BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said no foreign country will come forward to protect the current Awami League government if a turbulent wave of people is created to oust the regime.
Speaking at a rally prior to bringing out a march toward Moghbazar from Nayapaltan in the capital, he also asked the government to free ailing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition to pave the way for her advanced treatment abroad.
“We know that this government has been remaining in power depending on foreign countries. No foreigner will come forward when that tumultuous wave of people is created,” the BNP leader warned.
He said the government has destroyed the judiciary, administration and parliament and the country’s economy. “So, our only target now is to ensure the fall of this regime. A new horizon will begin with the fall of this government.”
The BNP leader called upon the government not to disrupt their party’s peaceful movement.
As part of the party's countrywide programme, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city unit organised the march from Nayapaltan to Moghbazar in the capital to press home their demand for the unconditional release of party chief Khaleda Zia and her advanced treatment abroad.
Fakhrul said their party chief is very sick and she is now at the crossroads of death and life.
“Our leader Khaleda Zia must be freed (without any condition) immediately. We almost all parties agreed to the one-point demand, which includes the release of all political prisoners, including Khaleda Zia,” he said.
Fakhrul said Khaleda is now undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital with serious ailments as the government is not allowing her to go abroad for advanced treatment.
“We would like to clearly say the Hasina government will have to bear all the responsibilities if anything bad happens to her in captivity,” he also warned.
Narrating the BNP chief’s various contributions to the country and its people, he said keeping that popular leader in confinement in this way is a complete violation of human rights.
The BNP leader said the doctors have been repeatedly saying to send her abroad to receive treatment at any advanced centre, but the government is not paying heed to it. “They’re not doing this because they know that if she comes out of captivity, their throne will be shaken.”
He said the current illegal and unconstitutional government has been ruling the country for 15 years by deceiving people and resorting to lies.
The BNP leader said the government is uttering that they want a fair election for democracy and they are now allowing democratic practice, at the same time they have continued arresting BNP leaders and activists.
He alleged that law enforcers picked up six leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal on Friday as they were distributing leaflets demanding Khaleda’s release. “So far no trace of them has been found. We would like to say unequivocally that if they’re not brought before the public and freed by six hours then the government will bear responsibility for it (their disappearance).
Fakhrul alleged that law enforcers are raiding the houses of BNP leaders and activists, arresting them and implicating them in false and fictitious cases. “Our boys now can’t stay in their houses in fear of getting arrested in false cases while convictions in ghost cases have now begun.”
From their march, Fakhrul said they want to send out a message to the government to release Khaleda and other arrested BNP leaders and activists and stop arresting the opposition leaders and activists. “I am saying again to stop arresting our leaders and workers and raiding their houses. Or else, people have now started waking up."
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said the doctors are worried about the worsening health condition of Khaleda Zia.
“We demand the release of our leader Khaleda Zia. She should be immediately sent abroad and given advanced medical treatment,” he said.
The BNP leader called upon the BNP leaders to continue the ongoing movement with strong morale until the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Later, Fakhrul together with party leaders and workers started a march from Nayapaltan around 4:15pm that ended at Moghbazar after over two hours, causing serious tailbacks in Nayapaltan, Kakrail, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Mouchak and Moghbazar areas.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the programme carrying banners, festoons and portraits of the party's top leaders.
BNP’s all other city and district units also held a similar programme.
On August 9, Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital for health checkups and treatment as she fell sick and she has been receiving treatment under close observation of doctors in a cabin at the hospital since then.
Khaleda has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.
Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by a lower court on February 8, 2018. On March 25, 2020, the BNP chief was released from jail upon an executive order on some conditions considering her age and humanitarian ground following an application by her family.
