‘No more game in the name of election’

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam has said Awami League will not be allowed to play anymore game in the name of election.

“You went to power by playing games in the name of elections last two times by deceiving people and telling them lies but this time we have turned around and people too. This time there will be no election unless caretaker government is installed in the country,” he said.

Fakhrul was speaking at a huge rally on Komorpur Abdul Aziz Institution’s premises, around 6km away from Faridpur district town.

As part of the party’s planned divisional rally, Faridpur district unit BNP organised the programme.

Thousands of leaders and followers of the BNP and its associate bodies from five districts-Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Gopalganj- participated in the rally in Faridpur, known as a stronghold of ruling Awami League, overcoming various obstacles and a 38-hour bus strike that began on Friday morning.

The rally venue was almost filled with BNP leaders and activists on Friday night as they gathered there in advance from the adjacent districts fearing obstacles by the ruling party men and police and hassles caused by the bus strike.

Though bus communication remained halted between Faridpur and the rest of the country since Friday morning, the BNP leaders and activists came to the district town from different areas by train, launches, boats, trucks and small vehicles like human haulers, auto rickshaws, three-wheelers, motorbikes, and micro-buses.

Meanwhile, the authorities reportedly shut the internet services by mobile phone operators since 10am centring the opposition’s programme. An adequate number of police and other security officials were deployed around the rally venue and at different points of the town to prevent any untoward incident.

BNP leaders alleged that their activists were obstructed at different entry points and police check posts and C&B Ghat by law enforcers from joining the rally.

However, BNP activists were seen coming to the rally venue in small processions chanting various anti-government slogans since early morning, braving all hurdles.