The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The BNP led four-party alliance yesterday announced "Emergency Withdrawal Day" on July 9 and "Fundamental Rights Restoration Day" on July 16.

The alliance spelling out its program at a protest meeting at Diploma Engineers Institution also asked the Election Commission to cancel the schedule for city corporation and municipality elections slated for August 4.

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain who announced the new action programs termed the present caretaker government unconstitutional and said the government could not hold local bodies' elections before the parliament elections.

"The holding of local body election by this caretaker government is unconstitutional, unlawful and beyond the morality," he told the meeting organized to protest soaring prices of essential commodities.

Delwar asked the government to abstain from holding the local election against the people's expectation and called for immediate holding of the general elections.

Saying that present unelected government does not have the right to speak on behalf of the people, the BNP leader said the constitution does not allow the caretaker to take policy decision and make the agreement with foreign companies on natural resources like gas and coal.

Delwar claimed that some quarters at home and abroad have been out to capture the state power. He urged the people to remain alert about such anti-state conspiracy.

He said the four-party alliance would observe the Emergency Withdrawal Day and the Fundamental Rights Restoration Day to press for immediate lifting of the emergency, protesting against the prisoners' tortures and establishing the people's rights to food and employment.

The meeting was addressed among others by BNP standing committee members Dr RA Gani and Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Jatiya Party (Manzur) chairman Barrister Andalib Rahman and Khelafat Majlish ameer Maulana Mohammad Ishaque.

Mujahid said the caretaker government should not get involved in politics by keeping aside the issue of holding the general elections. "This government has no relation with the people."

He urged the government to bring down the prices of essentials within the purchasing capacity of the common people by providing the maximum subsidies.

The alliance leaders demanded the unconditional release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Jamaat ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami along with other political detainees. They also urged the government to allow Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko to go abroad for their treatment.