The BNP criticized Alexander Mantytskiy, the Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, for his unexpected remarks on Friday on the 12th parliamentary election, believing that they damaged the people's sense of democracy.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called on Russia to respect the aspirations and democratic ideals of the Bangladeshi people in a statement he signed.

"We have observed that BNP's claim on Russia's involvement in the 12th parliamentary election was deemed inaccurate and deceptive by Russian Ambassador Alexander Mantitsky. Additionally, he asserted that the Awami League received the majority of the votes cast in the election, which showed that 41.8 percent of voters in Bangladesh chose the existing administration.

"We would like to say his (Ambassador's) unwarranted, unacceptable, and pro-Awami statement has hurt the democratic sentiment of the people of Bangladesh," the party said in protest of the Russian envoy's comments.

It said that every Bangladeshi person who abstains from Awami League politics has lost their freedom and rights and is now a prisoner in their own nation. "Over the last 15 years, the anti-people Awami League dictatorship has committed acts of corruption, misrule, and criminality, subjecting people from all walks of life to discrimination, injustice, and oppression.”

According to the statement, the goals of the democratic world and the people of Bangladesh are the same. "That shared objective is to guarantee democracy, sound government,

The party said the freedom-loving people of Bangladesh expect that Russia, India, China, or any other country will not unduly support the misrule of the anti-mass and fascist Sheikh Hasina government by standing against the strong will of the people.

Recalling the long-standing cordial relations between Bangladesh and Russia, the statement said, "BNP believes that long-term diplomatic success lies in building bridges of friendship between the peoples of the two countries. That’s why the BNP urges Russia to show proper respect to the aspirations and interests of the people of Bangladesh, including their democratic values, determination for independence and great sacrifices.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytsky said the BNP’s allegation regarding the role of Russia in forming the new government of Awami League was ‘misleading or false’.

Talking to reporters after a call on Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, he also said no one should believe the statement in which the opposition party alleged that the current government is not the government of the people of Bangladesh, but of India, China and Russia.

In the statement, the BNP said the 12th election was not held to establish the voting rights of the people and reflect their aspirations.In order to support their position, the BNP cited the following: "Since the one-sided election on January 7 was not free, fair, and impartial, holding a new and meaningful election is now a mass demand of the people of Bangladesh."

The party claimed that a farcical dummy election was held on January 7 in order to deceive the nation and help prolong the illegal power of the unconstitutional, fascist, and authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina and institutions and individuals loyal to her. So, BNP has been carrying out a simultaneous movement with all pro-democracy political parties to restore the people's snatched voting rights through simultaneous movement with all pro-democracy political parties,” said the statement.

End//voice7news.tv