Believers of democracy will boycott 'dummy' upazila election: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said today that the people of the country rejected the 7 January "dummy" election, and those who believe in democracy will also boycott the upcoming upazila election.

While distributing leaflets in the Banglamator area of the capital in support of boycotting upazila elections, he said the Awami League government has deprived people of their right to vote.

"The government is in power for 17 to 18 years without a fair electoral process. Money is being syphoned off from this country to foreign destinations. The banks have been depleted, commodity prices are skyrocketing. People are struggling to afford essential food items. Such dire circumstances have arisen in the country," he said.

The BNP leader further said that the government is maintaining power through force, with people being imprisoned.

"Begum Khaleda Zia has been imprisoned. Hence, the people of the country rejected the dummy election on 7 January. Around 95% of the populace rejected that election. Yet again, this government aims to conduct another dummy election, the upazila election."

During his speech, he urged all citizens of the country to boycott the upazila elections.

Health Affairs Secretary of BNP, Dr Md. Rafiqul Islam; Joint Organising Secretary, Selimuzzaman Selim, Joint Economic Affairs Secretary, Mahmudur Rahman Sumon, and Central Vice President of Jubo Dal, Zakir Hossain Siddiqui, were present at the programme, along with other leaders and activists of the party.