Opposition leaders, at a programme organised by Nagorik Oikya in Dhaka on Saturday, put their signature on the banner inscribed with the demand for cancelling the ‘farcical’ election held on January 7. — New Age photo
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party said on Saturday that the parties, who are participating in the ongoing street movement in a simultaneous manner, would not leave the streets until democracy was restored.
‘We want to say clearly that no other system except democracy will ever work in Bangladesh,’ BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan said.
‘This government is in power by force. It is in power by the barrel of a gun… It is not only us who are saying this today; look at the media around the world. Look at the statements that have come out of different countries. Over the years, they’ve echoed these words during past farce elections,’ he said.
The BNP leader came up with the remarks at a pro-democracy signature programme organised by Nagarik Oikya in front of the National Press Club.
‘It is established in the country and internationally that democracy is dead in Bangladesh. We have only one promise and only one goal. We will bring democracy back to Bangladesh,’ he said.
‘Inshallah, our movement for restoring democracy will continue… until we return the aspiration of the people of Bangladesh to democracy… until we can return the right of democracy to the people of Bangladesh, we will not leave the streets,’ he said.
He expressed hope that every person in the country would sign the mass signature programme of Nagarik Oikya against the farcical elections and reject this government again.
Nagarik Oikya organised the programme titled ‘Don’t Accept Farce Elections: Mass Signatures for Democracy.’
Organisers said that the signatures of citizens would be collected in various places, including cities, districts, and upazilas, and internationally online.
Nagarik Oikya president Mahmudur Rahman Manna said that the Awami League was not qualified to go to the government as it was not elected by vote.
‘That is why we have arranged this signature. We will try to reach not only 10 crore voters in Bangladesh, but 17 or 18 crore people in Bangladesh. Our programme will continue online and offline,’ he said.
Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Huq said that the government was now collecting flowers and letters from different countries or diplomats to show that the countries were supporting them.
Ganosamhati Andolon chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that lies were the main shelter of this government.
‘They [govt] will show through all media, including television, that it is a fair election and the whole world is congratulating them. On that day, we saw how the government-controlled media did propaganda about the opposition party,’ he added.
‘After turning the information ministry into a ministry of propaganda, Hasan Mahmud has been given the responsibility of the foreign ministry so that from now on he can spread lies to foreigners,’ he added.
New Age