at the hunger strike venue and its surroundings. They came in processions from different parts of the capital to make the event a success.
After Khaleda’s address, some personalities like Baby Naznin, Dr Zafarullah and Prof Tajmeri Begum broke hunger strike of Khaleda Zia. BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other leaders broke strike to other hunger strikers.
Special prayer was offered at the hunger strike venue seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of school students killed in Mirsharai in Chittagong on July 11.