Govt making blueprint to stay in power till 2041: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Saturday that the government wants to hold another 'stage-managed' election as per its blueprint to stay in power till 2041.

Speaking at a human chain programme at the party's Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka, he also alleged the government signed an anti-state power deal with the Indian Adani Group as a bribe to the neighbouring country to cling to power.

BNP's Dhaka south city unit arranged the event as part of the party and its alliance partners' nationwide human chain programme in divisional cities and district towns across the country including the capital.

Apart from the BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gonoforum and People's Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote formed human chains separately.

They have also announced to hold rallies in all metropolitan cities on 18 March to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.

'People will not accept the deal with Adani'

Thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies took part in the human chain programme in Nayapaltan led by Fakhrul from 11 am to 12 pm.

The BNP leader said the government 'ruined' the constitution and made an arrangement for holding the election under a partisan government to establish a one-party rule system.

"Two elections were held under it in 2014 and 2018 without people's vote. They now have a desire to stay in power till 2041. With that blueprint, they want to hold elections again in 2024 in the same manner," Fakhrul said.

He said the power purchase deal with the Indian Adani Group is against the interests of Bangladesh. "We're saying publicly that this agreement cannot go in favour of Bangladesh in any way."

The BNP leader warned that the people of Bangladesh will not accept the deal with Adani. "The question has been asked by many people from abroad, how could the Bangladesh government sign this agreement? They signed the agreement because they wanted to stay in power with bribes."

BNP's Dhaka north city unit also formed a human chain programme in the Badda area, led by the party's standing committee member Khandaker Mosahrraf Hossain.

Govt orchestrated attacks on Ahmadiyya community: Amir Khosru

Meanwhile, BNP leaders in Chattogram said at a similar human chain programme that the government orchestrated the attack on the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh to divert people's attention.

As part of the central programme on Saturday, the BNP and its affiliated organisations formed human chains at three spots in the port city including Kazir Deuri, Gol Chattar adjacent to the Shah Amanat Bridge and Wasa Intersection.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said, "The government seems to be afraid and resorting to tactics to distract people's attention. This is a common strategy used by dictatorial regimes before their downfall."

He complained that the police had failed to act during the attack on the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh, which was allegedly carried out with the assistance of local leaders.

Chattogram Metropolitan BNP convenor Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury said, "In 2014 and 2018, votes were stolen in the name of Digital Bangladesh, now their slogan is Smart Bangladesh. But this time people will not be fooled anymore."

BNP vice chairmen Abdullah Al Noman and Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin were present at human chain programmes as chief guests in Gol Chattar and Wasa Intersection respectively.