BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday urged the opposition political parties to reach a consensus on launching a simultaneous movement against the current government as they did in the 90s to ‘restore’ democracy.

“Our main task is now to restore democracy, but it won’t be possible as long as Sheikh Hasina’s government is in power. So, we must oust this autocratic regime to restore democracy and people’s rights,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion meeting, the BNP leader said the opposition political parties have different opinions and ideologies, but he thinks they do not have disagreement when it comes to ousting the Awami League government as people want to get rid of it.

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“So, let’s either form a united platform or launch a simultaneous movement to restore democracy by ensuring the fall of this government. This is now a demand of the time. We also have the history of waging such a movement in the past (against HM Ershad),” he said.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking its founding anniversary.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said opposition political parties should now have only one target -- freeing people from the hands of the current 'autocratic' government.  “Can’t we reach a consensus on the issue? I call upon all to get united as per people's aspirations.”

He alleged that the ruling party has been 'ruthlessly distorting' the history of the Liberation War and making 'false' comments on BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s role in the Liberation War and his grave and dead body to misguide people and hush up the truth.

“We believe that had there been a genuine democratic practice in the country, no government, party and individual could distort history this way,” the BNP leader observed.

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Speaking at the programme, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said any attempt to suppress the historic truth will turn futile.

He said the ruling party leaders are trying to create a controversy centring Ziaur Rahman as part of their move to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the country’s real problems.