Dhaka/

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, ‘The government is narrowing the scope of our democratic rights again. This is how they want to stay in power by suppressing the people.’

He said this in response to questions from journalists after a meeting with the leaders of the nationalist like-minded alliance at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan on Saturday.

Mirza Fakhrul said, ‘The current Awami League government did not come to power after being elected. People’s vote did not come to power. They are occupying power by using state institutions illegally. For 14 years they have controlled the institutions of the country and at the same time destroyed the democratic institutions of the country. They have subverted the electoral system in a very deliberate manner to perpetuate their power. He has destroyed the country’s economy and is doing politics of looting. Public administration institutions have been completely partisanised. Judiciary is partisan. Similarly, the education, health system has been thrown into ruin. Democracy loving people of Bangladesh are struggling and fighting for democracy. There are false cases against about 35 lakh people.’

He said, ‘Today we discussed what the future program of our simultaneous movement could be. I have discussed the current political context. We discussed how to strengthen this unity and how to take the movement further in the future.’

The Secretary General said, ‘Many people were injured in our peaceful program due to police attack. In today’s program we are getting news that the police is obstructing. Will not allow to program. They are again narrowing the scope of our democratic rights. This is how they want to stay in power by suppressing the people. We started the movement, we discussed how to accelerate the movement.’

In response to a question from the journalists, he said, ‘You must have noticed that – we have been going through a systematic peaceful movement from the very beginning in a very democratic way. This movement will continue, it will gain momentum in the coming days. We talked about those things.’

Mirza Fakhrul said, if the government wants to avoid conflict, they will go ahead. It all depends on the government. First they (the government) have to meet the demands of the opposition. In other words, you have to resign and sit in the discussion.

NPP chairman among the leaders of the nationalist like-minded alliance in the meeting. Fariduzzaman Farhad, Jagpa president, freedom fighter Khandkar Lutfar Rahman, Chairman of Alternative Bangladesh. Nurul Amin Byapari, Gana Dal Chairman ATM Golam Mawla Chowdhury, DLA General Secretary Saifuddin Moni, Bangladesh NAP Chairman MN Shaon Sadeki, Bangladesh Samyavadi Dal General Secretary Comrade Dr. Syed Nurul Islam, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party President Sukriti Kumar Mandal, Bangladesh Muslim League President Barrister Nasim Khan, Bangladesh People’s League President Advocate Garib Newaz were present.

On behalf of BNP, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman were present.