Staff Correspondent

BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Monday said the Awami League government will fall apart 'like a house of cards' as people are not with this regime.

Speaking at a discussion, he also said the government’s efforts to stay in power 'with the force of the gun' will not succeed.

“The basis of democracy is the people. This government has no foundation since the people are not with them. The government itself does not know when they will collapse like a house of cards,” the BNP leader said.

Stating that the force of guns cannot stand up to the power of people’s unity and justice, he urged the government to come to the path of democracy and arrange a fresh and credible election.

“Otherwise, the consequences will not be good…people can be defeated with bullets, guns and teargas. But people's love can’t be found. The election of January 7 was not fair. Which was said in all the media of the world,” Dr Moyeen said.

He also said the democratic world recognised that there is now no democracy in Bangladesh as the current government usurped power without the mandate of the people. “They are trying to stay in power through the barrel of a gun. Their efforts will never succeed.”

The University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) organised the programme titled the “State philosophy of Shaheed Zia in uprooting the new Baksal” at Dhaka Reports’Unity (DRU), marking the 88th birth anniversary of ex-president Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP.

Dr Moyeen, a BNP standing committee member, said the Awami League does not work for the people as they do the politics of one-party rule and logi-baitha (sticks and oars). “They have sieged all the institutions of the country. They are deceiving the people by talking about the constitution.”

He called upon the all professionals, including the teachers, to play a proactive role in restoring democracy and people’s right to franchise: “No one can sit idle when the country lacks democracy. We want to eliminate the system of new Baksal-II.”

The BNP leader said the current government wants no one in this country to criticise them and talk about the restoration of democracy as the Awami League has become blind for the lust of power.

He said the government obstructed a peaceful programme like the distribution of leaflets urging people to boycott the 12th Parliamentary election.

“We’ve now announced to take out processions with black flags against the government. But there are threats that if we hold the black-flag processions, then there’ll be a crackdown on us again like in October 28.”