Some people want to stay in power without election: Mirza Abbas

A section of people is conspiring to delay elections and seeks to remain in power without holding one, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas has said.

"We fought for democracy, we fought for voting rights. After 17 years of struggle, the government has fallen. Hasina has left. But Hasina's accomplices have still not left the country. They are still conspiring," he said at a discussion meeting organised by UK BNP President MA Malek at a community center in Sylhet's Pathantula today (7 July).

Abbas said, "Sheikh Hasina's people are still present at various levels of the administration. They are there from the Secretariat to the union level. They don't want a fair election to happen in Bangladesh."

"They don't want democracy to return to the country. And there's another class of people who, having assumed power, are trying to delay elections. They want to stay in power without holding elections," he added. 

Announcing plans to launch another movement demanding voting rights, Mirza Abbas said that many government bureaucrats are making statements that suggest they may not be able to hold elections. 

"BNP will secure elections by taking the people along. The way Bangladesh's people have been fighting for the past 17 years, we will launch another movement for voting rights if necessary," he added. 

Blaming the Awami League government for Khaleda Zia's illness, Mirza Abbas said Khaleda Zia was sentenced in false cases through conspiracy. 

"She was arrested in these false cases with the intention of killing her. Many say she was made ill through poisons in food. She wasn't even allowed to go abroad for treatment. Through this conspiracy, attempts were made to undermine Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty. Therefore, Khaleda Zia's illness is not natural," he added. 

Expressing the view that the people of Bangladesh don't understand the proportional representation (PR) system, Abbas said that different political parties are now presenting conflicting opinions. 

"The same party is saying different things at different times. Sometimes they say there will be elections. Then again, they say elections are not possible under these circumstances. Sometimes they say elections will be held through the PR system. The people of Bangladesh have never heard this name," he said. 

Calling upon those who discuss the PR system to learn about this matter, he said elections will be held in the system with which the people of Bangladesh are familiar.

Mirza Abbas also blamed the former Awami League government for the current condition of Khaleda Zia.

"Khaleda Zia was conspiratorially sentenced in a false case. She was arrested in this false case with the intention of killing her. Many say she was made ill by food poisoning. She was not even allowed to go abroad for treatment," he said.

He added, "Through this conspiracy, an attempt was made to usurp the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. Therefore, Khaleda Zia's illness is not normal."

Expressing the view that the people of Bangladesh do not understand the proportional representation (PR) system, Abbas said that different political parties are now presenting conflicting opinions.

"The same party is saying different things at different times. Sometimes they say there will be elections. Then again, they say elections are not possible under these circumstances. Sometimes they say elections will be held through the PR system. The people of Bangladesh have never heard this name. They do not understand what it is," he said. 

Calling upon those who discuss the PR system to learn about this matter, he said elections will be held in the system with which the people of Bangladesh are familiar.