Democracy restricted in country
Describing the country's current regime as restricted democracy, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said their ongoing movement against the "repressive" Sheikh Hasina administration would surely succeed though it might take time.
“Awami League leaders are saying real democracy is not necessary in the country and that restricted democracy like the one prevailing in Malaysia and Singapore goes with Bangladesh for the purpose of its development,” he told a discussion at the capital's Jatiya Press Club.
Titled “An acceptable election is the pre-condition for development”, it was organised by Bangladesh Democracy Forum.
Fakhrul said, “The country's existence will be in danger if the movement fails.”
Turning to road safety, the BNP leader said he did not see any traffic police at Sonargaon and Topkhana intersections in the morning. “The government says it has recruited 40,000 people to the police force. Then where are all these police personnel gone?” he said, alleging that the cops were busy carrying out the government's agenda and that they had no time to ensure public safety.
Earlier in the day, Fakhrul told reporters after a BNP joint meeting at the Nayapaltan central office that Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal had no committee other than the one approved by party chief Khaleda Zia.
The response came when journalists asked him about the dissident JCD leaders, who would stage a sit-in in front of the Nayapaltan office today, demanding cancellation of the new central committee.
At the joint meeting, BNP finalised a series of programmes to mark Martyred Intellectuals Day on December 14, Victory Day on December 16, and the day for "fall of autocracy" on December 6.
MURDER CASES AGAINST FAKHRUL
A Dhaka court yesterday asked detectives to submit probe reports before it by January 13 next year in two murder cases against Fakhrul and 25 other leaders and activists of the BNP-led alliance.
Meanwhile, the court granted permanent bail to Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Aman Ullah Aman and MA Salam following three separate bail petitions in the cases.
Advocate Sanaullah Miah represented Fakhrul in his absence while time petitions were submitted for BNP leaders--Mahbubuddin Khokon, Mirza Abbas and Sadeque Hossain Khoka--as they could not appear before the court. The others, now on bail, were present in the court.
Of the cases, one was filed for killing a policeman in an arson attack at Bangla Motor in the capital on December 24 last year during the alliance's anti-government demonstration.
The other was filed by police on December 1 last year, a day after an unknown passer-by was killed during the same demonstration at Malibagh Chowdhurypara in the capital.
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