United News of Bangladesh

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Thursday said their party is going to participate in the upcoming national election as part of its movement to restore democracy in the country. “We must remember that there will be many attempts to divert our movement and the victory achieved through it in different directions. We have to face those evil attempts,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said their party has to play the main role in upholding the victory of last year’s mass uprising, as more BNP leaders and activists were killed, jailed and oppressed than those of any other party. “So, keeping them in mind and honouring their memories, we have to deliver the results of this movement to the people. With that goal, we must continue our struggle. The upcoming election is also part of that movement. Democracy cannot be restored without elections,” he said. Nazrul, a BNP Standing Committee member, said a free and fair election must be held in February next year for the sake of democracy and to establish it properly. He said that if their party wins the election and gets the responsibility of running the country, they will take all necessary steps for public welfare by using their previous experience. “We all know every candidate claims to be the best. But think about it: if an AC or any device breaks, you don’t let just anyone fix it. You look for someone who understands the machine and has experience. A country’s state machinery is far more complex and valuable than any device. So the people who want to run the state must have the ability and experience to do so,” the BNP leader said. He said BNP is the only party with long and proven experience in running the country. Nazrul said they will present themselves to people with that capability and that if they are given responsibility again, they will use their experience, including lessons learned from past mistakes, to serve people better. He said these points are relevant to the discussion about Shaheed Milon because he also struggled and sacrificed his life for democracy. “Dr Milon’s struggle was for a new state system built through democracy--a system where people can live without discrimination, live safely, get justice easily, and enjoy a better life. I believe we must work in the coming days to achieve this long-desired goal,” he said. Former student leaders of Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) and All-Party Students Unity (APSU) of the 90s organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking Shaheed Dr Milon Day and the 35th martyrdom anniversary of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, who was killed during the 1990s’ anti-autocratic movement.  Earlier in the morning, the ex-student leaders of DUCSU and APSU laid a floral wreath at the Shaheed Milon Memorial at Dhaka Medical College. A munajat was offered at the programme seeking divine blessings for the speedy recovery of ailing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since Sunday for infections in her lungs and heart. Nazrul said, during the movement against autocratic ruler HM Ershad, two political parties--the Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami--betrayed the nation by taking part in the 1986 election. In independent Bangladesh, he said, Jamaat first took part in an election under its own name in 1986 during Ershad’s rule, along with the Awami League. “In 1979, no party called Jamaat-e-Islami contested the election. The party that did participate was the Islamic Democratic League (IDL), which included some Jamaat members, but Jamaat-e-Islami itself did not go to the polls then under its own name,” the BNP leader said. He said the Awami League and Jamaat legitimised Ershad’s military rule by joining the 1986 parliamentary election. “Those who joined that election extended Ershad’s rule, which otherwise could have ended in 1986.” BNP plans Khaleda as President, Tarique PM: Bulu In return, Nazrul said, Ershad’s party remained an ally of the Awami League’s misrule until 2024, with both sides helping each other stay in power. “The Awami League received their support to stay in power in 1986, and in return they helped the Awami League to remain in power.” Speaking at the programme, BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Amanullah Aman said there is no alternative to elections for restoring democracy in the country. He said many plots are hatched to create obstacles to the election, but no one will be able to stop it, and the election will be held in February next year. The BNP leader said that if voted to power, their party will form a national government with representatives from those who took part in the simultaneous movement against the fascist Sheikh Hasina regime. Aman urged all pro-democratic forces to stay united to prevent the return of fascist forces. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said there is no difference between the characters of HM Ershad and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Because their characters are the same, despite repeatedly speaking against each other, they have come together at crucial moments, shaken hands, and jointly delivered a sharp blow to democracy.” He criticised the economic policies under Hasina, calling them “Hasinomics” rather than proper economics. “Even though the word ‘economics’ exists, during Hasina’s 15-and-a-half-year rule, the policy allowed loans to be taken from banks without repayment. People could even take new loans without clearing the old ones.” As a result, the BNP leader said, the country is forced to carry a burden of Tk 6.5 lakh crore in bad loans.