United News of Bangladesh

Emphasising that there is no scope to create a smokescreen over the national election, BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Saturday said democratic transition is the only way-out of the country’s ongoing crisis and evolving situation. “Bangladesh was under dictatorship for 15 years. So, our only solution is that now there must be a transition to democracy in Bangladesh. Except this, there is no other solution for the 18 crore people of the country,” he said during a discussion. Dr Moyeen, a BNP Standing Committee member, posed before the nation a question of how the current events unfolded over a nine-month period in Bangladesh, where 18 crore people were singing songs of freedom following the changes that 5 August brought to national life. “August 5 was a momentous occasion for every person, as we were freed from fifteen years of tyranny and dictatorship and moved towards a free environment and democratic transition… So, democratic transition is the only solution to the current evolving situation. The 18 crore people of Bangladesh must realise, understand, and accept this truth,” he said. The BNP leader observed that even experts in England, the cradle of democracy, have said democracy is bad but other systems are worse. “The people of Bangladesh realised these truths and sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War in 1971 for the cause of democracy.” The World Human Rights Organisation of Bangladesh arranged the programme titled ‘13th National Parliamentary Election for the Establishment of Democracy and Human Rights’ at the Jatiya Press Club. Dr Moyeen said lakhs of people waged the Liberation War and sacrificed their lives for democracy. National election now a must, local polls can’t restore democracy: BNP’s Nazrul “It would not be right to belittle that Liberation War by misinterpreting it or because of one's own ideology. If we do that, we will be taking a hit on our own existence. Those who do not believe in democracy or cannot understand its meaning are the ones who criticise democracy,” he said. The BNP leader slammed those who criticise their party for demanding a prompt national election for the restoration of democracy. “I am surprised to hear that we are being accused of wanting elections to come to power… Have we committed a crime by demanding fair and impartial elections?” he questioned. Dr Moyeen said many people are openly criticising the BNP and many are writing in newspapers that BNP has gone crazy for the election. “If we become crazy for a fair and credible election, then we are on the right path. We want democracy. Where is our crime here? This is the question for those who criticise us.” Rather, he said, those who do not want fair and impartial elections do not want democracy; they do not want the welfare of the people of this country and they do not want the reflection of people’s hopes and aspirations. “So, there is no scope for anyone to create any smokescreen about the parliamentary election, no matter how strong they may be,” the BNP leader said. BNP to support families of July injured, martyrs if voted to power: Rizvi He deplored that the interim government which assumed office after such a big revolution is saying that they did not come only for the election, but rather to do everything. “If this government is to do all these things, it will take 100 years. So, we will sleep for 100 years and let them fix the country.” The BNP leader stressed that not only the government or political parties, but also the general public—especially the young people—must remain alert during this critical period. Responding to arguments that multiple elections have not been able to bring the country on the right path, Dr Moyeen said, “I want to state clearly—there have been no proper elections in the last 15 years. The fault lies not with the elections themselves, but with those who organised them.”

BNP Senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Tuesday criticised the interim government’s position on holding elections after reforms, calling it illogical. While inaugurating a workshop in the capital, he also said the main responsibility of the interim government is to restore the people's right to vote by holding a neutral election after completing necessary electoral reforms. Rizvi concerned by suggestion that interim govt may stay for 4 years “The interim government will carry out reforms, and no one is opposing that. However, the problem is that the reforms I implement today may need to be revisited tomorrow,” he said. The BNP organised the workshop on the party’s 31-point state structure reform outline at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh. Dr Moyeen, a BNP Standing Committee member, said reform is a continuous process that never truly concludes. “It is illogical to say that we’ll complete the reforms and then hold elections, handing over the responsibility of governing the country to the people. Reforms are going on, and this argument doesn’t hold.” The BNP leader said that the government must understand that reforms are a perpetual necessity as civilization itself progresses through continuous change. “So, when will reforms end? There can be no valid argument that elections should only be held after reforms are completed.” For the past 15 years, he pointed out, the youth who have led revolutions and people from various professions have been deprived of their voting rights. “Restoring people's voting rights is the prime responsibility of this government.” Dr Moyeen expressed confidence that a credible election could be ensured by safeguarding the voting rights of the people. “True representatives of the people will form the parliament, which will then establish a government.” He reiterated that BNP is committed to implementing the 31-point state reform outline if voted to power. “If people vote us into power, we will take on the responsibility of serving the people, not ruling them.” He also clarified that BNP does not support paper-based reforms but advocates for reforms that will genuinely benefit the people.