BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for waging a movement to free the party chief Khaleda Zia from jail and to restore the democracy.
“We have no other option but to take to the streets altogether to release Khaleda Zia from jail," he told a party programme at the capital's Mohanagar Natya Mancha on Friday (Nov 8) on the occasion of the "National Revolution and Solidarity Day."
Calling the incumbent government a “fascist”, Mirza Fakhrul said they would establish a pro-people government by ousting the current despotic one through uniting all the patriotic and democratic forces.
“We will move forward by creating a strong unity, and our victory is sure," the BNP leader added.
Mirza Fakhrul alleged that the government is turning Bangladesh into a failed state in a planned way by destroying democratic institutions.
He said, "They have restricted people's voting rights and deprived them of good governance. They have taken their corruption to such a level that they now have to arrest their small fry to mislead people."
The BNP leader also said the ruling party leaders plundered billions of taka from different banks and the share market. "Some of the plunderers are your (PM's) ministers, advisers, and relatives."
Mirza Fakhrul alleged that the government is not only snatching people's right to expression but also regulating the media.
He said although the televisions widely covered the funeral prayers and burial of BNP Vice Chairman and former Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka on Thursday, most of the newspapers gave very little focus to the news item.
"They either published the news on the back page or inner pages. Some newspapers did it as per the government's instruction while some others because of self-censorship."
BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the government has created an awful situation by "usurping power."
"Bangladesh has now become the role model for autocracy, fascism, and corruption. We must protect the country from their [ruling party's] grasp," he said.
Mosharraf urged the BNP leaders and activists to get ready to take to the streets, imbued with the spirit of November 7, to oust the current government and free Khaleda Zia.
BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed said it is the failure of the party leaders and activists that they could not force the government to release Khaleda from jail.
"We have failed to free Khaleda Zia as she has been in jail for around one year and nine months."
He said their chairperson's health condition has worsened, but she is not getting bail from the court due to the government's "political influence."
Stating that it will not be possible to have Khaleda freed from jail through the legal process, Moudud urged the party leaders and activists to get ready to wage a strong movement to ensure the fall of the current government.