BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday accused Awami League of eliminating its political opponents through what he said enforced disappearances and political killings to establish one-party rule. “It’s Awami League’s old desire that as long as Bangladesh exists they’ll be in power. They’re indulging in enforced disappearances and killings with the only political goal of hanging onto power,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, Fakhrul said Awami League tried but failed to impose one-party Baksal rule in 1975. “They’re now trying to establish the one-party rule in a different style changing their strategy. They’re eliminating those who are creating obstacles to achieving this goal.” Also read: 10 years of Ilias Ali’s disappearance; Sylhet BNP submits memo to Home Ministry BNP arranged the programme titled “Return All the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, Including Ilias Ali, at a city hotel marking the 10th year of the “enforced disappearance” of former party MP Ilias Ali. A video clip on the disappearance of over 600 BNP leaders and activists was presented at the beginning of the programme. BNP’s then-organising secretary M Ilias Ali along with his driver Ansar Ali went missing on the midnight of April 17, 2012, from the capital’s Banani area. Police later found his car near his home in the city's Mohakhali area. Since then, BNP has been blaming the security agencies for the mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government. Fakhrul said the people want to raise their voice for the restoration of their lost rights but can’t do that as the government has created an awful suffocating situation across the country. "We have to get out of this situation and we’re trying to do that.  We’ll surely be able to wage a strong movement in the future with all our political parties to defeat the terrible monster regime and establish a truly representative government of the people,” he said. Also read: Fakhrul seeks opposition parties’ unity to dislodge AL govt The BNP secretary general called upon the opposition political parties to initiate a united movement for the protection of national independence and sovereignty, restoration of democracy and for ensuring the safe return of those who were subjected to enforced disappearance. "Let’s bring back a truly democratic environment where there will be accountability so that no mother will cry for her missing son and no child will look for his/her missing father,”  he observed. Fakhrul said they do not know whether those who were made to disappea will return to their families. “We pray for their safe return. The families of those who were killed are also facing serious sufferings.” BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they attend the programmes in memory of those who were made to disappear with a very heavy heart as they do not have any suitable language to console their family members. “We become speechless seeing the tears of the family members of those who have gone missing. We must remove the fascist government with the united efforts of democratic and patriotic people, individuals and parties to get rid of such a situation in the country,” he said. BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nagorik Oikay convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gono Odhikar Parishad convenor Dr Reza Kibria, educationist Professor Mahbub Ullah and BNP hum rights secretary Advocate Asaduzzaman Asad, among others, addressed the programme. M Ilias Ali's wife Tahsina Rushdir Luna and some other family members of the missing BNP leaders spoke at the programme narrating the ordeals they are going through losing their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers.  They, however, said they will wait for the return of their loved ones.

BNP will observe January 25 as ‘Baksal Day’ commemorating what it says introduction of one-party rule in the country on this day in 1975. BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, took the decision at a virtual meeting on Monday. Read: BNP trashes draft law over EC formation “Our standing committee has decided to observe January 25, the day when one-party autocratic rule was imposed on the country annihilating democracy, the golden outcome of the Liberation War, as a Baksal Day in all cities and districts across the country,” said party standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan. Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Tuesday, he also said their party’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of independence will arrange a virtual discussion with the participation of Bangladeshis living in different countries all over the world. Read: Zia's birth anniversary: BNP chalks out elaborate programmes    On 25 January 1975, the then Awami League government had introduced one-party Baksal rule through the fourth amendment to the constitution in parliament. BNP observes the day as 'Democracy Killing Day'.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said one-party rule is now the only way for the survival of the current government since it has lost people’s confidence.

President of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Oli Ahmed on Sunday placed a 22-point proposal for’ restoring’ peace and good governance in the country as he expects the ‘one-party rule’ will end very soon.

BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed alleged that Bangladesh is now under the grip of one-party Baksal rule like that of 1975.