BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday urged the party rank and file to take to the streets with courage just for a few days after the Durga Puja in order to oust the government.
Speaking at a seminar on agriculture, he also slammed the prime minister for branding BNP as a terrorist party, and said Awami League is the godfather of terrorism.
"I would like to say everyone should come out on the streets...let's take to the streets with courage during the next few days, not for a month,” the BNP leader said.
He urged their party leaders and activists not to be worried about the ruling party’s threats and attacks since they have been facing such repression for one and a half decades.
“Several thousand of our people have been killed, many people have been disappeared, and 50 lakh people have been implicated in false cases in 15 years,” the BNP leader said.
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He said the government arrested 77 BNP leaders and activists in the capital just on Thursday.
“We have to overcome this situation as the existence of the nation, the country and its independence will be at stake if the current regime can’t be removed," he said.
Fakhrul expressed hope for the success of the movement as the people from all walks of life and all opposition parties, left and right, have united and taken a position that no fair election can be held under the current government.
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"For the last time I would like to ask the government: you please resign peacefully with dignity and put power in the hands of a neutral and non-partisan government,” he said.
“Sonali Dal”, (Golden Panel) an organisation of BNP-supported teachers of Bangladesh Agricultural University arranged the seminar at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
Fakhrul alleged that the people are going through serious ordeals due to unusual hikes in prices of daily essentials.
“The rise in commodity prices is unprecedented. Prices have increased somewhat in all countries. But the increase in Bangladesh is incredible and unprecedented. There are many reasons behind this. But the main reason is lack of accountability of the government,” he said.
He said the government is procuring new vehicles for the DCs and UNOs while the people cannot buy necessary food items and vegetables.
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The BNP leader said the country’s people have lost their rights to vote and get justice as the government has established a reign of terror.
“She (Hasina) said yesterday (Thursday) BNP is a terrorist party. What are you if the BNP a terrorist party? You are the godfather father of terrorism. You have turned this country into a terrorist state. You want to stay in power by establishing a reign of terror by using the state machinery only to stay in power,” he said.