People to decide on AL ban, says Fakhrul
When asked whether the BNP supports banning the Awami League, he replied, “We’ve already made it clear that the people will decide. Whether we are for or against is immaterial…it’s up to the people, not us.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said it is up to the country's people to decide whether the Awami League should be completely banned or barred from the upcoming national election as per democratic principles.
"I have said before that people will decide it. We have repeatedly said that we are a liberal democratic party… we believe in democracy, trust in the principles and practices of democracy, and adhere to them… we have done so in the past as well," he said today (13 February).
The BNP leader made the remarks at a press briefing as a journalist drew his attention to the UN human rights office's request to refrain from banning any political party.
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He said their party believes it is not their place to decide which party should be banned, which can operate, or which cannot. "People will decide. The people will determine which party will remain, which party will not, which party will participate in elections and which will not."
When asked whether the BNP supports banning the Awami League, he replied, "We've already made it clear that the people will decide. Whether we are for or against is immaterial…it's up to the people, not us."
The BNP leader held the press briefing at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office following a meeting with Acting British High Commissioner in Dhaka James Goldman.
