Govt will never hand over power peacefully thru fair elections: Khasru

The Awami League government will never hand over power peacefully through a fair election, Standing Committee member of the BNP Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said.

"Those who think that Sheikh Hasina would hand over power peacefully after a fair election are living in a fool's paradise. So, the decision will be made on the streets," he added.

Amir Khasru was addressing a seminar on acceptable national elections, neutral government during elections, structural reforms and the role of major stakeholders, organised by the Governance and Policy Research (GPR) at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

He said, "A 'national government' will be formed in the coming days. Everyone must be united to get the country back on track from the current situation."

Alleging that the courts would not grant bail, the Election Commission (EC) would not grant fair elections, and the banks would not hold anyone accountable for looting, Khasru said, "This is because we are under a fascist regime. Expecting the rule of law here will do [us] no good."

Stating that the EC is part of a vote rigging scheme, he further said the [chief] election commissioner is [also] a part of the fascist regime. 

"He has been appointed to hold a rigged election. There is no point in saying anything to them [the EC]. There is only one way; this regime has to move."

Further alleging that the judges are also part of the same process, Khasru said, "Many people are not getting bail even after 10 years. It has nothing to do with the law. Judges are just showing obedience to the master."

The BNP leader further said that the Awami League has unilaterally abolished the caretaker government system, though it has no right to do so, adding, "The caretaker government system was (originally) formed with the consensus of all political parties, it should be cancelled with the consensus of all parties." 

Khasru added that the politics that will follow after Sheikh Hasina's government will be different.

"Through transformative change, human rights, the rule of law, democracy will be truly established. There will be people's participation. We are not just waging a movement to oust a fascist regime, we are doing so to establish a knowledge-based, just society," said the BNP leader.

Addressing the event, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said the government has not been able to bring the market under control amid soaring prices. 

"If people's income increases by Tk100, the price of goods increases by a thousand times," he added.