The Awami League wants to “grab state power” again by ousting its main political opponent from the electoral battle ahead of on the next general election, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chief Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed said today.

"Awami League wants to grab the state power again by confining BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in connection with the politically motivated case," Oli Ahmed said while addressing a programme in Segunbagicha area of Dhaka this noon.

Citing the BNP Chairperson as a popular leader in Bangladesh, the LDP chief said fund of the Zia Orphanage Trust did not misappropriate by Khaleda Zia or her son Tarique Rahman.

"The whole money is in a bank now and the amount rose to Tk six crore," Oli Ahmed also a component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance said.

The government has done its own harm by sending Khaleda Zia to jail. Khaleda and Tarique have become “victims of politics of vengeance”, he said.  

Accusing the ruling Awami League of killing the country's hard-earned democracy, Oli Ahmed said the country is passing through a critical time due to the “misdeeds and mismanagement of the government”.

He also criticised the government for not taking any action to stop the menace of question paper leak in public examinations.

To counter the BNP and Oikya Prokriya's programmes in October, the Awami League-led 14-party alliance would hold rallies in Dhaka and three other districts.

The alliance leaders also termed the greater unity a conspiracy against the government.

The alliance Convener Mohammed Nasim yesterday said the rallies would start from October 9 to warm-up the voters ahead of the national polls likely in December.

“We have heard that they [BNP, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya and Juktofront] will take to the streets in October. But that October will never come,” he told a meeting of activists of the AL-led alliance in the capital's Mohanagar Natya Mancha.

The health minister also said a “grand rally” would be held in the capital in October and its date would be announced later.

Rallies will be held in Rajshahi on October 9, Natore on 10 and Khulna on 13, he added.

Similar events will be organised across the country in the coming days, he said.

“We will hold a grand rally in Dhaka in October ensuring Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's consent and presence.”

On September 22, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, held a citizen's rally at Mohanagar Natya Mancha. The event was attended by several top BNP leaders, Juktofront Chief Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and several leaders of different political parties.

Dr Kamal issued an ultimatum to the government to meet three-point demands, including formation of a polls-time neutral government by today.

Jatiya Oikya Prokriya also announced rallies at different parts of the country from October 1.

Political leaders, who attended the event, stressed the need for forging greater national unity with the demand for a free, fair and inclusive election.

At yesterday's meeting of the AL-led alliance, party leaders slammed Dr Kamal and B Chowdhury for forging the greater national unity.

Conspiracy against Sheikh Hasina has started, Nasim said.

They also termed the unity a fresh conspiracy against the government ahead of the national election.

He called upon the alliance leaders and activists to be prepared to leave their houses if needed.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said BNP was sinking as a party and had been trying to survive through forging an alliance.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said they have formed the unity to harm the country's independence.

Rashed Khan Menon, Anwar Hossain Manju, Sharif Nurul Ambia, Dilip Barua and Nozibul Bashar among other 14-party leaders spoke.