Spirit of Liberation War at stake: Fakhrul

BNP today alleged that the objectives and spirit of the 1971 Liberation War, including people’s democratic rights, rights of expression and economic freedom are now at stake due to the government’s repressive acts.

Following a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claimed that the opposition now cannot hold any rally or public meeting as the democratic space has been shrunken by the government.

“Even our grassroots leaders and activists cannot hold any programme at our party’s district offices.”

Regarding the country’s maiden partisan municipality polls, the veteran BNP leader said the party is taking part in the December 30 polls for the sake of democracy despite their concern that the polls would not be held in a free and fair manner.

“We’re repeatedly saying that the election will not be free and fair. One can question why we are in the election race under such circumstances. The reason is we believe in democracy…We want to bring changes through democratic ways.”

Addressing a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office in Dhaka, Fakhrul claimed that over 5,000 BNP leaders and activists have been arrested across the country since the announcement of the polls schedule on November 23.

The joint meeting was arranged to work out programmes to mark the Martyred Intellectuals Day [December 14] and the Victory Day [December 16].