Dhaka: BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday asked his ruling party counterpart Obaidul Quader to apologise publicly for committing the offence of ‘vote rigging’ in the 11th parliamentary election, reports the UNB.

‘Now they (govt) can’t tackle such a big stealing in the election...ask Mr Quader (AL general secretary) to apologise first to the nation going to the stadium for resorting to blatant lies and deceiving and depriving people,’ he said.

The BNP leader further said, ‘A path for discussions with other parties will be created, if they (AL) apologise to people.’

Fakhrul came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting post-election violence victim and Jashore Jubo Dal activist Faisal Ali at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Faisal was indiscriminately stabbed reportedly by ruling party activists on December 31 in Jashore, leaving him seriously injured.

Fakhrul talked to doctors and enquired about the health condition of the injured Jubo Dal activist.

The BNP leader alleged that the entire country has turned into a hospital as Awami League usurped power snatching people’s voting rights. ‘They’re now finding out their opponents at every district, upazila and union and repressing them. They’re also capturing the houses and shops and other property of their opponents, creating a serious anarchic situation in the country.’

Referring to his Monday’s visit to Sylhet’s Balaganj, Fakhrul said local people narrated how opposition leaders and activists were tortured and a Chhatra Dal activist was gunned down on the election day. ‘Even they (AL activists) opened fire on women there.’

He alleged that the ruling party is now taking various ‘evil’ tactics to justify the election both at home and abroad. ‘It’s very regrettable that they’ve no minimum sense of shame. They’re claiming to have a grand victory in the election, but people are utterly depressed as they couldn’t exercise their voting right.’

The BNP leader said the ruling party is least bothered about people’s pains and agonies as it lost direction due to greed for power.