BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam has said Awami League will not be allowed to play games any more in the name of election.

“You went to power by playing games in the name of elections the last two times by deceiving people, misguiding them and telling lies. But this time we have turned around and people too (to prevent it),” he told a huge rally in Faridpur on Saturday.

The BNP leader also said there will be no election this time in the country unless a caretaker government is installed.

As part of the party’s planned divisional rally, Faridpur district unit BNP organised the programme on Komorpur Abdul Aziz Institution's premises, around 6km away from the district town.

Fakhrul said people could not exercise their voting rights during the elections in 2014 and 2018. “So, the youth people must stand up strongly this time as they can restore voting rights in the country.

Read: Quader promises to finish BNP's movement in December

He alleged that the government has destroyed politics, economy and the country’s future only to cling to power by force denying people’s voting rights. “Our all rights will be taken away if this regime stays in power any more time. People have started waking up to get back their rights.”

About the ruling party leaders’ comment that the next polls will be held as per the constitution under the current government, he said “The caretaker government system was there in consultation and 4-5 unquestionable elections were held under it. But Awami League destroyed the constitution.”

Fakhrul also said BNP introduced the caretaker government system in 1996 accepting Awami League’s demand and then handed over power to that interim administration and suffered defeat in the subsequent polls “But Awami League doesn’t want to quit power, no matter who says what. But It won’t happen anymore.”

He demanded the government to quit power and dissolve parliament by handing over power to a caretaker government, creating a scope for holding a credible election by forming a new election commission.

Referring to ruling party General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s remark that Awami League has been working to give the country's democracy an institutional shape, the BNP leader said it’s an absurd proposition.

“You would tell us the definition of your democracy…you’ve obliterated democracy and snatched people’s rights. You’re trying to obstruct our rallies.”

He said the government imprisoned BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia depriving her right to get bail in what he called ‘false’ cases, as it fears her and her popularity. “But you (govt) freed casino kingpin Samrat on bail and he joined Jubo Leagues’s rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the front line”

Fakhrul said the government has started playing the old trick again by implicating BNP leaders and activists in ‘false’ cases and arresting them. “But you talk about democracy.”

“Our backs are pushed against the wall enduring repressions, attacks and beating. We’ll now move forward. We won’t tolerate repressive acts anymore as we’ll come up with resistance,” he said

Fakhrul said the freedom fighters liberated the country to get the freedom of individuals and establish all their rights. “We must restore that freedom and rights. The youth will have to play the pivotal role in this regard.”

Read: AL, not BNP, mastermind of ‘arson terrorism’: Fakhrul

Fakhrul said th:e ruling party depleted the forex reserves and state exchequer by indulging in widespread corruption and plundering“They’re looting the country’s resources and laundering it abroad."

He alleged that Tk10 lakh crores was siphoned off abroad under the rule of this government, with the ruling party leaders stealing money from mega projects and every sector.

Acknowledging the dedication of the people of Faridpur, which is held to be an AL bastion. He said people of Faridpur made the rally a success by going through immense suffering and ordeals for three days, as they came to the venue in advance to evade various obstacles. “You (crowds) put up this struggle for the restoration of democracy and people’s voting and other rights.”

Fakhrul recalled that many patriotic people, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, KM Obaidur Rahman and Chowdury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, were born in the Faridpur region, and later carried the struggle for the country’s independence and establishing people’s voting and other rights. “People of Faridpur are upholding that legacy. So, I thank you.”

BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas said the mass wave that was created towards this rally in Faridpur was unbelievable, indicating that it has become a bastion of BNP, despite its reputation as AL's bastion.

“I thank the people of Faridpur for giving the government a fitting reply through this massive gathering to its misrule and failure to control the soaring prices of essentials,” he said.

Another BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said all the people of Bangladesh were encouraged to intensify the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and to establish a caretaker government to oversee the next polls through this rally in Faridpur.

He said the spontaneous participation of people in the rally defying all barriers has manifested BNP’s bright prospect in the next polls in the Faridpur region.

Thousands of leaders and followers of the BNP and its associate bodies from five districts — Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Gopalganj — participated in the rally in Faridpur, known as a stronghold of ruling Awami League, overcoming various obstacles and a 38-hour bus strike that began on Friday morning and ended as the rally wrapped up.

The venue was almost filled to the brim with BNP leaders and activists already on Friday night as they gathered there in advance from the adjacent districts fearing obstacles by the ruling party men and police and hassles caused by the bus strike.

Though bus communication remained halted between Faridpur and the rest of the country since Friday morning, the BNP leaders and activists came to the district town from different areas by train, launches, boats, trucks and small vehicles like human haulers, auto rickshaws, three-wheelers, motorbikes, and micro-buses.

Meanwhile, locals complained that internet services were disrupted since 10am, centring the opposition’s programme. Other sources too have reported lack of 3G and 4G network in Faridpur during the day. The government has form in this too.

An adequate number of police and other security officials were deployed around the rally venue and at different points of the town to prevent any untoward incident.

Read: BNP hiring people to attend their rallies: Quader

BNP leaders alleged that their activists were obstructed at different entry points and police check posts and C&B Ghat by law enforcers.

However, BNP activists were seen coming to the rally venue in small processions chanting various anti-government slogans since early morning, braving all hurdles.

As the vehicles and auto-rickshaws were not allowed to go towards Komorpur Abdul Aziz Institution from the town, many BNP leaders and workers were forced to walk around 6km on foot to take part in the rally.

The organisers said the rally was meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Yet as they have progressed - today's was the 6th - the overarching demand from the party's divisional rallies would have to be taken as the reinstatement of the neutral, caretaker regime for overseeing elections, that AL scrapped using its brute majority in parliament in June 2011, with the omnibus 15th amendment to the Constitution.

The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not contain any such provision. Since the AL-led parliament removed it.

A similar strike was also enforced ahead of BNP’s divisional rallies in Barishal, Rangpur and Khulna, but thousands of party leaders, activists and supporters participated in the rallies overcoming the obstacles.

BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights day.