Dhaka: BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday said Awami League will be included in the national unity process if the government accepts people’s five-point demand for holding the next polls in a credible manner.

‘Obaidul Quader has questioned as to how the national unity can be formed without Awami League. I would like to tell him a national unity has already been forged as different political parties got united with people’s five-point demand for a fair election,’ he said

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, ‘If you apologise to people for your misdeeds and announce to accept their five-point demand, we’ll include you in the national unity, and we’ll welcome you to it.’

He said the five demands of people are dissolving parliament before the announcement of the election schedule, resignation of the government, formation of on-party election-time impartial administration, reconstitution of the Election Commission, not using EVMs in the polls and deployment of army.

Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu Smriti Sangsad organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and its Dhaka south city unit president Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel from jail.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, however, aired doubt whether the ruling party will accept the demands. ‘They (AL) won’t accept the demands as they don’t have such morale. They don’t also have the courage to face people.’

He alleged that the ruling party is hatching plots against the national unity to cling to power by force and establish one-party rule. ‘We’ll surely face their all conspiracies with national unity, and restore democracy and a pro-people government in the country.’

The BNP leader also criticised the government for passing the ‘Digital Security Bill, 2018 in parliament. ‘This black law was formulated to control the media and snatch journalists’ freedom.’

He alleged that the government has made the law also to perpetuate its power by gaging the media as the ruling party did it earlier by introducing ‘one-party rule Baksal’.

Mosharraf said the country’s people will get rid of the black laws, repressive acts and misrule if a pro-people government is established.

He also alleged that the government is implicating their party leaders and activists with several thousand ‘fictitious’ cases to hold another lopsided election by force.  

‘When the government needs to create a level-playing field for all parties ahead of the national election, it’s trying to arrest those who will contest the polls against Awami League candidates.’ the BNP leader observed.

He warned that the country’s people will not allow the ruling party to hold a January 5-like election in the country again. 

He called upon BNP leaders and activists to get ready for waging a strong movement to force the government to hold a fair and neutral election under a non-party administration.