BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said the government has kept their party chairperson Khaleda Zia confined to her home out of the fear of her vast popularity.
Speaking at a rally, he also alleged that the government is not allowing ailing Khaleda to receive advanced treatment abroad with an aim to remove its “obstacle” to staying power by ensuring her “demise without treatment”.
“The government is seriously sacred of Khaleda Zia. They know if she takes to the streets and waves her hand from her vehicle, then no one can resist people. "If you have the courage, release Khaleda Zia and let her come out (of home)," he said.
Dhaka South city unit of BNP arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of its member secretary Rafiqul Alam Majnu and party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Fakhrul said Khaleda has been in jail for over three years while their 35 lakh leaders and activists have been facing false cases.
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He said Awami League has long been trying to suppress BNP by arresting and jailing its leaders and activists since the party has got isolated from people. “Awami League is a party of liars and deceivers.”
Fakhrul said there is no alternative to waging a fierce movement to have Khaleda, Majnu and other party leaders and workers freed from jail. “We must forge a strong unity and create a mass upsurge to defeat the dangerous fascist regime.”
He also called upon all the political parties and people of all walks of life to get united to force the Awami League government to hand over power to a neutral administration for ensuring a credible election and restoring people’s voting and other rights.
The BNP leader said the government is depleting the resources of the country by indulging in plundering and corruption. "The government is now lying as it wants to cover up the corruption that it has committed by fooling the people.”
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He warned that the government will no longer be able to hang onto power by resorting to lies and different tricks as people have started waking up. “Social media are now flooded with the contents on how the ruling party’s top leaders have indulged in corruption.”
Fakhrul called upon the government to take steps for checking corruption and handing over power to an impartial administration before time runs out fast.