BNP Vice-Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo on Thursday said the Awami League government will not be allowed to retain power by ‘rigging’ votes again in the next general election. 

“This regime has been in power by rigging votes. But it won’t be possible for them to hang onto power by rigging votes again. It won’t be allowed to happen this time,” he said.

Mintoo, also a renowned businessman, came up with the remarks while speaking at a council of six wards of BNP’s Dhaka north city unit at a community centre in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area.

Stating that the country’s people are eagerly waiting to get rid of the misrule of the Awami League, he called upon all political forces to take to the streets in unison to ensure the fall of the current regime and ‘restore’ democracy and people’s all rights.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent comment that some people always try to oust her government without any fault, Mintoo said, “Isn't it an offence that you filed false cases against lakhs of the opposition leaders and activists? Isn’t it a crime as you’re carrying out attacks on people and repressing them by your helmet force and other forces?”

He also questioned whether usurping power by destroying the election system and indulging in vote rigging is not a crime against the people and the state.

The BNP leader also warned that those who belong to the current government must be brought to justice for the crimes they are committing now.

“The Prime Minister doesn’t find her offences. But I find their crimes everywhere and they must be accountable for these misdeeds,” Mintoo observed.

He slammed the government for what he said indulging in massive celebration over the inauguration of Padma Bridge while people in the flood-affected areas were crying for food and relief.