As part of their one-point simultaneous movement, BNP will hold mass processions in all metropolitan cities, including Dhaka, to mount pressure on the government to quit and hold the next election under a non-party caretaker government. Besides, the party also announced programmes on August 17 and 19 demanding unconditional release and advanced treatment of its ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia who has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital since August 9 for various ailments. Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday. Ex-BNP lawmaker Redwan jailed for 3 years, fined Tk 50 lakh in graft case The party standing committee finalised the programmes at its virtual meeting on Monday night. “Mass processions will be held in all metropolitan cities, including Dhaka, on Friday as part of a simultaneous movement demanding the resignation of the current illegal, looter and fascist government," he said. BNP mourns death of Sayeedi Rizvi said other opposition parties and alliances who have been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP will also observe a similar programme on the same day from their respective positions. On August 9, BNP and like-minded parties took out mass processions in the capital as part of the last programme of their one-point movement. On July 12 last, BNP and the like-minded parties announced their one-point movement to realise their demands. Their demands include the resignation of the current “fascist, authoritarian, people's vote looter and illegal” Awami League government, dissolution of the existing parliament, formation of the polls-time impartial government and reconstitution of the Election Commission for arranging a free, fair and inclusive election, the release of all political prisoners, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, withdrawal of all falls and ghost cases, including those against Tarique Rahman, and annulment of all false convictions. BNP-Jamaat a threat to communal harmony: Sajeeb Wazed reminds with documentary on minority repression In December last year, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances started a simultaneous movement based on their common objective of ousting the present government to pave the way for holding the next election under a non-party neutral government. About programme for Khaleda’s treatmentRizvi said their party will distribute leaflets across the country on August 17 and stage marches at city and district levels on August 19 to press home their demand for the unconditional release of Khaleda and her advanced treatment abroad. Besides, he said their party will hold a doa and milad mahfil across the country, including at their Nayapaltan central office, on Wednesday seeking divine blessings for the speedy recovery of her illness. Khaleda has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems. She was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by a lower court on February 8, 2018. On March 25, 2020, the BNP chief was released from jail upon an executive order on some conditions considering her age and humanitarian ground following an application by her family.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday (July 01, 2023) said the current regime will be forced to concede to their demand for holding the next election under a non-party government as their party is going to launch a different type of movement involving the masses. Talking to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he, however, assured that they will not announce any harsher programmes like hartal and blockade to avoid street violence. “It’ll undoubtedly be a little different from the previous movements and the involvement of the people will also increase,” the BNP leader said. Also read: BNP's movement to boil down to single point 'soon': Fakhrul He also said they are confident that there will be huge involvement of mass people, especially the young ones, in their one-point anti-government movement. “We believe that the government will finally be forced to concede and resign to hold the next election under a neutral government,” Fakhrul said. He claimed that their party’s recent youth rallies in different cities and districts evoked overwhelming response. Also read: It’s govt’s far-reaching political conspiracy, says Fakhrul about fresh case against Zia “We’ll now begin (road) march programmes. We hope that we’ll kick off the one-point movement in the future,” the BNP leader said. He said the one-point demand will be the combination of the BNP’s 10-point and the other opposition parties’ different demands with the objective to force the Awami League regime to quit, dissolve parliament, and arrange the national polls under a caretaker government by reconstituting the Election Commission. “The one-point demand is basically the resignation of this government.” Asked about the nature of the new-type of movement, the BNP leader said they are consciously avoiding any harsher programmes like hartal and blockade. Also read: Govt to blame for US’s disrespectful visa policy: Fakhrul “There is no reason for us to resort to violence. If the government somehow pushes the movement in that direction, then they’ll be held responsible for it. We’re carrying out the movement peacefully and we want to go to the final stage of it peacefully." Fakhrul, who returned to Dhaka in the afternoon from his home district Thakurgaon after celebrating the Eid-up-Azha, talked about different political issues while exchanging Eid greetings with journalists.

BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Friday threatened that their party is thinking of launching a one-point movement to oust the current government. "I think it's better not to talk about the election. All we need now is a one-point movement to ensure the fall of Sheikh Hasina and her government,” he said. Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks at a discussion meeting arranged by Jatiyatabadi Projonmo Dal at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity. He said the current government is the main barrier to resolving the problems the country and its people are facing now. “If we can force this regime to quit, it will pave the way to resolve all the problems of people.  So, we need a one-point movement.” Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting About the reconstitution of the Election Commission, he said the Commission will not function if this government stays in power, no matter with whom it is formed. “If the Election Commission is constituted with five angels keeping a devil in government, then the angels will become helpless, and they won’t be able to do anything. So, we need not spend time by joining the debate over the formation of the Election Commission,” Gayeshwar observed. He warned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that the consequence of staying power ‘by force’ will be dire if there is no safe exit route. “You (PM) have done so many things. If you voluntarily resign and call for a fair election by walking towards the path of democracy, then the people who are angry with you will calm down for a while. Because, the people of Bangladesh can forgive,” the BNP leader said. Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings Stating that BNP has long been fighting for democracy enduring a lot of pain, he said if the Prime Minister now ‘restores’ democracy, their party may not reflect its hostile attitude towards her in the future. “That is the best way…restores people’s democratic rights, and don’t push the country towards a dreadful situation.” Gayeshwar urged BNP leaders and activists to get ready for a one-point movement to ensure the fall of the government. “You please forget the intra-party conflicts and disliking each other. Our only dislike is Sheikh Hasina and her government. We have no other choice now. That is why we want a one-point movement. Don’t point a finger at any other leader and do your own duty,” he told BNP leaders and activists.

 

Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Tuesday urged all political parties to wage a one-point movement to oust the incumbent government.