“People gave their verdict in favour of the seven-point demand by raising their hands today. A mass verdict was also given in Sylhet in this regard. We would like to tell the government to accept the demands before time runs out. Or else, you’ll have to face trial,” he said.
Speaking at a rally arranged by Oikyafront in front of BNP office at Kazir Dewri in the port city, Dr Kamal further said, “If you violate or ignore peoples’ decision, you can’t even imagine the punishment that you will get for it.”
He accused the government of regularly violating the constitution and warned that it has to be accountable to people for it one day.
“The constitution is being violated every day... it was told in 2014 that the election was held for a temporary period to face crisis and another election would be held later…five years have gone without any election. This is a serious offence as per the constitution. We must hold them accountable for it,” Oikyafront chief said.
He said people will turn out to be victorious this time by forcing the government to accept their demands for holding a fair election through their united efforts. ”There’s nothing impossible to achieve when people get united as we had proved it in the past, including during the Liberation War.”
Dr Kamal, also the president of Gono forum, criticised the government for not releasing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail. “Khaleda Zia’s release is not a matter of demand as it should happen normally.”
Speaking at the rally, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said people have got united to restore their voting rights and democracy by defeating the current ‘autocratic regime’.
“We’ll return home only after realising our seven-point demand and restoring people’s voting rights. We won’t bow down to injustice and won’t get defeated,” he told the rally.
The BNP leader alleged that the government is filing ‘false’ cases against its opponents to hang onto power by suppressing them. “I would like to say there’s no point of resorting to such acts as people have started waking up. Let’s take the movement forward together, and our victory is certain.”
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob urged the government to engage in talks with political parties before announce the election schedule if it wants a credible election. “If the election schedule is announced without meeting our seven points and consultation with us, we’ll’ understand you want to foil the election.”
He also called upon the government to free Khaleda Zia from jail for holding an inclusive election.
Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna urged the government to take steps for holding a fair and neutral election quitting power. “Or else, we’ll ensure your fall with our united efforts paving the path for holding fair polls.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said there is no alternative to waging a movement to oust the current fascist regime to restore the spirit of the Liberation War and ensure an acceptable election in the country.
Another BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said national unity is a vital weapon to remove an autocratic regime. “We’ll restore democracy and force the government to engage in talks through this unity.”
BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Gono Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, executive president Subrata Chowdhury, JSD vice president Tania Rob, Oikya Prokriya member secretary Mostafa Amin, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Kalyan Party’s Syed Mohammad Ibrahim and LDP’s Redwan Ahmed, among others, spoke at the rally.
The rally activities started around 1:30pm on Saturday with recitation from the holy Quran and holy Gita. Chattogram city unit BNP president Dr Shahdat Hossain presided over the rally.
This was the second rally of the newly formed alliance as it held its maiden one in Sylhet on October 24.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP holding placards, banners and portraits of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman joined the rally.
They chanted various slogans demanding Khaleda’s immediate release from jail.
Huge law enforcers were deployed around the rally venue to maintain law and order.
The Oikyafront’s seven-point demand includes installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of parliament, reconstitution the Election Commission, release of all the political prisoners, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS) for holding the next polls in fair and acceptable manner.
On October 13, BNP together with Dr Kama Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, JSD and Nagorik Oikya launched the Jatiy Oikyafront to press for their seven-point demand.