BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said nothing can prevent their party from holding the planned grand rally in the capital on October 28 saying their movement is reaching a decisive phase for victory.
“I would like to clearly say that nothing can stop us. Awami League’s intimidation, (counter) rally, arrest, cases and night-time judicial activities won’t be able to prevent people from realising their demands,” he said.
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Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said when people are moving forward with their peaceful movement Awami League is trying to create unrest in the name of ‘peace rallies’.
He said every step of the opposition is risky under the rule of the Awami League which is consciously trying to create chaos and turn Bangladesh into a failed state.
The BNP leader, however, said people are not worried about any risk of the street movement as they are committed to realising their demand.
"So you can be sure that the our movement is moving towards a decisive phase this time and the victory of the people is inevitable," he observed.
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Replying to a question, Fakhrul said they informed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities about their party’s plan to hold the rally at Nayapaltan on October 28.
“There’s nothing to ask for permission (from police). We’ve informed them (about the rally. It’s now their responsibility…they will decide what to do or not here,” the BNP leader said.
In response to another question, he said that Awami League, Jamaat and other parties have also announced to hold rallies on October 28 as part of their democratic rights.
Fakhrul said the government is trying to mislead the global community by talking about holding a free, fair and neutral election as per the constitution.
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“But their activities are opposite to what they’re saying. They have created a reign of terror in the entire country by destroying the election atmosphere so that the opposition party can’t participate in the polls and voters can’t exercise their right to franchise,” he said.
The BNP leader also said the government has taken all steps to retain power by holding a unilateral and controlled election.
Earlier, the five-member committee formed by BNP to investigate the attack on a procession of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad on October 13 in Cumilla presented their report at the press conference.
Probe body chief and BNP vice-chairmen Barkat Ullah Bulu presented the report that was prepared by visiting the spot on October 17 and talking to the local people and witnesses.
According to the report, local AL MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar and the ‘cadres’ of Jubo League and Chhatra League were involved in the incident.
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Echoing the probe report, Fakhrul blamed the ruling Awami League for the attack. "It has been proved that the attack in Cumilla was completely carried out by the cadres of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League at the behest of Awami League MP Bahauddin Bahar.”
He said terrorist incidents are carried out in Bangladesh mainly led by Awami League as it is a terrorist party.
“They (AL) have been surviving by resorting to terrorism and they are again trying to come to power in the same way. This is their character,” the BNP leader observed.