The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party said on Saturday that the country was not being run by the Awami League, but by invisible forces.
鈥楾oday we have become exiles in our own country. When we go abroad for treatment or come back, we are forced to wait at airports for hours. Is the country being run by the Awami League? The country is run by invisible forces,鈥� BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a rally in Dhaka.
Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal organised the rally in front of the BNP Naya Paltan central office demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda聽 Zia, the withdrawal of the cases filed against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, the release of Juba Dal president Sultan Salahuddin Tuku and other political prisoners.
Several thousands of opposition leaders and activists joined the rally with various placards against the government.
Fakhrul said that the country was under siege of the AL and there were no jobs without the Awami League background.
鈥楨ven after passing Bangladesh Civil Service examinations, candidates are not getting jobs if their relatives are involved in politics of the BNP,鈥� Fakhrul added.
Khaleda Zia is not only a persecuted leader, but she is a great guardian of democracy, he said.
鈥楾he person, who sacrificed her whole life for the country and the people and fought for democracy, is now subject to the vengeance of the monstrous government that has kept her imprisoned,鈥� Fakhrul said, adding that Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years in the trial court and later the High Court increased it to 10 years.
鈥楳any people get bail in such cases but she [Khaleda Zia] was not given bail. She is sick and people in the country and abroad are demanding her release, but it is not being granted,鈥� Fakhrul said.
Because if she is free, the people will break all the chains and lift up all the injustice, Fakhrul said.
He said that thousands of opposition activists have been detained and many were sentenced to death.
Calming that AL is using courts as a weapon, Fakhrul said that AL wanted to stay in power by using courts.
He said that democratic movement could be stopped by injustice and oppression.
鈥楶eople have not been able to vote since 2008. Rights have been revoked and the government wants to establish BKSAL, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League, in a different way again,鈥� he observed.
Criticising the remark of Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader that action would be doubled than on October 28, 2023, if the BNP tried to create unrest, the BNP secretary general said that the BNP does not believe in criminal activities while the Awami League was born in the midst of crimes.
Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani was beaten and expelled from the Awami League, Fakhrul said, adding that the AL also beat and killed the deputy speaker.
Bangladesh today is deprived of the rights and this unfortunate nation fought for democracy and freedom of speech, he said, adding that the price of everything is increasing.
鈥楾rain fares, bus fares, electricity-water-gas-water prices are increasing. On the other hand, the country鈥檚 economy is being looted. Banks are being looted. Today, new laws are being made for benefits of the looters,鈥� he said.
Fakhrul said that the election system was destroyed in the country and a new formula was being developed in the name of 鈥榙ummy elections鈥�.
Chaired by Juba Dal senior vice-president Mamun Hasan and conducted by its general secretary Monayem Munna, BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy spoke at the rally, among others.
