It has been 47 years Bangladesh has emerged as an independent and sovereign nation but democracy is yet to be free in the country, says BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
His remarks came on Sunday (Dec 16) after paying homage to 1971 war heroes the National Memorial in Savar along with BNP leaders.
Claiming a lack of congenial atmosphere for polls, the BNP leader said, “With just two weeks left for the vote, our candidates are being shot at. Supporters are being arrested from campaigns.”
The government is trying to turn the election into a farce, he said before describing the Election Commission as a ‘stooge’ of the ruling party.
"The national election was announced to be held in the month of victory. But, the government has unleashed serious repressive acts on the opposition leaders and activists to turn the election into a farce," he said.
Amid the opposition being repressed by the rulers the Election Commission is doing nothing to contain it, pointing to its incompetence, said Mirza Fakhrul.
“Pakistan deprived us of democracy. It was the re-establishment of democracy that became the main spirit of the Liberation War. Today, our struggle will continue to set the democracy free. Also, we’ll continue our struggle to free Khaleda Zia,” said the BNP secretary general.