Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is unilaterally conducting electioneering in favour of her party symbol ‘boat’ keeping ‘opposition’ parties confined to home.  

‘A party and its chief is holding rallies and conducting election campaign using the state machinery. She (PM) is going to rallies in helicopters spending public money. It proves there’s no democracy in the country,’ said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He further said, ‘The Prime Minister is carrying out unilateral election campaign by force to establish a one-party rule. But, they (govt) have kept all the opposition political parties confined to home. We’re not even allowed to hold any public rally and take out procession.’

Fakhrul made the allegations while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with the leaders and activists of Zia Parishad, marking its founding anniversary.

He said without a level-playing field for all the parties and restoration of people’s democratic rights and political parties’ right to hold rallies and carry out political activities, the election will turn to be meaningless.

The BNP leader urged the government to allow political parties to do their political activities and hold rallies to ensure a proper atmosphere for a credible and neutral election.

The Prime Minister recently joined rallies arranged by Awami League in Bogra, Laxmipur and Magura, and sought votes for ‘boat’.

Sought comment on Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s comment that militancy can be an obstacle to the next general election, Fakhrul said their party does not have any such apprehension. ‘In fact, the election is still uncertain.’

About the Times of India report that many extremists are entering India from Bangladesh, he said, ‘We earlier said the government is using militancy issue with a political motive. A deep-rooted conspiracy is going on to brand Bangladesh as a militant country due to propaganda by the government in this regard.’

He urged the country’s people to come up with a united resistance to foil such conspiracies.