DHAKA: Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday called on the voters of three cities to foment a silent revolution by casting their ballots in favour of her party-backed mayoral candidates on 28 April.

‘This illegal government is not elected by people. Even then they’re doing whatever they like in violation of laws. Besides, they’re creating obstacles to our every step,’ she said.

The BNP chief was addressing a Bangla New Year celebration programme in front of her party’s Naya Paltan central office in Dhaka.

Khaleda continued, ‘So, I call upon people to create a silent uprising through casting your votes for ‘Mug’ and ‘Bus’ symbols in Dhaka and for ‘Orange’ in Chittagong to give a reply to these obstacles and show what people can do.’

The BNP chairperson also promised that if the BNP-led 20-party-backed mayoral candidates get elected they will turn the cities into modern and liveable ones from its current sordid conditions.

UNB reports: it was her first public appearance since Khaleda returned to her Gulshan residence securing bails in two graft cases on April 5 last after over three months of stay in her Gulshan political office.

She told the gathering, ‘This government has made this country the second most polluted and unlivable cities in the world. We will turn this Dhaka city in a habitable city. [We will] solve electricity, water and gas crisis.’

Though BNP’s cultural wing Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) arranged the programme to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year 1422, it actually turned into an election campaign of BNP-supported mayoral candidates.

BNP chairperson said, ‘We wanted to hold a cultural programme. The government did not allow that. [We] live in such a country where free speech and movement are prohibited. [People have to] suffer repression at every step in life. Disappearance and killing are everyday events. In such a condition the government has declared election schedule. They thought that we will not join elections. We, however, were strugglming for holding National Elections under a neutral government.’

Addressing the Dhaka people, she said, ‘This government has no legal basis. It is flouting laws. Foment revolution by casting your votes for bus and mug symbols. Show this oppressive government what people can do.’

BNP cultural affairs secretary Gazi Mazharul Anwar, Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) president MA Malek and its general secretary Monir Khan received the BNP chief as she reached the BNP headquarters at about 5:20pm.

Coming out of her vehicle, Khaleda took Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral candidate Tabith Awal and Dhaka South City Corporation mayoral contender Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas on her two sides and waved her hand to her supporters. Holding the hands of Tabith and Afroza Khaleda also flashed the V sign.

Professor Emajuddin Ahmed, convener of Adarsha Dhaka Andolan, a pro-BNP professional’s platform, floated to work for two BNP-backed mayoral candidates in Dhaka, delivered the inaugural speech at the programme.

Later, Afroza Abbas, who has been carrying out election campaign in fvaour of her husband, and Tabith Awal addressed it seeking votes and blessings.

Khaleda started her address wishing her audience a happy New Year and hoped that the New Year will bring something good for her party and for the country. In her remaining seven-minute speech, she concentrated on the city polls.