Long term political crisis nearing its peak, but people ready to resist: BNP

Desk News :: The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Friday said that the longstanding political crisis in Bangladesh is now approaching its peak, as the citizens are ready to resist a lopsided general election.

Speaking at a virtual press conference, the party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also alleged that the government had established a ‘pharaoh’s reign’ in the country by destroying democracy.

‘The Chief Election Commissioner surrendered to Sheikh Hasina instead of protecting the interests of people and taking proper steps to ensure a free, fair and participatory elections,’ he said.

The BNP leader said that the Election Commission had unilaterally announced the schedule for the next election ignoring the continuous movement for free and fair elections and their sacrifices and blood of many opposition leaders and workers on the streets.

He said that the Chief Election Commissioner announced the election schedule as per the directives of the head of a despotic and anti-democratic regime, ignoring the appeals of the country’s civil society, international community and foreign diplomats.

‘People are carrying out their struggle putting their lives at stake to resist a one-sided election. The ongoing movement to establish people’s power and rights is a warning message to all dictators. The country’s decade-and-a-half-long political crisis is now coming to its climax,’ Rizvi observed.

He said that people were the saviours of Bangladesh and they would put in their all-out efforts to restore democracy and their all rights, including the right to franchise.

The BNP leader said that democracy-loving people of the world were supporting the struggle of the people of Bangladesh to get rid of the chains of exploitation and oppression of the ‘cruel dictator’ Sheikh Hasina. ‘The world conscience is now awake.’

Rizvi said that Sheikh Hasina was moving ahead with a plan for establishing ‘Awami fascism’ by suppressing the democratic forces.

‘The pro-democratic forces of Bangladesh are now the target of Sheikh Hasina’s bullet. Basically, democracy is dead in the country. Destroying democracy is a trait of Awami League,’ he said.

The BNP leader alleged that the police had continued arresting opposition leaders and activists, raiding their houses and harassing their family members.

In the last 24 hours as of 5:00pm on Friday, at least 395 BNP leaders and activists were arrested across the country, according to Rizvi.