The newly formed Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by dissident BNP leaders held big rallies at Rangamati and Khagrachhari hill towns yesterday as a show of strength.

LDP Executive President Col. (Rtd) Oli Ahmed, secretary Maj. (rtd) Abdul Mannan, Presidium member Rezwan Ahmed and local leaders addressed the rallies, calling upon the people to vote for LDP in coming election to 'create honest leadership with honest politicians', our correspondents reported.

A large number of people from distant and remote areas came to Rangamati and Khagrachhari towns through trawlers, buses and other transports to attend the rallies.

LDP activists alleged that BNP men, at many points, obstructed them from coming to the rally.

In Rangamati, people carrying banners and posters and chanting slogans marched the town streets in a festive mood and converged at the Old Court Building ground at Reserve Bazar in the afternoon. The ground was full to its brim. The rally was presided over by Rangamati LDP convener and former deputy minister Moni Swapan Dewan.

Oli told the meeting that LDP was floated by people who left BNP protesting corruption by a section of its leaders.

Leaders of the immediate past 4-party government did 'massive corruption' and 'plundered peoples resources' in last five years.

“BNP has distracted from its ideology and far away from what Ziaur Rahman and we had formed”, he said.

Oli alleged that President and Chief Advisor to the caretaker government Prof Iajuddin Ahmed is implementing a BNP-Jamaat blueprint to hold a staged-managed election to help the alliance return to power by any means.

“People want a free, fair and credible election with participation of major parties and they will never forgive Iajuddin if can not do that", warned freedom fighter Oli.

“Resignation of four advisors reveals what he (Iajuddin) is doing at Bangabhaban”, he said.

“The President negated what the advisors achieved through strenu-

ous efforts and hectic parleys with political parties to narrow the gap and resolve the crisis. He will have to bear the responsibility if election is not held and an unwanted situation is created”, Oli said.

"We formed LDP with honest politicians including 26 former ministers and lawmakers of the former government to free the country from corruption”, he said. Corruption by the immediate past BNP-Jamaat government crossed all previous records, he alleged.

People were simply bewildered by the galloping price hike of essentials in last five years due to syndicates formed by ruling party men, who plundered people's wealth.

BNP-Jamaat alliance will not return to power because of their alleged corruption and misdeeds, he said.

Col. Oli urged the people to exercise their franchise judiciously. “Identify corrupt candidates and don't vote them again”, he said.

"We want people's support to create honest leadership with

honest politicians through a free, fair and credible election," he said.

He also urged the army to remain neutral during the election.

He introduced Moni Swapan as LDP candidate in Rangamati in the coming election and called upon the people to vote for him.

He urged all communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to maintain communal harmony to ensure sustainable peace and development of the area. He also warned that vested quarters are out to disrupt peace to serve their own interest.

LDP secretary Maj (rtd) Mannan said problems in CHT can be resolved if honest people are elected.

The Rangamati rally was also addressed by Abu Zafar Ahmed Liton and Dr. Alo Rani Aich.

At Khagrachhari rally, Oli alleged that 30 corrupt persons in the immediate past government looted thousands of crores of taka and siphoned it to Singapore, Malaysia, Canada and London. They have to

be punished, he added.

He said it is a shame for the nation that killers who opposed independence moved in official cars fluttering the National Flag.

This should not be allowed any more, he told the crowd.

Oli told the meeting that LDP would field a candidate in Khagrachhari, but did not disclose his name.

Several thousand people, both Bangalees and indigenous, from different areas of the hill district attended the rally held at Muktamanchha in the town with district LDP convener Abul Kashem in the chair.

He also criticised immediate past BNP lawmaker from Khagrachhari Wadud Bhuiyan, saying he amassed wealth illegally during the last five years.

LDP district secretary Nasir Uddin, joint convener Rafiqul Islam, Nuruzzaman, Anup Mohajon and Rabiul Islam also addressed the rally.