BNP announce 10-point demand form Dhaka rally

Dispelling all speculations and braving numerous obstacles, BNP today held a massive rally peacefully in the capital, from where the party announced to initiate a simultaneous, anti-government movement on December 24 with 10-point demand.

The party will hold mass rallies across the country on December 24 to start the simultaneous, anti-government movement.

Mass rallies will also be held on December 13 to denounce the death of a Swechhasebak Dal activist during the clash between BNP activists and police on December 7, arrest of the party’s top leaders, and attack on its leaders and activists.

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain came up with the announcement while speaking at the rally at Golapbagh ground.

The 10-point includes

1. The ruling Awami League government must have to resign dissolving the parliament

2. A neutral election-time caretaker government will have to be formed in light of Section 58 Kha, Ga and Ghha which were incorporated in 1996 constitution.

3. The election time neutral/government will form a independent and impartial Election Commission dissolving the existing one and ensure level-playing field by cancelling the EVM system. It will also have to arrange voting through ballot papers. Besides, it will have to cancel the use of party symbols in the local government elections.

4. Punishments of all opposition leaders and workers including Khaleda Zia, journalists and alems will have to be cancelled. Besides, all the false cases must have to be withdrawn, political prisoners will have to be freed from prisons as early as possible, government must refrain from obstructing any meetings, rallies and freedom of expressions, administration and the ruling party will not interfere in observing the democratic and peaceful programmes, and teh government must refrain from suing the opposition leaders and workers afresh to throttle the voices of opposition in an autocratic way.

5. Abolishing all the laws including the notorious Digital Security Act 2018 and Special Powers Act 1974 which violate the fundamental human rights of people.

6. Cancelling all the anti-people decisions for increasing the prices of electricity, energy, gas and water.

7. Bringing the prices of essentials within the purchasing power of common people and freeing the markets of essentials from the grip of syndicates.

8. Forming a Commission to identify corruption at all levels of the state including money laundering, banking and financial sectors, power and energy sectors, and capital markets over the last 15 years.

9. Rescuing all the victims of forced disappearances happened over the last 15 years and holding trials of each incident of extrajudicial killing as early as possible; protecting the homes of religious minorities, refraining from vandalizing and occupying their property.

10. Allowing the law enforcing agencies, administration and judiciary to work freely avoiding undue interference in their duties.

Before joining the rally, the party’s seven MPs resigned from the Parliament by sending their resignation letter through an email.

BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said lakhs of people joined the rally as they want to get rid of the fascist misrule of the current regime.

He alleged that the government has been trying to hang onto power by suppressing the opposition using law enforcers as it lost ground beneath its feet.

BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The party has already arranged rallies in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Faridpur, Sylhet, Cumilla and Rajshahi braving various obstacles and transport strikes.

BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government — a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it to happen.