Time Digital Report: A free and fair election is not possible without the resignation of the Awami League government, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a rally in the capital yesterday.
He said, "… The European Union has stated that there is no environment for a free and fair election in the country, which is why they will not send observers during the election. Even the Jatiya Party has said that a free and fair election won't be held until the government resigns. For the sake of a fair election, the government must resign."
Fakhrul made the comments while addressing a rally on a street near Abdullahpur Polwel Market to materialise the party's one-point movement -- the resignation of the incumbent government and an election under a non-partisan caretaker government.
"The Awami League government does not allow anyone to cast their votes and seizes everything by force. Now, we have taken to the streets and are holding road marches. We are on the streets with the people. Our message is very clear: There will be no polls under Sheikh Hasina," he told the rally organised by Dhaka (north) city unit BNP.
The government would be defeated through the movement, the BNP leader went on, saying, "Our mothers and sisters have awakened, and they don't want to see this government in power again. Dissolve the parliament and hold the polls under a caretaker government."
Fakhrul added that the government wants to hold the election in a way like it did in previous polls. "There is no controversy over the elections held under the caretaker government. However, the Awami League cancelled the caretaker system to stay in power, ignoring the people's opinions."
Mentioning the condition of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's critical health, Fakhrul demanded that the government send her abroad immediately for advanced treatment.
"Today, when she is in a life-and-death situation, she has been detained …. She is being pushed to death," Fakhrul said.
If the BNP chief does not get proper treatment and is not sent abroad, her condition will deteriorate, he added.
Fakhrul mentioned that there are instances of sending prisoners abroad for treatment and said, "All prisoners should be given proper treatment, and if necessary, they should be sent abroad. Her [Khaleda] family members, doctors, and our party have time and again been demanding sending her abroad for advanced treatment."
The BNP leader said, "ASM Abdur Rab was sent abroad ... Ziaur Rahman sent him to Germany for treatment. Sheikh Hasina was also sent to America for treatment during the caretaker government. We haven't forgotten that."
Meanwhile, BNP chief Khaleda, who is undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital, was shifted to the Coronary Care Unit from her cabin yesterday morning after her condition deteriorated.
Khaleda, 78, is suffering from different health complications, including kidney, lung, heart disease, and liver.
Speaking at the Abdullahpur rally, her personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain said the board formed for her treatment said her liver transplant is necessary. "That is why she needs to be sent to an advanced multi-disciplinary centre abroad immediately."
In another development, Dhaka (south) city unit BNP held a rally in Jatrabari. Party standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Abdul Moeen Khan spoke at the event.
The BNP also organised doa mahfils at mosques across the country to pray for the quick recovery of the party chief.
