People won, govt defeated on December 10: Mosharraf

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday said the government was defeated on December 10 as people turned victorious by holding a massive rally in the capital foiling all obstacles and repressive acts.

“Our rally in Dhaka turned into a sea of mass people despite so many obstacles and arrests. The government tried to foil our rally by arresting our leaders and workers. The government couldn’t do that. The country’s people won on December 10 and the government was forced to accept defeat,” he said.

Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said their party's 10 divisional rallies were very successful as common people alongside party leaders and activists participated in the programmes spontaneously, giving a clear message against the government’s misrule, reports UNB.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, warned that their party will tackle the ruling party politically on the streets in the days to come.

“Our target is to ensure the fall of this government. We would like to say that we’ll deal with them (those in power) politically in the coming days. We’ll settle the crisis on the streets. So, we all must prepare to oust this failed, autocratic and fascist regime on the streets,” he said.

He said their party has no other alternative but to unseat the Awami League government through a strong streets agitation to pave the way for the unconditional release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and all other arrested party leaders and ensure a democratic environment in the country.

Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office protesting the arrest of the party leaders and activists including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas and the police action at their central office.

This was the BNP’s first programme in front of their central office after the police raid on the office on December 7 last.

On December 7, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.

Besides, in the early hours of December 9, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Mirza Fakhrul and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.

Mosharraf said their party will deal with the ruling party and police and administration together with people

"I would like to say this kind of despotic regime was there in the country in the past. Autocratic ruler Ershad was ousted by the students of this country in a mass uprising and Ayub Khan was also ousted during Pakistan's rule. People in Sri Lanka also overthrew the brothers of Rajapaksa by taking to the streets a few months back. Our people are also ready (to take to the streets),” he said.

The BNP leader called upon the police and administration to take a position in favour of the people and their interests in line with their oath.

“You’re not enemies of people and take a position in favour of them. The bell of the government fall is now ringing. The government will go, but you’ll stay here as you’re the children of this country and the officers and employees of the government. You should not fight with people,” he said.