AL has to pay for Jan 7 election: BNP

Staff Reporter :
The main opposition party in Bangladesh, the BNP, declared on Saturday its unwavering commitment to continue its protests for the restoration of democracy and the rights of the nation’s citizens.

The party also leveled a strong critique against the Awami League for conducting what it described as a ‘lopsided’ election on January 7, asserting that the ruling party would bear the consequences of this action for generations.

In a direct response to Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s remarks criticizing the BNP for boycotting the polls, Zainul Abdin Farroque, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council, retorted, “It is ridiculous for Mr. Obaidul Quader to suggest that the BNP will suffer for not participating in the January 7 elections. On the contrary, it is you who will have to pay the price, a price that will extend for ages due to your decision to form a government and conduct elections without involving the citizenry.”

This statement was made during a human chain event organized by the Ziaur Rahman Samaj Kalyan Forum in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, which called for the unconditional release of key BNP figures including Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and other detained leaders and activists.

Farroque also warned the ruling party not to underestimate the BNP’s potential for a resurgence, citing its significant popular support across the country.

He accused the Awami League government of precipitating a political crisis by ‘usurping power’ and undermining the electorate’s democratic rights.