United News of Bangladesh

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday questioned how long the people of Bangladesh would have to wait for the restoration of democracy, expressing deep concern over attempts to delay the national election. “We are the proud people of Bangladesh who laid down their lives for language, democracy and independence. We are still waiting for democracy and raising our voices, chanting slogans and organising rallies for it. How long? How many more times do we have to continue this struggle?” he said while addressing a discussion meeting. Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 8th death anniversary of its founder Shafiul Alam Prodhan. Nazrul said a quarter has been trying to obstruct the restoration of democracy in various ways and by raising various preconditions and making various demands. "Various questions are being raised to create obstacles in the way of re-establishing democracy. They are saying this has to be done first and that has to be done first... there is no question of doing it first or later. Whatever needs to be done has to be done," he said. BNP’s 8-day programme marking Zia’s death anniversary Nazrul, a BNP Standing Committee member, said they are hearing that many people are also demanding local government elections under the caretaker government. “This is not possible. An interim government is formed only for the national elections. We all know that it will take more than a year to hold local government elections. So, making such demands means trying to delay the national election." Nazrul criticised those who are pitting reform against election which he thinks is also an effort to derail the election. “This attempt to frame reform and election as opposing forces is another mistake, even a crime. Democracy itself is a reform.” He said democracy emerged through reforms and revolutions from monarchy and feudalism. “That democracy works differently in different countries…So, reform and democracy are not contradictory rather they are complementary. That’s why we say – justice must be ensured, reforms must be carried out, elections must be held – and all of it must happen as soon as possible.” Nazrul also said a quarter has been carrying out campaigns that BNP does not want reforms. “But does anyone want reforms more than us?" he raised the question.

BNP on Friday voiced concern over the violence in Union Parishad (UP) polls and said the government “deliberately destroyed the electoral system to hang onto power”. “Common people usually join local government polls with enthusiasm, but the government also destroyed it. Many people died in polls violence yesterday (Thursday),” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at a discussion meeting, he also said it is unimaginable the way ruling party men were seen holding sharp weapons, pistols and sticks in the UP polls. “But the ministers are saying it’s a usual bickering. We would like to say the government is behind all these things.” The BNP leader said the government has very consciously and deliberately destroyed democracy and politics in the country. “Their main motive is not allowing anyone to do politics here and thus perpetuate their power.” Fakhrul also slammed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda for describing the UP polls as free and fair despite the widespread violence. “This gentleman (CEC) has no sense of shame.” A faction of Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking “civil-military uprising” on November 7, 1975. Fakhrul said US President Joe Biden has invited 100 countries to a virtual Summit for Democracy. “But it’s a matter of shame that Bangladesh’s name is not there. It means the country is now being identified as an undemocratic one. Nothing can be more unfortunate than that.” He said the current government is so vindictive that it did not allow ailing Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment. The BNP leader said the nation is going through a tough time due to the ‘misrule’ of the Awami League government. “No one is now happy. We all are now suffering from a sense of discomfort.” READ: Country under “terrible fascist aggression”: BNP He urged people of all walks of life and all political parties to get united and put up a strong resistance against the government to overcome the current situation. Raintree Hotel case verdict “disgraceful” Fakhrul expressed displeasure over the verdict in the Raintree Hotel rape case saying that the “entire woman folk has been insulted with it”. “The verdict in a case filed in connection with raping two students at Raintree Hotel was delivered yesterday (Thursday). As we see in the newspaper, the accused gave confessional statements in court. But the verdict was given acquitting them,” he said. “What’s the reason? The reason is those who were arrested and accused are powerful. They’ve so much money, Jewelry and MP…. I strongly protest it. I’m disappointed and I’m aggrieved. We can’t accept such a verdict,” the BNP leader said. READ: Control prices, BNP to govt On Thursday, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7 acquitted five youths, including Apan Jewellers owner’s son Shafat Ahmed, of the charge of raping two university students at Raintree Dhaka hotel in the capital in 2017.