BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the Awami League-led government will be ousted from power through a mass uprising, not through “army coup”.
“This autocratic government has to go,” he said while addressing a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad organised the meeting to mark January 25 as “Democracy Killing Day”.
The fourth amendment of the constitution was passed in parliament on January 25 in 1975. According to BNP and its allies, freedom of press was restricted through this amendment.
Alleging that the government has imprisoned democracy, Alamgir said people have to force this government to quit in order to protect the country.
Calling on all to prepare for a mass upsurge, he reiterated that his party does not believe in military intervention in politics.
“BNP believes in transfer of power in a democratic way,” he said.
The army last Thursday said they have foiled an attempt to topple the government. Later, ruling party leaders alleged that BNP is plotting to oust the government in an undemocratic way.
Mirza Alamgir yesterday said AL talks about democracy but does not practice it.
“They want to gag the people's voice through repression in a fascist way. They're using courts to do this and have politicised the judiciary to establish a one-party rule,” he added.
Parishad convener Mahmudur Rahman - acting editor of Amar Desh - presided over the meeting. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Prof Mahbubullah, Prof Khalilur Rahman and Ruhul Amin Gazi spoke, amongst others, at the discussion.