BNP senior leader AZM Zahid Hossain on Friday alleged that fugitive autocrats and anti-state forces are secretly forging unity and making 'entente' to hinder Bangladesh’s democratic progress and tarnish its image as a moderate democratic country.
“Absconding autocrats and anti-state forces are now secretly uniting and making entente so that Bangladesh cannot move forward on the path of democracy, and so that the country cannot uphold its reputation in the world as a moderate democratic nation," he said.
Talking to reporters after paying homage to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Zahid also alleged that various conspiracies are going on both at home and abroad to hold Bangladesh back, put its democracy at risk, and delay its democratic system.
"If we are to resist the unity of fugitive autocrats and anti-state forces, we must remember that the general people must be united. Together with them and with democracy-loving citizens, we must foil this conspiracy,” the BNP leader said.
He said all must also keep in mind that no conspirator has the strength to stop the power of the people, their will, their aspirations, and their indomitable spirit for democracy.
Zahid, a BNP Standing Committee member, along with leaders of the new convening committee of the Diploma Engineers Association of Bangladesh, placed a wreath at Zia’s grave in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, paying tribute to him.
On September 3, a 33-member Convening Committee of the Diploma Engineers Association of Bangladesh was formed, making Engineer Md Hanif its convener and Kazi Shakhawat Hossain member secretary.
Zahid said it has been seen across the world that whenever disasters struck or dictators emerged, it was the people who made the decision to tackle them.
He said on ‘36 July’ it was also the people who decided and the student movement against discrimination turned into a one-point movement only through the participation of the masses.
“Even now, those at home and abroad who are trying to push back the country’s democracy or prolong it with ill motives will never succeed against the united efforts and awareness of the people. In the end, it will be the people’s victory, the victory of democracy and the victory of the struggle for people’s rights,” the BNP leader said.
He also said it will be the people who will decide what the future constitution should be and what kind of reforms are needed. “Whoever the people elect and send to parliament will carry out the reforms based on the ideals and objectives of 36 July and, above all, on the aspirations of the nation.”
BNP’s Zahid Hossain alleges conspiracies against democracy
Through those reforms, Zahid said, Bangladesh will be built as a forward-looking country in line with the 31-point programme under the leadership of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
He urged all to remain united, saying division and discord would never make anyone stronger. “The unity of the people once forced autocrats to flee and will also prevent their return.”
Zaid warned that any attempt to rehabilitate autocrats through farcical arrangements would never be judged positively in the end.
Calling for unity, the BNP leader urged those who fought for democracy not to fall into divisive politics but to embrace the politics of unity and understand the people’s aspirations.
He said questions have been raised over the neutrality of the recently held Ducsu and Jucsu elections.
The BNP leader observed that in the JUCSU polls, not only the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal panel but also independent candidates and even teachers stayed away from the election, which, he said, clearly indicated underlying reasons.
Stating that the country’s people could not vote in the last three national controversial and lopsided elections, Zahid said the people want to regain trust in the electoral system and urged authorities not to hold polls that would raise doubts, force contestants to quit, or weaken confidence.
He expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of journalist Tariqul Islam during the DUCSU elections and teacher Jannatul Ferdous during the JUCSU polls.