BNP, allies to press hard for JS polls schedule
The BNP-led alliance last night announced a fresh programme to press home its demands for withdrawal of the state of emergency and announcement of schedule for the parliamentary polls soon.
Leaders of the four-party combine came up with the programme of holding rallies across the country on September 20 after a closed-door meeting at the city residence of BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
Meanwhile, the alliance has taken preparations to accord a grand reception to BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia when she is released.
Emerging from the four-party meeting, Delwar told reporters that they could not be sure about holding of parliamentary polls as per electoral roadmap announced by the Election Commission (EC).
“That's why we have taken up a fresh programme so that schedule for the national election is announced soon,” said Delwar.
Asked about the EC's invitation for talks with it, he said a decision in this regard is yet to be taken. “We have discussed the issue in the alliance forum and now we will discuss it in our party forum.”
Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid, Islami Oikya Jote Secretary General Abdul Latif Nezami and Bangladesh Jatiya Party Secretary General Shamim Al Mamun, among others, attended the meeting.
Earlier, the alliance at a meeting yesterday demanded that the government release Khaleda Zia immediately as she secured bail in all the cases against her.
The meeting was organised by the alliance to press home its five-point demand including release of Khaleda.
"We hope that the caretaker government will not create any further barrier to her (Khaleda) release," Delwar told the meeting held at Diploma Engineers Institute in the capital.
Alliance leaders and activists attending the meeting expressed joy and happiness as the news of Khaleda's getting bail from the High Court (HC) in Gatco and Niko graft cases reached the meeting venue at about noon.
Delwar hoped that the government would now go by the HC order to free the detained former premier.
On the proposed talks with the EC, Delwar said, "Why this dialogue with us now when you (EC) bypassed us in the past?"
Mojahid and Latif Nezami, among others, addressed the meeting.
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