BNP senior leader Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday urged the interim government to quickly present an election roadmap, saying that it would not be wise for the current administration to remain in power indefinitely under the ‘guise of state reforms’. “The interim government’s commitment was to establish an anti-discriminatory state, but it is not wise to stay in power indefinitely in the name of reforms,” he told a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club. The National People’s Party (NPP) organised the event titled "There is no alternative to elections to protect independence, sovereignty and establish sustainable democracy." Mosharraf, a member of the BNP standing committee, said the interim government should prioritise reforming the election system and process. “People have expectations from the interim government, and it also has a commitment to carry out state reforms.”   “These reforms need to be done quickly. No single government can fix a date and implement all reforms at once. The process should begin now, and the next elected government will continue it,” the BNP leader said. Bangladesh to see political shift next year amid challenges: Wahiduddin Mahmud Mosharraf said the people of Bangladesh are eagerly waiting to exercise their right to vote, having been denied this opportunity for the past 17 years. He criticised certain vested groups for stirring unrest over trivial issues as part of a plot against the current government.  The BNP leader warned that conspiracies and instability would increase if the government continued to cling to power in the name of reforms. “People must be oriented towards elections through a clear electoral roadmap. Only then all conspiratorial efforts can be thwarted,” he added.  

Senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has been hospitalised as he fell ill at his residence on Friday night. The BNP leader was taken to the Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara Residential area last night, BNP chairperson's media wing member Sairul Kabir Khan told UNB. Also Read: Govt seeking foreign loans everywhere to run country as economy not in dignity: Mosharraf    He has been undergoing treatment at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital and is now under the observation of the physicians, he said. Also Read: Mosharraf hints at intensifying anti-govt movement with tougher programmes Dr. Maruf Khandakar, son of the BNP leader sought doa for the early recovery of his father from the country’s people. Also Read: Fakhrul vows to stay 'in the field till illegal govt toppled' through movement  

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the Awami League government has destroyed the spirit of the Language Movement. “We got independence as we established our mother tongue Bengali as the state language through the Language Movement with the spirit of democracy,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader lamented that democracy is now missing in the country after 51 years of its independence. “The international community is also now saying that there is no democracy in Bangladesh. It is sad but true that democracy, the spirit of the Language Movement and the Liberation War, has been repeatedly destroyed by Awami League in the country,” he said. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said Awami League annihilated democracy for the first time by establishing one-party Baksal rule after the country’s independence. “They have again killed democracy to stay in power by force for 14 years.” Also read: BNP's movement to continue with all-district march on Feb 25 BNP arranged the discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day. Ekushey February will be observed simultaneously as Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day on Tuesday in the country in recognition of the nation's supreme sacrifice for its mother tongue. Mosharraf said the country’s people now cannot vote, not only in parliamentary elections, but also in local government elections as the government has snatched their right to vote. “The results are now determined before voting. Democracy has been killed in this way during the Awami League rules.” He said ensuring the freedom of expression and free thinking also represents the spirit of the Language Movement. “But we don’t have now the right to speak freely.” The BNP leader also alleged that the Awami League has repeatedly interfered in media freedom to hamper free thoughts. He alleged that Awami League shut down different newspapers and television stations during its different tenures. Mosharraf slammed the government for shutting down BNP’s mouthpiece the Daily Din Kal on Sunday. “That’s how the freedom of the media and the medium of free thoughts has been stopped by the Awami League government whenever it got the opportunity." He called upon the country’s people to make their ongoing movement for realising the 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current regime, a success with their united efforts.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday said their party has no interest in the presidential election. “We do not want to comment on what this government is doing or not doing,” he told reporters at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office as they sought his comment on the ruling party’s nomination for the presidential election. The BNP leader said the purpose of their press conference was to inform the media about the attacks and obstruction by the police and the ruling party activists during their party’s countrywide march programme at the union level on Saturday. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said they are least bothered about who is going to be the next president of the country as their main focus is now on the ongoing movement for realizing their 10-point demand, including the restoration of the government, dissolution of parliament and holding the next polls under a caretaker government. Awami League Advisory Council Member and freedom fighter Md Shahabuddin Chuppu is set to be the next President of Bangladesh as the ruling party nominated him as the party’s presidential candidate. Also read: Profile of Md Shahabuddin A delegation of Awami League, led by party General Secretary Obaidul Quader, went to the Election Commission in the morning and submitted the nomination paper of its presidential candidate. Md Shahabuddin, a retired district and session judge, had served as a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Commission.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday alleged that the government has turned the Anti-Corruption Commission into a 'BNP suppression commission'. “The fascist government has once again conspired against the BNP leaders, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has become a tool of this plot. As if the ACC has now become the BNP suppression commission,” he said. Mosharraf made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office. The press conference was arranged in protest  against the court order to confiscate moveable (bank accounts) and immovable (land-related) properties of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a case filed by the ACC. Read: 'Not one iota of democracy now in Bangladesh': BNP's Tuku Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the charges brought against Tarique Rahmam and Dr Zubaida Rahman in the case filed by the ACC were false, baseless and unfounded. The (court) order that was passed is vindictive and at the behest of the government.” He alleged that the current ‘vindictive’ government has been spreading lies like Goebbels by filing a case on false, fabricated and imagery charges against the party acting chairman and his wife. The BNP leader said the court gave the verdict in the ‘false and conspiratorial case as per a directive of the government only to destroy the morale of the BNP leaders and workers and mislead the common people. “We strongly protest and condemn the government's nefarious activities and demand the cancellation of the dictated court verdict and withdrawal of the ‘false and conspiratorial’ case against Tarique and Zubaida,” the BNP leader said. Mosharraf alleged that the case was filed against Tarique for the property that he doesn’t own and he has no relation with it. “He was shown owner of the fictitious assets. Even, imaginary allegations have been brought against Tarique Rahman and Dr Zubaida in the case for the assets they paid tax.” Read: PM’s resignation a 'prerequisite' for credible polls: Gayeshwar He said the government will not be able to put Tarique’s leadership under question and belittle his wife with such an order of the court. “The ongoing movement to restore democracy, human rights, voting rights and the rule of law cannot be directed to another direction or foiled.” Mosharraf bemoaned that though the ruling party leaders are indulging in ‘widespread’ corruption, the ACC has turned a blind eye to the government’s corruption. “The ACC does not take any action against those the government-backed businessmen and the ruling party leaders and activists have created a paradise of corruption in the country,” he observed. The BNP leader said the court order against Tarique and his wife has been given at a time when the country’s people have woken up to oust the current regime. “The government has got panicked seeing the mass wave of people towards BNP’s programmes. All these things are being done by the government to stop or weaken the ongoing movement.” Mosharraf warned that no repressive acts can suppress people and foil the current movement for the restoration of democracy. Meanwhile, the leaders and activists of Dhaka South City unit staged a demonstration in Nayapaltan area protesting the court order against Tarique and Zubaida.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday said there is no alternative to unseating the current Awami League government for the restoration of democracy and people’s voting rights. Speaking at a discussion, he also said the government is trying to procure more electronic voting machines (EVMs) spending a huge amount of money amid the economic crisis in the country only to rig votes digitally in the next polls. “There is now no scope to do politics independently in the country. Awami League has destroyed every institution, democracy and electoral system to consolidate its rule. This regime must be toppled to restore democracy and the right to vote,” he said. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, also said the country’s people do not believe that a fair and acceptable election is possible under the Awami League government. “That’s why BNP has raised the demand for holding the next election under a neutral government.” Read: Govt must be ousted to end enforced disappearance, repression: Fakhrul ASM Hannan Shah Smriti Parishad arranged the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), marking the sixth death anniversary of BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan. Opposing the Election Commission’s move to use the EVMs in the 12th parliamentary election, Mosharraf said the Commission is forcing people to use the machine when they prefer to vote with their own hands. “They (govt) can’t rig votes again at night like 2018. That's why now they’re preparing to indulge in vote robbery this time by using the EVMs," he observed. The BNP leader also questioned the justification of buying EVMs by spending Tk8,000 crores when the country’s people cannot manage three meals a day amid a 'famine-like' situation. “People are struggling to survive due to hikes in the prices of essential commodities and fuel oil and they’re facing load-shedding for 8-10 hours in the rural areas…in such a situation, they (govt) are going to spend so much money for EVMs.” He warned that the country’s economy will be ruined if the Awami League government is allowed to hang onto power anymore. “We must protect the country and its economy from destruction. “ Mosharraf alleged that democracy is killed whenever Awami League comes to power. “They killed freedom fighters by forming Rakkhi Bahini and thus initiated the politics of killing in the country. They’ve been staying in power for 14 years by force, but the Prime Minister has said going abroad that a gentle breeze of democracy is blowing in Bangladesh." He recalled the contributions of Hanan Shah to BNP and his role in favour of democracy during the 1/11 political changeover in 2007.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday said their party is getting a very positive and rousing response from political parties and people to their initiative for forging a greater unity to restore democracy in the country. “We’re trying to create national unity together with democratic and patriotic parties and individuals who do not support this autocratic regime. We’re glad as we are getting an encouraging response, he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said they are also receiving an overwhelming response from people to their efforts to unite people against the current government. “We just need to wage an effective street movement as people are eagerly waiting for that." National People's Party (NPP) arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU), marking the 41st death anniversary of BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman. Read: BNP holds talks with Kalyan Party to wage greater movement Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the country’s people have lost their full confidence in the current government due to its 'misrule'. "People all over the country are angry with this regime. They want to see the fall of this government as soon as possible,” he observed. Slamming the government for its failure to control the hikes in all essential commodities and food grains, including rice, Mosharraf said Bangladesh is now witnessing a silent famine. "On the one hand, inflation is showing an uptrend, on the other hand, the value of taka is declining only for the misrule of this regime.” They have been in the government by force and by creating syndicates. Business is in the hands of their Awami syndicate that controls the prices of the commodities,” he observed. The BNP leader said there is no alternative to waging a strong movement to get rid of the prevailing situation in the country. Read: Price Hike: BNP asks AL to learn from 1974 famine He also warned the ruling party that it may face mass protests in Dhaka like in Sri Lanka if it does not quits power immediately. Mosharraf said it is now a proven fact that there will never be a free and fair election in this country if the Awami League government remains in power. “It’s proved through the previous election under the current regime. It’s also now internationally recognised. So, the election must be held under a non-party neutral government.”