BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday warned that Awami League will be ousted from power through a street movement if it fails to accept their demand for an election-time government.
He also said there is no scope for their party to engage in talks with the government on any other issue, except the election-time government.
“If the government doesn’t take any step to accept our demands (especially polls-time govt), then the solution will come only through a street movement,” the BNP leader said.
He voiced confidence that this time they will be able to ensure the fall of the Awami League government through a movement with people’s spontaneous support.
Fakhrul came up with the remarks while speaking at ‘Meet the Ocab’ programme at the Jatiya Press Club organised by the Overseas Correspondents Association of Bangladesh.
He said they will initiate a simultaneous movement with all other opposition parties in the days to come to realise their demands.
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“We have the experience of carrying out simultaneous movements in the past. You surely didn’t forget that we carried out such a movement in 1990…we’re now in talks with the political parties following that model,” the BNP leader said.
He also said the opposition political parties will initiate the movement from their respective positions. “The movement itself will later determine in which direction it may go.”
Fakhrul, however, said the government can resolve the political crisis and pave the way for a credible election peacefully by incorporating the election-time administration into the constitution.
“Everything is possible if the government wants. We have made it clear that we’ll go to the election only if it is held under a neutral caretaker government,” he said.
The BNP leader said the constitution was amended for the sake of elections in the past, including in 1990.
“Awami League also amended the constitution and changed many parts of it. So if you want, you can do it as there is a term Doctrine of Necessity. It’s now necessary for the interest of people. So, the constitution should be amended and the next election must be arranged under a non-partisan government,” the BNP leader observed.
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Narrating the experiences of recent elections, including the 2014 and 2018 national polls, he said an acceptable and credible election is not possible under a partisan government. “No Election Commission can work neutrally under a partisan government…even KM Nurul Huda (former chief election commissioner) who conducted a stigmatised election in 2018 said the election under a partisan government is very difficult.”
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said their party is not having any back door discussion with the government.” Everything we do is at the front door." "We’re declaring publicly from the public meetings that we and many other parties won’t join the polls without a caretaker or a neutral government.”
Asked if the country is heading towards a politics of violence, he said it will depend on the actions of the government. "As the government is now in the driving seat, it has to take initiatives to resolve the political crisis. If they don’t want to see violence and confrontation, then the government must quit and take steps for the formation of a caretaker government.”
The BNP leader also said they expect that all the democratic countries, including India, will play a positive role from their respective positions in strengthening democracy in Bangladesh.
In reply to a question, Fakhrul said they see some similarities between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in terms of economic crisis.
He said Bangladesh is now hit hard by the hike in fuel and energy prices in the international market while the country has become dependent on foreign countries for gas since the government did not take steps to explore own gas over the last 15 years. “The prices of imported gas and dollars are going up.”
Besides, the BNP leader said the country’s foreign currency reserves are going down and the import and production costs are growing. So, a major crisis has already begun here and it is now deepening. "That is why we are afraid that a financial situation like Sri Lanka may emerge here.”
He alleged that people are going through a miserable life because of the increase in prices of essentials and utility services, power crisis and growing unemployment rate. “The government is indulging in mega plundering in the name of mega projects. An awful situation has been created due to the widespread corruption of the government. This government, which is involved in corruption, will never be able to solve this problem.”
Fakhrul also said BNP is the only alternative party that can solve the current problems of the country by returning to power through a credible election. "We have now one suggestion…step down and arrange the election under a neutral government. Only the elected government can solve the crisis.”
Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB), is a platform of Dhaka-based journalists working for foreign media.
OCAB convenor and BBC correspondent Qadir Kallol, its member secretary and German news agency DPA correspondent Nazrul Islam Mithu and senior member and UNB Editor Farid Hossain, were among others, present.