‘No point of celebration with democracy at stake’

BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed today criticised the government for talking about Bangladesh's graduation eligibility to a developing country saying “taking credit for meeting the criteria over the issue is worthless”.

"There is no democracy in the country. And thus, the credit of graduation is worthless," Moudud said this while addressing a programme at the National Press Club in Dhaka this noon.

The programme was organised demanding holding of the next general election under a nonparty neutral government and immediate unconditional release of the party chief Khaleda Zia from jail.

About the graduation, Moudud said, had BNP been in power, Bangladesh would have been a developing country before at least seven or eight years.

"The eligibility for graduation is not the government's sole credit. Rather, it has been delayed due to government's indulgence in corruption, misdeeds and mismanagement," he added.

Claiming that there is no rule of law and elected government in the country, Moudud, also a former law minister, said people are being deprived of democratic rights.

Referring to the pro-BNP lawyers’ victory in the Supreme Court Bar Association election, Moudud said if the upcoming general election is held in a free and fair manner, BNP will win the election by a margin of 75 percent.     

He said the government's evil attempt to split BNP, keeping its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in jail has been thwarted. "BNP is more united than before. And BNP will remain united whether Khaleda Zia comes out of jail or not," he assured his party men.     

Accusing the government of “crossing all limits”, moudud said the ruling quarter is daydreaming to hold the similar election that was held in January 5, 2014. "We will have no alternative but to take the street if the government does not reach any compromise," he said.