BNP ready to defy curfew to hold Khulna rally: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Wednesday that his party was ready to defy a curfew even to make their upcoming anti-government rally in Khulna a success.

He made the remarks in the wake of a decision by transport owners and workers in Khulna to suspend bus services ahead of their party’s rally in the southwestern region’s biggest city on Saturday.

“They (govt) also stopped vehicle movements in Mymensingh, but they failed to stop people. In the same way, you’ll see people will join the rally in Khulna to push their demand for democracy, no matter whether the transport service is suspended or not,” he told reporters at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office after talks with two political parties.

He said people came to their Mymensingh rally by trawlers, boats, rickshaws and on foot.

“Even, many rickshawpullers did not take fare from them (BNP leaders and activists). This is called people’s participation. Even, we won’t concede to any hartal, curfew as we’ll be present there (Khulna) by braving all obstacles,” he said.

As his attention was drawn to the Prime Minister’s previous comment that BNP would be allowed to hold political programmes, Fakhrul said Awami League still could not live up to its any word or promise.

“They do the opposite of what they say. So, there’s no reason to believe Awami League.” About Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s remark that BNP is daydreaming of another 1/11 like political changeover, he said the Awami League has the habit of doing that.

“That’s why they think like that. We don’t daydream. We dream of seeing a democratic Bangladesh, restoring people’s voting rights, and establishing true democracy,” the BNP leader observed.

Replying to a question, he said BNP has no objection if the ruling party takes to the streets exercising their democratic rights. “At the same time, the democratic rights of all the opposition parties also must be ensured. As government, it’s their responsibility to do.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Khulna bus-minibus owners association and motor workers’ union decided to keep bus services suspended on October 21 and 22 due to the BNP’s divisional rally on Saturday (October 22).