Stating that some parties have accepted the national election and referendum schedule with heavy hearts, BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday said those who had earlier pushed for delaying the polls belong to an “anti-democracy camp”.
“The announcement of the election schedule on Thursday was a successful step for democratic transition. We welcomed it. We expressed satisfaction… But many were forced to welcome it with heavy hearts,” he said.
Speaking at the opening session of the sixth day of BNP’s “Plan to Build the Country” workshop at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Farmgate, he said the main expectation of the mass uprising was to ensure people’s voting rights. “This schedule is a step towards that.”
He criticised the parties and individuals who demanded “no PR, no election”, wanted local government polls first, asked for a referendum along with the national vote, or even urged waiting until 2029.
“I don’t want to name them… but they all belong to the anti-democracy camp. They want democracy in their own way as their definition of democracy is different,” the BNP leader said.
Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee member, said late President Ziaur Rahman founded BNP to unite people of all classes, professions, religions and cultures, making the party “a school of inclusive politics”.
He said BNP never wants to create divisions based on religion, ethnicity or language. “Everyone’s constitutional identity is that of a citizen of Bangladesh,” he said.
Salahuddin also accused a political party of avoiding criticism of the Awami League as they are trying to attract its voters.
“In our village saying, they don’t even dare to mention their brother-in-law’s name. They are doing everything to pull Awami League’s votes,” he said.
The BNP leader urged party activists not to forget the “painful history” of democratic struggles and the corruption, repression and rights violations that he said took place during the Awami League period.
BNP hails election schedule as ‘new chapter’ in Bangladesh politics
Referring to economist Debapriya Bhattacharya’s report “White Papers on the State of the Bangladesh Economy”, he said BNP activists should explain the findings to people in simple language.
Salahuddin claimed the misuse of public funds from 2009 to 2023 could have financed “two education budgets or three health budgets”.
He also said the reported losses in the banking and non-banking sectors could equal the cost of “24 Padma Bridges or 14 metro rail systems”.
The BNP leader alleged that more than Tk 29 lakh crore was sent abroad through financial irregularities.
Salahuddin said some political parties who historically opposed Bangladesh’s interests now claim to be “pro-Liberation War”.
“We sometimes wonder whether that Liberation War was actually in favour of Pakistan,” he said.
The BNP leader said Bangladeshi voters are now more aware and no one will be able to get votes by using religion.
Salahuddin urged Chhatra Dal leaders to take BNP’s plans—such as family cards, farmer cards, health cards, education initiatives and employment proposals—to the people in simple language to draw their attention.
He said BNP leaders must go door to door. “People will understand that BNP is the party of the people. They will understand that another name for democracy is BNP, and the symbol of liberation is the paddy sheaf."
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi chaired the event, while Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan conducted the programme.
Salahuddin inaugurated the fifth programme at the KIB auditorium, with BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in the chair.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to address the concluding session virtually in the afternoon.
Tarique Rahman warns of tough election, urges party to engage people
Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal joined the programme to receive training on different issues so they can reach out to people and explain BNP’s plans, election manifesto and promises before the polls.