Trashing the ruling party’s allegation that the opposition is paving the path for an undemocratic force to capture power through creating a crisis, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said they want the change of power through a credible election. “BNP is a liberal political party. We’re playing our due role in overcoming the political crisis. We want the change of power through a fair election, not by any other means. The election will have to be held under a non-party interim administration,” he said.
Fakhrul came up with the remarks while addressing a discussion titled ‘Freedom of press and Mahmudur Rahman’ arranged by Engineers’ Association of Bangladesh (EAB) at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party is trying to hold the polls under their own arrangement to hang onto power. “The government is trying to scare us all by frequently talking about the constitution only to cling to power. The constitution is for people and it’s not the Quran or Bible. The government should understand that,” he added.
Mentioning that the nation is worried about the next general election, Fakhrul said the people of the country want to see a free and fair election under a non-party caretaker government. He also called upon all, irrespective of party and opinion, to join their ongoing movement for restoration of the caretaker government to protect democracy.
He termed the government’s repressive action against the media and the arrest of Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman manifestation of its fascist and undemocratic attitude. Chaired by EAB acting convener ANH Akhther Hossain, the programme was addressed, among others, by Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddiqui, Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul, BFUJ president Ruhul Amin Gazi, Jatiya Press Club president Syed Abdal Ahmed and noted filmmaker Chashi Nazrul Islam. – UNB
