Stating that the goal of overthrowing fascism has not been achieved yet, senior BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Wednesday said the main task now is to establish an elected government through people’s votes in a credible national election.
“We think the main task at this moment is to establish people's rule with the aim of fulfilling the aspirations of the martyrs to build a humane, democratic and progressive modern Bangladesh. This is only possible through people's votes and through elections,” he said.
Nazrul, a standing committee member of BNP, made the remarks while talking to reporters after paying homage to their party founder Ziaur Rahman by placing a wreath at his grave along with the leaders of the newly formed committee of BNP Mymensingh South District unit.
He said BNP fought against Sheikh Hasina's fascism and dictatorship for over 15 years, bravely facing severe repression and suppression.
“At the final stage of this struggle, fascism collapsed through the uprising of students, workers and the people of this country. But our demand was not only the fall of a government, our main demand was also the restoration of democracy. For that, the fall of fascism was necessary,” Nazrul said.
He said the one-point demand of BNP and its like-minded parties included the fall of fascism and the establishment of the rights of the people of the country through a parliamentary election under a non-partisan and neutral government.
The BNP leader said the first part of their demand has been fulfilled as the head of the fascist government and its leaders have fled the country.
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“But the goal for which we ousted the fascist regime has not yet been achieved. The people of Bangladesh have not yet been able to establish their elected government by exercising their fundamental right to vote,” he observed.
Nazrul accused a vested quarter of trying to disrupt unity among democratic political parties. “We believe people who know it very well are autocratic and who stand for democracy. They know who established autocracy in the country, who directly or indirectly supported that dictatorship, and who have been relentlessly oppressed for fighting for democracy!”
He said the people of the country also know that several thousand BNP leaders and activists were subjected to enforced disappearance, killing, and repression while lakhs of cases have been filed against them.
“People have seen all this. They also know who has remained uncompromising in the struggle for democracy. So, we do not believe that people will accept it if any political party says something unjustified,” the BNP leader said.
In response to a question, Nazrul Islam Khan said, “If any BNP leader is involved in a crime anywhere in the country, organisational action will be taken against them. If legal action is taken against them, BNP will not obstruct it; we will welcome it instead.”