Sheikh Hasina’s resignation a must for free, fair elections: Gayeshwar

PBC NEWS DESK: BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy has said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation only can pave the way for holding a free and fair election and resolving the ongoing political crisis in the country.

“Sheikh Hasina is the main obstacle to free and fair elections in Bangladesh. As long as she clings to power, police, RAB, and administration will stand in the way of the credible elections,” he said.

Speaking at a human-chain programme on Tuesday, the BNP leader said police will become gentle and they will not go to the polling stations on previous night of election day for stealing or rigging votes, while the administration will work as servant of people if Sheikh Hasina leaves power forever.

“That is why the opposition parties in Bangladesh are demanding Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. It is a prerequisite for free and fair elections. If this prerequisite is fulfilled then all our conditions will be fulfilled,” he said.

Gayeshwar said Khaleda Zia will be released unconditionally and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Mirza Abbas, and all other opposition leaders will be released if the current prime minister is removed from power.Thakurgaon Jatiyatabadi Forum in Dhaka formed the human-chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas and all other political prisoners.

Stating that there is no point in seeking the release of BNP leaders separately, Gayeshwar said their party should go for one-point demand for Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.”We’ll free the country from fascism by restoring democracy. So we have no other alternative to carrying out a movement and struggle,” he observed.

Arrests ‘unjust

‘Gayeshwar said the government has unfairly arrested Fakhrul, Abbas and other BNP leaders and activists and kept them in jail unjustly.”We just want to tell the judiciary and the court that we want justice. We don’t want any mercy,” he said.

The BNP leader alleged that their party chief Khaleda Zia sought justice, but she didn’t get it. “There is no person in the history of Bangladesh, except Khaleda Zia, who has not been granted bail in such cases.”He said ruling party MP Haji Salim, who was convicted on a charge of embezzling crores of taka, got bail, but Khaleda Zia did not get bail.

“It is injustice… So to whom should we seek justice? Had the judiciary been separated from the executive branch and had the judges been independent, then we could have got justice.”