Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led 20-Party Alliance on Thursday said the alliance is deeply concerned as the government is ‘plotting’ to brand Bangladesh as a militant country to get international sympathy. ‘This is why incidents like killing of bloggers, children and repression on women have marked a sharp rise in the country.’

The 20-party alliance on Thursday said it wants a free, fair, competitive and inclusive election under a non-party administration to establish an elected and pro-people government.

‘The 20-party thinks only an elected government which is accountable to people can stop the incidents of killing, enforced disappearance, repression, and overcome economic crisis and restore people’s basic rights. So, we the 20-party want free, fair and competitive polls with the participation of all parties under a non-party administration, said BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan.

Addressing a press conference on behalf of the 20-party alliance at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office, he also claimed that the country’s people are also united in favour of their demand as there is no alternative to a credible election to overcome the current ‘political crisis’.

The press conference was arranged to inform the media about the outcome of Wednesday night’s meeting between BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and the top leaders of the 20-prty alliance.

Prior to the press conference, a secretary general-level meeting of the 20-party alliance was held at Khaleda’s Gulshan office.

Nazrul Islam said the alliance has long been on a movement to restore democracy and it will continue until its victory. ‘The success of the movement is just a matter of time.’

He said the alliance urged the country’s people to get united and put up a strong resistance against the government’s conspiracy against the country.

The senior BNP leader said though the government’s various plots are on to split the 20-party alliance, the unity among its partner will remain intact.

‘Despite their (govt) frantic efforts, they couldn’t take any party or person of the alliance to the 5-January farcical polls. The unity of the 20-party is intact and strong, and it’ll remain so in the days to come as well.’