Denouncing the government’s ‘repressive’ acts to thwart their recent peaceful programmes, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their movement will continue until the fall of the Awami League. Speaking at a press conference, he also alleged that attacks are being made on their party leaders and activists in different parts of the country so that BNP cannot participate in the next general election. “Our position is clear that this regime must hand over power to an impartial caretaker government by quitting power and dissolving parliament. Then, a new election commission will have to be formed to arrange the polls. We’re moving towards this goal," the BNP leader said. Also read: BNP demands probe into illegal use of Chinese Rifle by N’ganj police He said their party has scheduled programmes all over the country until September 10 and those will continue as usual. “After that, we’ll come up with new programmes. This movement will continue until the final victory.” Besides, the BNP leader also said they have continued their discussions with different opposition parties to build a greater anti-government platform. "We hope to give it a final shape and present it before the nation in a short period of time." Fakhrul narrated govt’s actions to suppress BNP’s programmes. He said their party’s programmes have been attacked by police and ruling party activists in different districts, including Narayanganj, Satkhira, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Jhalkathi, Pirojpur, Thakurgaon, Gaibandha, Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Narsingdi, Dhaka, Manikganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Sirajganj, Laxmipur, Jashore, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, Magura, Narail, Khulna, Bagerhat, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Chandpur, Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Jamalpur and Mymensingh, since they waged a movement protesting the price hikes of fuel and daily essentials. He said three leaders and activists of their party and its associate bodies were killed while over 2,000 others were injured in the attacks all over the country recently. Also read: Get ready for final push against AL govt: Fakhrul to BNP activists Besides, Fakhrul said around 200 BNP leaders and workers were arrested while 4,081 were implicated in different cases, and around 20,000 unidentified people were made accused in those cases from August 22 to September 1. He also said section 144 was imposed in 20/25 places across the country and attacks on houses and business establishments were taken place in 50 places.” Fakhrul urged the government to stop killing and arresting the opposition leaders and activists and common people. “We also demand an impartial investigation into the murder incidents and ensure exemplary punishment of the killers and attackers. He also called upon the government to release those arrested unjustly and withdraw all the false cases. “The victims should be compensated." The BNP leader said the members of the police are not obeying the international rules as they are opening fire at people without any justification. Case in Narayanganj: Fakhrul said they filed a case in Narayanganj over the killing of a Jubo Dal activist Shaon Prodhan on September 1. He said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi filed the case against 22 people. “We'll definitely continue the legal fight against every murder and attack incident. On the one hand, we’ll intensify our street movement.” He said Awami League started attacking the programmes of BNP out of their nervousness seeing a mass wave on the streets. “Awami League's only means of staying in power is to create panic among people. They want to push BNP towards violence and they’re now suffering from mental pain having failed to take BNP in that direction,” the BNP leader observed. Fakhrul said they would inform the United Nations about the incidents of oppression, attacks on rallies, killing in police firing and rights violations.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday threatened to wage a one-point movement seeking the fall of the government if Khaleda Zia is not allowed to go abroad for treatment. “Our leader Khaleda Zia has been staying in a hospital with critical health problems. Doctors are saying it’s now essential for her to receive treatment abroad but that permission is not given,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader urged the government to take necessary steps so that the BNP chief can receive treatment in any advanced centre outside the country. “We would like to say Begum Khaleda Zia be released immediately and given a scope to get treatment abroad. Otherwise, they‘ll have to face a one-point oust-government movement,” Fakhrul warned. Read: No scope in law for Khaleda’s treatment abroad, says Home Minister BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme, marking the 45th death anniversary of great national leader Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani. Fakhrul recalled Bhasani’s lifelong struggle for ensuring the rights of common and working people and said Bhasani is also one of the key leaders who played a major role in liberating the country. Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said people have been living in suffocating conditions. “People have got fed-up with the government as there is no democracy now and voting and other rights in the country.” Read: Khaleda’s condition improves slightly: Physician He alleged that Khaleda has been pushed towards death by sending her to jail “for no reason”. The BNP leader urged all to get united for ousting the current government through a mass movement. BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, among others, spoke at the programme.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf on Saturday hinted that their party has been trying to float a greater platform of opposition parties to wage a strong movement for ousting the current government. “We’ll create a greater united platform on one-point demand to restore democracy by ousting the current government through a strong mass movement,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said their one-point demand is the restoration of democracy and people’s voting rights and the release of Khaleda Zia. "Our only goal is to protect the rights and interests of the people of this country.” Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club in memory of its late joint secretary general Mohsin Sarker. Also read: Caretaker is a must, no more game: BNP Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said people are ready to wage a tougher movement to ensure the fall of Awami League government. “People are criticising us as we’re not taking to the streets to oust the government.” He said it is now the responsibility of the political parties to protect the country and restore people’s all rights, including voting one, through a united movement. The BNP leader said the fall of the current government through a movement will pave the way for holding a credible national election in the country under a neutral administration. Also read: BNP won’t join election with AL in power: Abbas He called upon the opposition political parties that are out of the 20-party alliance to come under a united platform for waging a mass movement. "Here (in the discussion meeting) some of you have said our 20-party alliance has become inactive. It happened due to the coronavirus. Our party also kept all organisational activities suspended due to the same reason. But this situation won’t remain in the days to come,” he said.

After a series of closed-door meetings with the party’s central and grassroots leaders, BNP policymakers on Thursday took the opinions of the leaders of different professional bodies to work out their next course of action ahead of the 12th parliamentary election. The BNP top leaders had around a three-and-half-hours meeting with the leaders of different professions, including lawyers, doctors, engineers, agriculturalists and teachers, at party chairperson’s Gulshan office. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Selima Rahman were present at the meeting while party acting chairman Tarique Rahman joined it virtually from London. A lawyer, who was present at the meeting, said most processional leaders urged the BNP policymakers to overhaul the party and its associate bodies as early as possible to wage an ‘effective’ movement for forcing the government to hold the next national election under a neutral government. Also read: Caretaker is a must, no more game: BNP He said they also suggested that BNP should maintain effective communication with other opposition parties to wage a simultaneous movement to ensure a credible election in the country. “We also urge the BNP leaders to prepare a roadmap for a movement and the next general election,” the lawyer said. He said they warned BNP leaders that it will be meaningless to join the national election under the current government. BNP began the series of meetings on September 14 last to know the views of party rank and file and pro-BNP professionals about the party’s next course of action ahead of the next general election. Also read: BNP won’t join election with AL in power: Abbas The party had six closed-door meetings in two phases with BNP vice-chairmen, advisory council members with joint secretaries general, organising secretaries, assistant organising secretaries, secretaries, executive committee members, leaders of the party’s different associate bodies and presidents of different district units. The party also sat with journalists and university teachers on September 29.

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.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged their party leaders and activists to put behind intra-party conflicts and grouping first before launching a movement to oust the current government. "I would like to clearly say Awami League won’t be able to hang onto power as people will ensure their fall through a strong movement for their misdeeds and injustice,” he said. Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “Let’s quickly reorganise ourselves by resolving misunderstandings and divisions among us. We also must unite people to remove this monster regime that has been sitting on our chests like a heavy stone." Gazipur district and city units BNP jointly arranged the programme marking the 40th death anniversary of party founder Ziaur Rahman. Also read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers Fakhrul called upon BNP leaders and workers to get ready for restoring democracy and establishing a pro-people government by ensuring a credible national election under a non-party administration and the neutral Election Commission through a tough struggle. He said they will also wage a movement for having their party chairperson Khaleda Zia completely freed from jail. “We’ve to free our leader (Khaleda) first as a democratic movement. Without her, we won’t succeed. So, we’ve to move on for the restoration of democracy through the movement for Khaleda’s release,” the BNP leader said. Stating that the country has been going through a critical juncture, he said BNP must play a pivotal role in overcoming it.  “Amid the current political crisis, we must stand firmly and turn around to change the situation and get back our rights.” Also read: Hope that will get you through: Fakhrul to BNP activists Fakhrul suggested BNP leaders in Gazipur to remove grouping for reorganising the party and strengthening its organizational capacity. “It’s unfortunate for us that though we do politics for the party of Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, we look for our own men and create groupings when we try to overhaul the party. You’ve to find the followers of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, not your own men,” he advised the BNP leaders. The BNP secretary general warned that their party will not get success in the movement in the future if its leaders and activists cannot take to the steers in unison removing all the groupings and intra-party conflicts among them. BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar, chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman and BNP organizing secretary Fazlul Haq Milon, among others, spoke at the programme.

Stating that the government has lost the ground beneath its feet, BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain called upon their party leaders and activists to initiate a movement to oust it immediately.