The Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said on Tuesday that the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party were afraid of elections because they knew that they would lose their political existence if the polls were held.
The BNP leader, addressing a rally at KK Lakkhirhat High School ground in Thakurgaon, said that Jamaat was insisting that the government comply with its demands and saying that there would be no election if those demands were not met.
鈥榃hy are you so afraid of voting? Because you know very well that once an election takes place, your existence will vanish,鈥� Fakhrul said, indicating Jamaat.
He also said that the NCP had virtually no organisational presence on the ground, noting that there was not a single NCP member in many areas.
鈥楾hat is why they are echoing Jamaat鈥檚 position and calling for a proportional representation system. It鈥檚 a tactic to mislead and confuse the people,鈥� Fakhrul said.
鈥楾he BNP will not take responsibility for the consequences if the government now tries to impose unresolved issues unilaterally after nine months of dialogue on reforms,鈥� Fakhrul warned.
鈥楾he government alone will have to bear that burden,鈥� he said.
He reiterated that the BNP, once in power, would create one crore jobs within 15 months, introduce Family Cards for women, and Farmers鈥� Cards for agricultural workers.
On the upcoming election, Fakhrul stressed that there was no scope to delay it.
鈥業f the election is postponed, Bangladesh will risk becoming a failed state,鈥� he said.
Fakhrul alleged that the Awami League chief was declaring lockdowns from Delhi and her followers at home were engaged in arson and destruction.
He claimed that Sheikh Hasina was staying comfortably in Delhi while her supporters burned motorcades in Bangladesh, and said that if she truly loved the people and had the courage, she should return and face trial.
Fakhrul accused the Awami League of relying on terrorism and fear to cling to power.
Fakhrul also alleged that Jamaat activists were visiting homes and spreading religious misinterpretations among women.
Thakurgaon district BNP president Mirza Faisal Amin and general secretary Poygam Ali also addressed the rally.
