“When we can’t stand anywhere, express our views, and carry out any election campaign and our leaders and activists being sent to jail in false and fictitious cases, we’ve taken the election as a challenge. We together with people who’re already united will defeat this monstrous regime,” he said.
Speaking at a grand rally of lawyers, the BNP leader further said, “We’ve little time in our hands. If we want to save the nation, Bangladesh’s independence, and its people, this is the high time for us to join the battle of vote with people and thus defeat them (govt).”
He urged the Oikyafront leaders and activists to get ready for the election braving all the obstacles, repressive acts and plots. “We must stage a vote revolution together with people.”
Jatiya Ainjibi Oikyafront arranged the programme on the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) premises with its president Advocate Zainul Abedin in the chair.
Fakhrul alleged that the government is regulating the judiciary as per its whim while the lower judiciary acts at the directives of the Law Ministry.
Referring to the jailing of Barrister Mainul Hosein and senior lawyer Netai Roy Chowdhury’s daughter Nipun Roy, he said even the lawyers are being subjected to repression in the country.
The BNP leader said about 450 ‘fictitious’ cases have been filed against their leaders and activists since the announcement of the election schedule.
Reacting to Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s comment that all the communal elements are now rallying around the sheaf of paddy, he questioned whether freedom fighters like Dr Kamal Hossain, ASM Abdur Rob, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, OLi Ahmed, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar belong to communal force.
“I strongly protest and condemn it. We would like to say you’re pampering the communal force. You had waged a movement with war criminals in the past. People know now you’ve become Mother of Qawmi followers sitting with them,” Fakhrul quipped.
The BNP leader also questioned the capability of the current Election Commission to hold a credible national election since it could not hold acceptable election to local government bodies.
He urged the Commission to create a level-playing field for holding a neutral and acceptable election.