BNP, Biplobi Workers Party agree to oust govt thru movement: Fakhrul

BNP and Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party on Wednesday agreed to wage a simultaneous street movement to force the Awami League government to quit power.

“We believe we can end misrule if we can initiate a movement. The main thing is that we agreed to force the government to step down through a movement,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He made the remarks after holding a dialogue with Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party at its Topkhana Road office in the city, reports UNB.

Fakhrul both parties reached a consensus on a number of fundamental issues during the talks. He hoped that they will be to resolve the remaining issues gradually through discussions.

“We have decided that those of us who are reaching a consensus will start a simultaneous movement from our respective position. The movement will determine its future shape and trend,” Fakhrul said.

He said the movements in the country turned futile in the past with the participation of political parties in the same way they are following now. “We believe that we all the political parties will be able to defeat the misrule and achieve a victory of people by working together.”

The BNP leader said they decided to wage a movement after discussing various issues, including the jailing of their party chairperson Khaleda, keeping their party acting chairman in exile, the filing of 'false' cases against their party’s around 35 lakh leaders and activists and the prevailing awful situation in the country.

“We’ve also reached a consensus that a new election commission will be constituted after the ouster of the government and the dissolution of parliament, and then a fresh election will be held with the participation of people and the political parties,” he said.

He said they will engage in talks further about the proposals of the Biplobi Workers Party for reforming the state, amending the constitution and strengthening the democratic institutions. “We’ll come up with a joint statement on the issues within a very short time.”

Replying to a question, he said their party has a plan to form the government with the parties that will join the movement for the restoration of democracy after winning the next election.

Earlier, a BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul sat in talks with Biplobi Workers Party around 1:20 pm. Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque led the eight-member delegation of his party.

Earlier on Tuesday, BNP held talks with Ganosanghati Andolan and reached a consensus to wage a 'simultaneous’ movement to ensure the fall of the Awami League government and establish a polls-time neutral government.

On May 24, BNP formally began a dialogue with other opposition parties with the first meeting with Nagorik Oikya aimed at forging unity among opposition political parties.

Three days later, the party also sat with the Labour Party, one of the components of the 20-party alliance.