Staff Correspondent

As part of their one-point simultaneous movement, BNP’s Dhaka South and North City units brought out two separate processions in the capitals Doyaganj and Gulshan areas respectively on Friday.

The programme is meant for mounting pressure on the government to accept the one-point demand which includes the resignation of the Awami League government and holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir kicked off the Dhaka South city unit’s procession at Doyaganj around 3:50 pm. The procession will end at the party’s Nayapaltan central office after parading through different roads.

In a brief address prior to launching the programme, the BNP leader slammed the government for oppressing the opposition leaders and activists to suppress the ongoing movement. “The entire country has apparently become a jail. They arrested our many leaders out of fear of losing power.”

Issuing a warning to the law enforcers who are arresting BNP leaders and activists, he said nine police officers who amassed wealth in the USA now can’t go there.

Besides, he said different rights bodies are urging the USA to give more sanctions to ensure a fair election in Bangladesh.

Fakhrul urged the government to quit with dignity by handing over power to a non-party neutral government, paving the way for holding the next polls by forming an impartial new Election Commission.

Besides, he demanded the government immediately release ailing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition and take steps for her treatment abroad.

The BNP leader said the government has taken the universal pension scheme to steal public money and use it in the next election.

Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas inaugurated the Dhaka north city unit BNP’s procession near the DCC marker in the city’s Gulshan area around 4pm.

Speaking at a brief rally, Abbas said the ruling party leaders are resorting to lies to mislead people as they have been in power stealing votes.

He said the government has been using the state machinery to subdue the opposition in a bid to cling to power,

The BNP leader urged the government officials and employees to play their role neutrally and stop harassing and oppressing the opposition leaders and activists.

He also urged the government to allow Khaleda to go abroad for her advanced treatment.

Or else, the BNP leader warned, they will wage a fierce movement to ensure her unconditional release from jail and her treatment abroad.

Later, the BNP leaders and activists took out the procession that will end at Mohakhali Bus Station.

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the two processions, carrying banners, festoons, and portraits of the party's top leaders.

Apart from BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, LDP, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya,12-party alliance, Labour Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Monju), NDM, Bangladesh Sadaran Chhatra Odhikar Sanrakshan Parishad and two factions of Gono Odhikar Parishad are observing the programme separately in different areas of the capital.

This is the fourth programme of the opposition's one-point movement with the goal to remove Awami League from power.

On July 12 last, BNP and the like-minded parties announced their one-point movement to realise their demands.

Their demands include the resignation of the current “fascist, authoritarian, people's vote looter and illegal” Awami League government, dissolution of the existing parliament, formation of the polls-time impartial government and reconstitution of the Election Commission for arranging a free, fair and inclusive election, the release of all political prisoners, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, withdrawal of all falls and ghost cases, including those against Tarique Rahman, and annulment of all false convictions.

In December last year, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances started a simultaneous movement based on their common objective of ousting the present government to pave the way for holding the next election under a non-party neutral government.