BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia addresses a discussion meeting at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Monday
BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia addresses a discussion meeting at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Monday
Opposition leader Khaleda Zia Monday warned the ruling Awami League that it would lose its existence being blown away by the gusts of a mass movement if it does not move to arrange the next general election under a non-party government.

Saying that still there is time for the Sheikh Hasina government to avert such a nemesis through budging from its stance on polls under its own administration, the BNP chairperson asked it to bring and pass a bill in the upcoming session of parliament for restoring the scrapped provision of election-time non-party government.

“You (Prime Minister) said that you wouldn’t budge even by a hair’s breadth from your stand. The people will wage such a movement that all your hair will be uprooted and blown away and you (ruling party) will lose your existence. So, resolve the crisis before time runs out. Otherwise we would have nothing to do when time will be over,” said Khaleda.

The former premier sounded the note of caution for the incumbent Prime Minister at a discussion arranged by Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal, the volunteers’ wing of the BNP, marking its 33rd founding anniversary.

Swechchasebak Dal president Habib un Nabi Khan Sohel presided over the programme, held at Suhrawardy Udyan.

She asked the government to arrange the next general election under non-party, neutral government to test its popularity. The opposition wants to play election game in a level playing field with participation of all political parties, she said.

“Still there is time. Bring the non-party government bill in the next session of parliament and pass it to arrange a free and fair election. You can name the caretaker government system any names. We have no objection with the name of poll-time government, what we earlier have said,” Khaleda added.

The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament cautioned that no “one-party” election would be allowed in the country. “We do not want to do movement. We want to resolve the current crisis peacefully through sitting for dialogue.”

Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s speech, she said the PM is delivering such speech out of fear that her tenure is coming to an end. “She is delivering such speech with heavy voice in a bid to console her leaders and activists as the Prime Minister has been isolated from the people and her party activists.”

In this context, Khaleda also toughened her voice to send in a message for her political archrival: “Now want to tell that don’t speak so loud. It won’t deliver you the goods… Come to the path of democracy and the path of people. We will work together for democracy and people. We all together will participate in election. No one will be hurt. Otherwise, you will be washed away by a mass uprising.”

She dismissed the Prime Minister’s notion that if any unelected force comes to power, then both the parties will suffer. She said it is only the ruling party leaders who will be subject to misery if the situation is created as her party, BNP, is not in power but the Awami League is in power now.

“I’m not afraid of minus-two formula as you had fled the country while I told that I won’t leave this country during the Moyeenuddin-Fakhruddin government. You and your men have stolen. I can send you the list of corruption of your ministers and advisers whenever you want,” the BNP chief added.

Drawing attention of the party leaders and activists, the BNP chief said the programme announced on the day at a press briefing is only the beginning of movement. “All have to remain prepared to be voted to power at the next polls under a non-party government through ousting the Awami League-led grand-alliance government.”

Citing various scams, Khaleda alleged that no elections under the incumbent government were held free and fair as she said the ruling party’s “nature is to perpetuate power and to bring poll results in their favour through using administration and evil force”.

With a view to making a comeback to power at the next polls, she put forward a package of electoral pledges: development in agriculture, education, gas, power, information technology, garment industry; establishing good governance; and depoliticizing the administration.

The former ruler also promised that, if voted to power in the next election, the BNP-led alliance would form a new-style government under new mode of politics where no divisions will exist.

BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Tariqul Islam, Mirza Abbas, Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Fazlul Haque Milon, among others, also addressed the function.