Only goal is to oust current fascist government: Moyeen Khan

BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Friday said their party's only goal is to make their one-point movement a success by ousting the current fascist government.

"Even though we organised this rally, our main goal is a one-point movement. The fascist dictatorial regime which has imposed its misrule on the 18 crore people of the country must be removed through our one-point movement," he said.

In a brief address before taking out a colourful rally at Nayapaltan in the capital, he said Ziaur Rahman founded BNP to establish the multi-party democracy and the voting rights of people.

Dr Moyeen, a BNP standing committee member, alleged that the Awami League government wants to perpetuate its power by resorting to attacks, oppression, false cases, killing and enforced disappearance and establishing one-party Baksal rule indirectly. “But the people of the country will not allow that to happen.”

“We’re taking a vow on this day of our 45th founding anniversary that we’ll bring back democracy to this country by unseating this undemocratic government through a peaceful movement on the streets,” he said.

Dr Moyeen also congratulated the leaders and workers of BNP and its associate bodies on the foundation anniversary of the party.

As part of the party’s move to mark its 45th founding anniversary in a befitting manner, the Dhaka North and South BNP brought out a massive colourful rally in the capital.

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies wearing colorful clothes and caps and holding banners festoons and placards thronged in front of their Nayapaltan central office since the afternoon to participate in the programme.

The rally ended at Rajdhani Market in the city after parading through different roads from Fakirapool intersection to Ittefaq crossing, causing public suffering in the areas due to tailbacks.

Another BNP standing committee Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said Awami League took away the voting rights of people and democracy in the country in 1975.

He said it was Ziaur Rahman who established the BNP and restored democracy, people’s lost rights, the rule of law, press freedom and freedom of speech. “This party (BNP) was created for democracy."

The BNP leader said Awami League again destroyed democracy and people’s voting and all other rights to hang onto power without public mandate.

He said their party has long been carrying out a movement to get back democracy and people’s rights. "Who are the obstacles in today's fight for democracy? The number one obstacle is the police force of the Awami League... Our movement against them will continue. Another obstacle is the Bangladesh Awami Judge League. They are another obstacle to the democracy of Bangladesh."

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the ordinary people have been going through severe ordeals due to growing prices of all commodities caused by corruption and plundering by the ruling party men.

“The backs of the ordinary people are pushed against the wall. It’s a regime of the millionaires of Bangladesh. We want a change in this government. That's why one-point demand must be realised. There is no alternative," he said.

Ziaur Rahman founded the party on September 1, 1978 with a 19-point charter to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. After his assassination on May 30, 1981, his widow Begum Khaleda Zia took over the party leadership.

The party had been in power four times and played the role of main opposition twice. It has been out of power for over 16 years since the 1/11 political changeover in 2007.