7 Jan far away, hold dialogue to resolve crisis: Moyeen Khan to govt
"Awami League fears it’ll get defeated if a fair and impartial election is held now in Bangladesh. That’s why they are not arranging a free and fair election. That's the main reason, no matter who says what,” he said.
Highlights:
- Moyeen urges govt to find a way to hold a participatory election
- He alleges that AL fears losing power in a fair election
- BNP leader Rizvi says people have rejected this dummy election
- Reza Kibria says 7 January will be death knell for the AL
BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan has said the general election is eight days away and the government still has time to hold a dialogue with the political parties to resolve differences and find a way to hold a credible and participatory election in the country.
"7 January is still far away...hold talks to get out of this confrontational incendiary politics. I am requesting you as you are in the government. So, it is your responsibility to take the key decisions in this regard," he said while addressing the inaugural function of the biannual council of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club on Friday.
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The BNP leader alleged the Awami League government is not willing to hold a fair election only because of its fear of losing power.
"The Awami League fears it will be defeated if a fair and impartial election is held. That is why they are not arranging a free and fair election. That is the main reason, no matter who says what," he said.
"Hold the election fairly and impartially this time. Then you will see the people of Bangladesh may happily vote for you again in the next election," he said, urging the ruling party to do politics through understanding the character and psychological traits of the people of Bangladesh.
The BNP leader also said the political parties must return to the principle of peaceful coexistence, avoiding conflict for the sake of the country and the restoration of democracy.
Moyeen Khan, who is a former information minister, said the media can play a very strong role in holding the government accountable to the country's people.
People have rejected this dummy election: Rizvi
The people of Bangladesh have collectively snubbed the one-sided election scheduled for 7 January, said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, referring to the upcoming JS polls as "a mere theatrical show."
"On 7 January, no election is set to take place. What is happening is a theatrical display. They [Awami League] are deceiving the people in the name of election," he said after distributing leaflets, calling for people to join the BNP's non-cooperation movement and to boycott the elections, near the kitchen market opposite Anam Rangs Plaza Shopping Mall in Dhanmondi on Friday morning.
The senior BNP leader said, "The citizens of the country do not want such manipulated elections. People have no desire for any mockery in the name of elections. The public have rejected this dummy election outright."
7 January will be a death knell for AL: Reza Kibria
Reza Kibria, convener of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, has said 7 January, election day, will be the death knell for the ruling Awami League.
"Village people will dip them [Awami League candidates] in the pond. When the rule of law is reinstated in the country, they will face trial. Not only will they be jailed, but many will be hanged," he said while addressing a programme organised by the party at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital on Friday.
BNP Joint Secretary General Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, who was present at the event, said that the Awami League has looted banks in the last 15 years.
"The AL gave bank licences to its own leaders to facilitate looting. Why has the country's forex reserve plummeted? It has been looted. Those who are involved in looting repeatedly say that the Sheikh Hasina government is needed. The looters, not the people, want Hasina again," he said.
