Dhaka – Terming the present Jatiya Sangsad a quicksand, BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman on Thursday said the country’s democracy might disappear in this parliament of quicksand.
“The parliament which has been formed without election is standing on quicksand. Democracy may disappear in this quicksand,” he said. Mahbubur Rahman said this while addressing a discussion organised by Sangbidhanik Odhikar Forum at Jatiya Press Club in the city. The BNP central leader urged the government to arrange another national election cancelling the January 5 one.
The for chief of the army staff came down hard on Awami League secretary Syed Ashraful Islam for his comment that the next polls will be held after five years.Mahbub said, “How could you make such remarks as you are not an inhabitant of a remote island. Still, there is time and arrange an acceptable election.”
In an Awami League meeting on Wednesday, Syed Ashraf said, “It’s my firm belief that the present government will remain in power for five years and the next election will be held as per the constitution. And it’ll be held within 90 days before January 28, 2019 when the tenure of the present government ends.” – UNB
bdnews24.com adds: The BNP has said Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s remarks on its demand for a fresh election under a non-party government, is ‘unacceptable’. “The present Parliament has been formed through a voter-less election. It is not constitutional,” BNP Standing Committee member Mahbubur Rahman said on Thursday at a discussion at the National Press Club.At the meeting of the ruling party’s Central Working Committee on Wednesday, Syed Ashraf had said his party had no intention to leave power before its constitutional tenure ended on Jan 28, 2019.
“Another election will take place after Jan 28, 2019. We are preparing for that election.”
Ashraf also said the Awami League will not give in to any form of pressure, domestic or foreign. His remarks came a day after the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on the current political and economic situation in Bangladesh.
Mahbubur Rahman said, “Yesterday (Wednesday) Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraf said no polls will be held before five years. How can he say that? He does not live in an isolated island. We live in the global village.”
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal, at the US Senate hearing on Tuesday, had warned that the ‘flawed’ national election of Jan 5 had put ‘strategically important’ Bangladesh at risk of instability.
Rahman claimed “the whole world” said that electorates did not cast their votes in Jan 5 elections. Everyone in Bangladesh and elsewhere were demanding a free and fair election as soon as possible, he added.
The former BNP MP questioned the legality of the 10th Parliament. “People rejected the polls. This Parliament is standing on a quicksand.”
“The only way to end this crisis is to hold a free and fair poll as soon as possible where all political parties will participate… dialogue is needed for this.”
He also urged the government to sit for unconditional talks with an open mind. “Talks will lead to a solution,” he emphasised.
