BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said the newly enacted law on the formation of the Election Commission (EC) is like a Baksal one. “Awami League has moved forward gradually with various steps over the last 14 years to do what it could not successfully accomplish in 1975. There’s now a cover of multiparty democracy, but there’s no multiparty democracy in practice,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at a virtual discussion, he said the ruling party also arranged the last two elections “under cover” depriving people of their voting rights. Also read: BNP ditches upcoming EC formation law “They’ve now enacted a law just like that Baksal one. The Baksal law was made in 11 minutes while this time they passed a law (on EC) in parliament by seven days,” the BNP leader said. BNP’s national committee on celebrating Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence organised the virtual event, marking January 25 as ‘Baksal Day’ commemorating what it says introduction of one-party rule in the country on this day in 1975. BNP leaders from both home and abroad joined the programme. Earlier on January 27, parliament passed the “Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill-2022" by voice vote to ensure a legal framework for selecting the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the Bill in parliament on January 23 seeking to give a legal shield to the current and previous Election Commissions formed through search committees. Fakhrul said Bakshl has now become an “abusive” word as through it the county’s economy, politics and the dreams of freedom fighters were destroyed in 1975. “They (AL) had plunged the country and the nation into deep darkness by establishing a one-party rule at that time.” Also read: New bill a plot to form another EC with loyal people: BNP In the same way, he said Awami League has now politicised everything and created a scope for plundering public money. “The activities of all political parties are being brutally suppressed and the pro-democratic people and free-thinkers are being annihilated by resorting to killing and enforced disappearance.” The BNP leader also alleged that the government is suppressing the words of protests and people’s voices by making various oppressive laws, including the Digital Security Act. Stating that the government has been making various blueprints to restore Baksal, he called upon BNP leaders and activists to come up with a strong resistance together with people.  Fakhrul said they will put in their best efforts to establish a pro-people elected government and parliament ousting the current ‘fascist’ regime. He said the Awami League must quit and had over power to a non-party neutral government to pave the way for holding a credible nation election to be conducted by an impartial Election Commission. BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said Awami League and democracy cannot go together. “This party had established one-party Baksal rule in 1975 by obliterating democracy while it has been on power for the last 14 years by “force” snatching votes at night.” He alleged that the ruling party has already established a one-party Baksal rule under cover of democracy. The BNP leader called upon the people of all walks of life and political parties to get united to restore democracy by holding an acceptable election under a non-party neutral government.

BNP on Thursday turned down the “Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill-2022" passed by parliament, saying it is not acceptable to people. "We don’t accept the bill on the Election Commission. This bill is not only acceptable to us, but also to the people of the country. No one will abide by the bill as it’s not acceptable to people,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at a discussion, he also said the current parliament has no moral rights and jurisdiction to pass such a bill since it was not elected with people’s votes. Also read: Bangladesh one step away to have a law on EC formation BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units jointly arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking January 25 as ‘Baksal and black day of annihilating democracy, commemorating the introduction of one-party rule in the country on this day in 1975. Earlier in the day, parliament passed the Bill by voice votes to ensure a legal framework for selecting the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the Bill in parliament on January 23 seeking to give a legal shield to the current and previous Election Commissions formed through search committees. It was sent to the respective scrutiny committee for deeper examination. On Wednesday, chairman of the committee M Shahiduzzaman Sarker placed the committee report with some changes in the original Bill. Also read: Report on EC formation Bill placed in parliament Fakhrul alleged that the bill was passed by the parliament very hastily, and warned that it will not help prevent the fall of the current regime. Recalling that Baksal was formed just in11 minutes in parliament, he said the Bill on the Election Commission (EC) was also passed hurriedly after it had been tabled on January 23 and approved by the cabinet on January 17. “Awami League introduced Baksal that day as part of their efforts to save themselves. They’ve now enacted the Election Commission law thinking that they will survive through it. But they have forgotten that Baksal couldn’t finally protect them. So, the law on the Election Commission can’t protect them ultimately,” the BNP leader said. About their party’s position on the next polls, Fakhrul said their party will not join any national election under Sheikh Hasina’s government as they do not want to be caught in the toils of Baksal again. He said the government must quit and hand over power to a non-party neutral administration which will arrange a credible election by forming the Election Commission in consultations with all political parties. “People’s representatives will be elected through the polls and they will determine how they’ll run the country.”

Transparency International Bangladesh on Tuesday demanded that the enactment of an EC formational law be done giving importance to public expectation and taking opinions from the civil society or all stakeholders. It is a matter of optimism that the draft law was approved following the month-long talks between the President and registered political parties over the constitution of an independent, neutral and non-party election commission, a TIB statement said. Read: Engage all stakeholders in formulating RMG code of conduct: TIB “But it’s essential to finalise it (the proposed law) through a complete scrutiny and detailed analysis on the basis of the opinions of the civil society or all the stakeholders before the enactment of such an important law which will reflect a constitutional pledge. So, the draft law will have to be made public soon for all,” it said. The statement came a day after the Cabinet approved the draft of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner Appointment Act, 2022 in order to have a law in this regard as per the Constitution. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the sudden step taken by the government to enact the election commission law, reflecting the constitutional commitment and the long-standing public expectation, is positive.