United News of Bangladesh

BNP senior leader Selima Rahman on Tuesday alleged that the defeated forces of 1971 are trying to obstruct the upcoming national election through street protests in the name of demanding a Proportional Representation (PR) system. “We are observing that even after the announcement of the election roadmap, there is still a plot to stop or delay the election. The conspirators are the defeated forces of 1971. They are talking about PR, which ordinary people neither know nor understand,” she said while speaking at a discussion. Selima, a BNP Standing Committee member, said Jamaat and some Islamist parties have taken to the streets for the PR system to destabilise the country. She alleged that those who are agitating for the PR system mainly want to bring back fascism and rehabilitate the fascists. “We have already seen how the voting system was manipulated once through the EVMs—when you pressed one button, the vote would go straight into the Awami League’s account. Now what is this PR system? Even I don’t understand it, and I don’t know whether the people of Bangladesh understand it either,” the BNP leader said. Under the PR system, she said there would be no particular candidate as people would only be able to vote for a party. The BNP leader said their party is against the PR system since it will only destroy people’s voting rights. Gonotantra Rokkha Andolon organised the discussion programme titled ‘Democracy and Constitution of Bangladesh in the Current Context’ at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). Selima argued that if citizens could not vote for the candidate of their choice, then there is no point in voting at all, as that would mean their voting right is lost. She said the people of the country have struggled for all these years and many BNP leaders and workers have suffered immense repression to establish a government truly elected by them through their votes. BNP yet to approve candidates for national election: Rizvi “But now, what do we see? Jamaat—those who once killed people of this country, who betrayed the nation by siding with Pakistan, who acted as Razakars and Al-Badr, who raped women and handed them over to the occupation forces—today they may appear holy in their words, but they have not forgotten their past ideology,” the BNP leader said. She said Jamaat is now trying to destroy the achievement the nation gained through a long struggle for democracy. “Their aim is to stop the election, to delay it, or to create instability in the country. But the people of Bangladesh will not allow this. BNP is a large party, and it will never let that happen. “The election will be held, people will cast their votes, and an accountable government will be established. That is our promise,” Selima said. She called upon BNP leaders and activists to remain united and campaign for the party’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy. “No matter who gets the nomination, our focus must be on securing votes for the sheaf of paddy. That is our symbol of people’s politics, of production-based politics, and of our struggle for independence and democracy.”

BNP senior leader Selima Rahman on Monday expressed deep concern that women are not safe in society, stating that a "grand festival of rape" unfolding in Bangladesh, with 11 women and children falling victims to rapists. “We are witnessing a grand festival of rape across the country with 11 women and children assaulted in the week following the killing of Achia,” she said. Fakhrul urges quick national election to restore stability The BNP leader made the remarks at a human-chain programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, organised by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, to demand the trial of those responsible for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Achia in Magura. Citing newspaper reports, Selima, a BNP Standing Committee member, said 43,000 women, including 7,000 children, were raped in the past four years, yet “no justice has been served for them.” She questioned what the interim government did do to improve law and order and ensure the safety of women amid the surge in rape incidents.  The BNP leader warned that the government would be unable to restore peace and stability if it fails to improve law and order. “I would like to tell Dr Yunus that various misleading statements are being circulated. I urge you to become a symbol of peace and establish harmony in Bangladesh by ensuring a fair election,” she said. Selima said Bangladesh is going through such a critical period that women are no longer safe. “We are now living in a country where women are harassed, abused and raped. No one, from children to elderly women, is safe.” She condemned those responsible for the brutal rape and murder of eight-year-old Achia in Magura, describing them as inhumane and beastly. The BNP leader alleged that incidents of rape and violence against women sharply increased during the rule of the fascist Awami League, largely due to the culture of impunity. “But we rid ourselves of that rule as our students and the masses ousted the fascist regime and forced them to leave the country. Even after that, why does the situation remain so dire that women are unable to live freely?” she asked. Tarique promises trial for killings in 2024 uprising if BNP wins Mentioning the role of women in the Liberation War and various movements, including the July-August mass uprising, Selima bemoaned that women still lack security in the country. She said although women were subjected to rape, murder and repression, the criminals were never brought to justice during the previous regime. “But we have now entrusted power to someone we consider a symbol of peace, Dr Yunus. We had hoped that our country would be safe in his hands. Our mothers and sisters would be safe, and we would all be able to speak freely,” the BNP leader said.

BNP senior leader Selima Rahman on Friday warned that the country may face a famine-like situation in the days to come due to the government’s ‘misrule and failures’ to deliver.