Oust govt to restore peace, Matia tells B'baria rally

The ruling four-party alliance harbours terrorists and criminals. So long they are in power, violence in the name of religion and crimes will continue, the front ranking leader of opposition AL told a public rally at Brahmanbaria Poura Mukta Manch Thursday evening.

Brahmanbaria unit of the 14-party opposition alliance organised the meeting as part of its countrywide protests against bomb blasts and other crimes, price hike of fuel and essentials and corruption by ruling party men.

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Matia alleged that people are passing sleepless nights since takeover by the alliance government. They have become wary of crimes and violence.

Mentioning the August 17 serial bomb blasts, she said such acts of violence, murder and rape are now a common feature. Law enforcers can not make out any clue to such incidents as they are influenced by ruling parties, she alleged.

"If any terrorist belonging to BNP or Jamaat is nabbed, they (BNP or Jamaat) say the nabbed person is no more belongs to them".

The former agriculture minister also urged the government to accept the opposition's proposals for reform of the caretaker system and the Election Commission for holding the next parliamentary election in a free and fair manner.

With district AL president Lutful Hi-Satchchu in the chair, the meeting was addressed by, among others, JSD (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) central joint secretary Iqbal Hussain Khan, central AL leader Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Workers Party leader Hazera Sultana, CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) Afruz Ali, AL district secretary Md Humaun Kabir, joint secretary Amanul Hoque Chento, organising secretary Mamun Sarker, former municipal chairman Md Helal Uddin, Major (Retd) Johirul Haque Khan, Md Ferdous, Md Jahirul Haque Khokhon, Ashraful Islam Jiban, Md. Abdul Zalil Mia and Mojibur Rahman Babul.

Matia said the ruling alliance is not accepting the proposals for caretaker and Election Commission reforms because they are thinking to retain power by taking scope of the loopholes in the present systems.