People won't get deceived thrice by joining polls under AL govt: Fakhrul

Stating that caretaker government is now the most live issue, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the people of Bangladesh will not be deceived thrice by participating in the next polls under the Awami League regime.

Speaking at a discussion, he also said Awami League is against the election under a non-party impartial government as the party knows very well that it will not get more than 10 percent votes in credible polls because of its widespread plundering and misdeeds.

"Awami League leaders and ministers are saying the caretaker government is now a dead issue. Why is it a dead issue? This is the most live issue now," the BNP leader said.

He said the people of Bangladesh witnessed the parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2018. "They won't go back to face that situation again. There's no question of doing it."

Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU), marking the first death anniversary of the organisation's founding president and former BNP MP and state minister for water resources advocate Gautam Chakraborty,

Fakhrul said their party took part in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before the 2018 election with the hope of creating an atmosphere for a neutral election through discussions, but they were betrayed.

"We have been cheated twice (in the 2014 and 2018 elections). We would like to clearly say that the people of the country won't get cheated again for the third time," he observed.

The BNP leader said the next election must be held under a non-party caretaker government as the current regime has completely destroyed the voting and election system in the country in a planned way.

Referring to Law Minister Anisul Huq's comment in parliament that no one will be arrested during the next election as the administration will remain under the Election Commission, he said, "Who will believe these words? It is like the story of the cowboy on a tiger. We want to say clearly, no one will be misguided by these words of the current regime. Because you have never kept any promises that you made before the nation."

Fakhrul urged the government to step down and dissolve Parliament by handing over power to a non-party caretaker government, creating a scope for holding a credible election.

He said the current 'usurper' government has been in power with arrogance though they were not elected by the people. "What they're saying everyday has no relation with people as they have got isolated from people."

The BNP leader said the country's economy is now in a shamble and under threat due to unprecedented corruption, plundering and siphoning off money abroad. "We have long been saying development without democracy can't be sustainable."

Fakhrul said the government should step down right now to save the country, economy and institutions.

The BNP leader alleged that the government is trying to create a fund by plundering public money to spend during the next election.

Fakhrul said the ruling party leaders are now not thinking safe their laundered money in the USA following the visa policy for Bangladesh. "They'll now get 2.5 percent incentive while taking back the money. The thieves will be rewarded and this is the principle of this regime."

He said the government used to brag about a huge development in the power sector, but now people are facing serious power outgases as power plants are being shut down one after another for lack of fuel energy.

The BNP leader said the government has been taking away money from people's pockets by raising the power tariffs several times. "But where did that money go?

He said the government has taken various mega projects imprudently only for stealing public money. "They have put entire Bangladesh in danger. So, we are saying repeatedly there's no ground for this regime to stay in power."

Fakhrul described Gautam Chakraborty as an honest, humble and good human being and recalled his contributions to politics, democratic movements and the BNP. "He was an asset in politics."

The BNP leader urged the leaders of the Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad to strengthen their organisation and raise their voices strongly against the growing repression on the minority communities under the rule of the current regime. "You need to do this to protect the interests of your communities.