Dialogue on EC: AL made it controversial, says Fakhrul

The BNP secretary general yesterday alleged that the ruling Awami League made the president's dialogue initiative on formation of new Election Commission controversial as it wants to stay in power by creating political instability.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also warned that the people would never accept it if a “subservient Election Commission” is formed in line with the AL's desire.

He made the comments while speaking at a milad and doa mahfil at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters, marking the second death anniversary of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko.

Koko died of cardiac arrest at the age of 45 at his rented house in Malaysia on January 24, 2015. BNP and its associate bodies took various programmes to mark the day.

In his speech, Fakhrul said, “Awami League will not be able to stay in power if a free and fair election is held in a congenial atmosphere. So, they always create chaos by destroying the country's political stability. As part of it, the party has already made the president's dialogue initiative controversial.”

He also added there was a belief among people that the president would constitute a credible EC as he had talked with the political parties.

“But the Awami League leaders are making controversial comments about it only to make the move futile,” he observed.

He also alleged the government had established “a reign of terror” across the country by resorting to repressive acts, killing and enforced disappearances to hang onto power illegally and unethically.

Fakhrul urged his party colleagues to get organised to remove the current “undemocratic and evil force” from power.

Special prayer was offered later seeking the eternal peace of Koko's departed soul.