<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">BNP on Friday alleged that the government has launched the universal pension scheme as part of its trick to steal public money and use it in the next election.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Awami League has depleted Bangladesh’s resources by indulging in plundering. They have taken another trick to steal people’s money in the name of the pension scheme. They want to steal that money to hold the next election,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader, however, said the country’s people will no longer allow the government to plunder their money.</div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks while addressing a rally prior to bringing out a mass procession in the city’s Doyaganj areas arranged by BNP’s Dhaka south city unit.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul urged the government to quit with dignity by handing over power to a non-party neutral government, paving the way for holding the next polls in a free and fair manner.</div><div><br></div><div>Or else, he said the country’s people know very well how to remove a fascist and autocratic regime as they did in 1952, 1969, 1971, and 1990. “Be careful, now it's your turn (to be ousted). So, step down immediately by accepting the demand of the people."</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader slammed the government for oppressing the opposition leaders and activists and arresting them in false cases. “The entire country has apparently become a jail. They arrested our many leaders out of fear of losing power.”</div><div><br></div><div>Issuing a warning to the law enforcers who are arresting BNP leaders and activists, he said nine police officers who amassed wealth in the USA now can’t go there. “They now can’t sleep at night wondering what will happen to the resources they accumulated abroad.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the situation is going to be even worse as different rights bodies and institutions are urging the US government to give more sanctions to ensure a fair election in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>He also criticised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina her remark that some foreign countries is pressuring Bangladesh on holding free and fair elections and protecting human rights with a motive to control the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal to attack different countries in this region and destroy them.</div><div><br></div><div>“There’s no point in talking about the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal…there is no way left (for the govt) to escape. There is no escape route on any side,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, Fakhrul together with party senior leaders, including standing committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, senior joint secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam, and acting member secretary Tanveer Ahmed Robin brought out a procession with the participation of thousands of party leaders and workers. The procession ended at the Khilgaon intersection after parading through different roads.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas inaugurated the Dhaka north city unit BNP’s mass procession near the DNCC marker in the city’s Gulshan-1 area.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a brief rally before bringing out the procession people no longer want to see Awami League in power as they have got fed up with its misrule for 15 years.</div><div><br></div><div>He alleged that the ruling party leaders are resorting to lies to mislead people as they have been in power stealing votes.</div><div><br></div><div>Abbas said the government has been using the state machinery to subdue the opposition in a bid to cling to power.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader urged the government officials and employees to play their role neutrally and stop harassing and oppressing the opposition leaders and activists.</div><div><br></div><div>He also urged the government to allow Khaleda to go abroad for her advanced treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>Otherwise, the BNP leader warned that they will wage a fierce movement to ensure her unconditional release from jail and her treatment abroad.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the BNP leaders and activists took out the procession that ended at Mohakhali Bus Station.</div><div><br></div><div>Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the two processions, carrying banners, festoons and portraits of the party's top leaders.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, LDP, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, 12-party alliance, Labour Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Monju), NDM, Bangladesh Sadaran Chhatra Odhikar Sanrakshan Parishad and two factions of Gono Odhikar Parishad also brought out processions separately in different areas of the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>A similar programme was also held in all metropolitan cities arranged by BNP and other opposition parties.</div><div><br></div><div>This was the fourth programme of the opposition's one-point movement with the goal to remove Awami League from power.</div><div><br></div><div>On July 12 last, BNP and the like-minded parties announced their one-point movement to realise their demands.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>