Nat’l unity to restore democracy: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today, once again, called for national unity to restore democracy in the country through forcing the arrangement of the upcoming general election under a neutral administration.

"The country's democracy has been broken and people's rights snatched. We will have to forge a unity, forgetting our differences, to rid the situation," Fakhrul made the call while addressing an iftar at a hotel in Dhaka this evening.

Fakhrul reiterated the need for formation of a polls-time neutral administration and reformation of the present Election Commission. He said the 11th national election will not be held in a free, fair and credible manner keeping the present parliament intact.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail and deployment of military forces to oversee the election is a must, Fakhrul said.

He expressed his party's grave concern over the country's prevailing situation and said it is not only a threat for an individual, rather for all the political parties and the entire nation.

"People will not forgive us if we fail to protect the nation form this crisis," the BNP leader said, hinting at the ongoing countrywide killing spree in the name of the anti-drag drive.

Speaking at the programme, Bikalpa Dhara President Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak indulged in corruption alongside development activities.

"But at the fag-end of his tenure, he met a tragic consequence," Badruddoza Chowdhury said.

Besides, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed in a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office came down hard on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she returned from India without solving bilateral feuds between the two countries.

"Sheikh Hasina has visited India spending state money. She did not go there to resolve the Teesta water, or stop border killings, rather she has drawn up a design in a bid to hang on to power for another term," Rizvi said.

He said the people of Bangladesh are ready to pay a fitting reply to the ruling Awami League for its indulgence in repression and oppression on the opposition party men.