No polls keeping BNP men in jail

BNP will not allow the government to hold the next general election keeping its leaders and activists in jail, warned party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday.

"Around 78,000 cases have been filed against over 7.5 lakh BNP leaders and activists. Our Chairperson Khaleda Zia has also been harassed through false cases," he said at a warm clothes distribution programme in the capital.

"All the cases must be withdrawn before the polls… We want the next general election held as early as possible under a neutral administration," said Fakhrul, urging the government and the Election Commission to take steps for ensuring a level playing field for all political parties.

Referring to media reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to launch her party's election campaign on January 30 in Sylhet, he said fair elections cannot be held if Hasina seeks votes visiting different areas of the country in helicopter while keeping Khaleda busy appearing before the court five days a week.

Fakhrul criticised the government for its "failure to check soaring prices of daily essentials".

He also called upon the people to rise up to restore democracy in the country.

Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, women's wing of BNP, organised the programme before the party's Nayapaltan central office marking the 82nd birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman, also a former president of the country.