'We don't consider AL our rival now'

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan yesterday said they do not consider Awami League as their rival now as they have to face the law enforcers, not the ruling party, in politics.

“We don't consider Awami League as our rival now. Not Awami League, police, Rab and BGB stand in front of us when we want to bring out any procession and hold any rally. BNP has to face different government forces, not Awami League,” he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion arranged by Afsar Ahmed Siddiqui Smrity Foundation at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said the government is making “black” laws one after another to gag the media and people's voice.

“Those who struggle for democracy and raise voice for the restoration of democracy are being convicted in false cases,” he alleged.

Besides, he said, the government is trying to suppress opposition leaders and activists by filing “fictitious” cases and “indulging in killing and enforced disappearance”.

The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party has long been rigging votes in elections by using the law enforcers as its shield.

He said people do not believe that the national election will be held in a fair and credible manner under a government which could not ensure fair balloting even in the union parishad (UP) polls.

Under the current context of the country, Nazrul said, BNP's demands for a non-party election-time government, reconstitution of the Election Commission, deployment of army and dissolution of parliament are very justified.

He urged the government to take steps for holding talks with political parties on people's reasonable demands and thus find out a logical way to hold the next polls in an acceptable manner with participation of all parties.

Referring to Finance Minister AMA Muhith's comment that Oikyafront was formed with leaders who are “zero” in politics, the BNP leader said it is Awami League which selected Kamal Hossain as a presidential candidate against Justice Abdus Sattar as the party did not have any better candidate.

“Has he now become zero? ASM Abdur Rob hoisted the first flag of Bangladesh and he was there in Awami League government's pervious cabinet. Is he also a zero?"

Nazrul also questioned how BNP became “zero” in politics as it had formed government several times by defeating Awami League.