Dhaka, Jan 14 (V7N) — BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday urged the interim government to announce a specific date for the upcoming general election.
While addressing a winter clothing distribution program organized by Rajshahi metropolitan Jubo Dal at Shaheed Zia Children’s Park in the city, Rizvi said Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus’s government has the support of all democratic political parties, adding that he is a distinguished individual who has brought honour to Bangladesh.
"If anyone attempts to tarnish his image, it raises questions among the people.”
“Announce a date for free and fair elections. Declare when the elections will take place. We hope the government will take appropriate steps and bring true democracy, ensuring people’s freedom,” the BNP leader added.
Criticizing deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Rizvi said: “Lies cannot remain hidden; they eventually come to light. Sheikh Hasina once said that everyone can be bought, but not Sheikh Hasina.
“She also claimed to have given democracy to the people. But she never told the people how much she had taken from them. Her version of democracy means voters do not go to polling centres.”
He continued: “Sheikh Hasina’s democracy means that during elections, all opposition members are imprisoned. Under her democracy, we witnessed animals roaming polling centres because voters did not go. She has always favoured one country, treating it with reverence. That is why she said India will remember what I have given them forever.”
He further added: “What have you given that the people of Bangladesh are unaware of? They support you.”
He said: “Whether democracy exists or not, and whether the parliament will remain or not, genuine representatives must be in that parliament, not performers who will sing like Momtaz, with the neighbouring country supporting them.”
“This neighbouring country has been very displeased after our people's uprising, and even though the world is happy, they still cannot accept it,” added the BNP leader.
Rizvi added: “Despite various national and international conspiracies, we are walking the path of democracy. The condition for democracy is free and fair elections. We must move towards that. Necessary reforms are needed in our national parliament, constitution, public administration, and police.”
Rizvi further added: “But we cannot afford delays in reforms and endless debates. The people of Bangladesh have been unable to vote for 17 years. The Awami League has turned free and fair elections into a distant dream. Now, elections must be held quickly to restore democracy.”
END/MSS/AJ
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