Dhaka, Jan 5 (UNB) – Describing the January-5, 2014 as a “stigmatised day” in history, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday said the government has sent free and fair election system to the museum by holding ‘unilateral’ polls.
“Candidates who now can buy the ‘boat’ (AL’s election symbol) symbol at a higher price, get the sure chance to make fortune. Getting a boat symbol means getting elected under the current election system,” he said.
The BNP leader said, “The Awami League has now turned into a vote-rigging league by sending the free and fair election system of Bangladesh to the museum.”
He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the 10th parliamentary election day.
As part of its countrywide programmes, BNP hoisted black flags at its offices across the country while party leaders and activists wore black badges today (Tuesday), registering their protests against that national election.
Rizvi alleged that the government has deprived people of their right to vote by holding a ‘unilateral’ election without the participation of voters on January 5, 2014.
“People’s right to franchise freely was destroyed and the constitution and democracy were strangled on this day by holding a unilateral election,” he observed.
In fact, Rizvi said the Election Commission and Awami League had defeated people, the owner of the country, through their misdeeds centering the election.
He alleged that the ruling party has established one-party Baksal rule without any announcement. “The cadres of this autocratic regime have been indulging in killing, enforced disappearance, rape, repressive acts and plundering, devasting the entire country.”
The BNP leader said Awami League has indulged in vote robbery in every election held in the country over the last one decade.
“The ruling party not only spread the virus of election without voters to the national elections, but also to the polls of local bodies and professional bodies. “Now vote means a farce in Bangladesh,” he alleged.
Rizvi said the last three national elections in 2008, 2014 and 2018 were held implementing a deep-rooted conspiracy of both local and international actors.
Most registered political parties, including BNP, boycotted the 10th parliamentary election as it was held under a partisan government, annulling the caretaker government system following a court order.
However, Awami League and its political allies joined the election in which 153 MPs out of 300 seats got elected uncontested.
BNP together with some other parties formed Jatiya Oikyafront under the leadership of Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain and joined the 11th parliamentary election on December 30, 2018, but suffered a massive debacle.
The Jatiya Oikyafront leaders turned down the election results by bringing the allegation of vote ‘rigging’ and ‘night-time ballot stuffing’, but their eight MPs took oath as the members of 11th parliament.
On December 30 last, BNP staged demonstrations across the country, marking the second anniversary of the 11th parliamentary election. They observed the day as the ‘stigmatised black day’. – UNB
