BNP would not go to the national election under the Awami League government, reiterated BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday (October 5).

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also said, "It is loud and clear that BNP will not go to the national election under Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government...The AL government is not allowing Khaleda Zia to receive medical treatment... Meanwhile, the PM has made many efforts abroad but returned empty-handed." 

Various demands including Khaleda Zia's release, and the resignation of the government were voiced at the outset of the Cumilla-Feni-Mirersarai-Chattogram road march on Thursday (October 5) in Cumilla by the chief guest.

At this time, he further said, "They have looted in the name of development, enacted laws like the Digital Security Act to suppress freedom of speech, and violated the right to vote. They have undermined the justice system and healthcare. If Awami League stays in power, the country will be destroyed. We will not participate in the election under Hasina's rule."

Fakhrul said, "Vote theft will not be allowed. We demand only one thing: we want to vote fairly. Through the road march, we are informing the government that there is still time to resign; otherwise, the people know how to oust them from power."

Haji Amin-ur-Rashid Yasin, secretary of BNP relief and rehabilitation affairs and convener of Cumilla South district BNP presided over the rally before starting the road march. BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury was the chief speaker at the event.

Besides, BNP senior leaders Barkat Ullah Bulu, Abdul Awal Mintoo, and M. Shahajahan, Mustak Mia, and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anni, among others, spoke at the event.

The road march started around 9am in front of a hotel at Kalakochua in Cumilla on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

As part of a simultaneous movement demanding the resignation of the Awami League government and elections under a neutral caretaker government, the BNP declared a 15-day program till today.

The party has already held seven road marches – Faridpur to Madaripur, Rangpur to Dinajpur, Bogura to Rajshahi, Bhairab to Sylhet, Barisal to Pirojpur, Jhenaidah to Khulna, and Mymensingh to Kishoreganj -- as parts of their September 19 –October 5 continuous programmes across Bangladesh.

The party also held several rallies in Dhaka and its adjacent areas to press home the same demands.

The Cumilla to Chattogram road march is the last program of the party.

BDST: 1223 HRS, OCT 5, 2023
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