Need greater unity for forging movement to free Khaleda: Fakhrul

Expressing grave concern over the country’s prevailing situation, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today underscored the need for greater unity to forge a mass movement for immediate release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

“There is no alternative to unity for waging a mass movement. The people, who will speak against the unity, will harm the country and its people,” Fakhrul came up with the remarks while addressing a programme at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka this noon.

Claiming that the country’s law and order situation is deteriorating alarmingly, the BNP leader said the ruling quarter is heading with a motive to establishing “one-party rule” in the country.

Referring to yesterday’s verdict of a Pabna court that sentenced nine BNP men to death and 25 others to life term imprisonment for attack on a train carrying the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina 25 years back, Fakhrul said, “The verdict proves that there is no independence in the judiciary.”

“We are shocked and frustrated,” the BNP leader said.

About the outcome of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s China visit, Fakhrul said, “The prime minister went to China to ink deal for mega projects. We would be happy if she would address the Rohingya crisis before the Chinese president with utmost importance.”

Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh, a pro-BNP doctors’ front, organised the programme to press home their demand for immediate release of the party’s all detained leaders and activists including Khaleda Zia.