President stresses free elections, space for opposition

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said democracy develops gradually through regular practice, stressing the need for free, fair and impartial elections and adequate political space for opposition parties and rivals.

“Democracy is a culture that develops step by step through regular practice. Free, fair and impartial elections are essential for this,” he said.

The president made the remarks when a delegation led by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.

President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

Mirza Fakhrul also stressed the need to provide adequate space to the opposition and political rivals to make democracy effective.

“That is the beauty of democracy. Democracy must be allowed to function effectively in its own course,” he said.

Referring to Dhaka University, the president said the country’s premier university was not only a leading centre of education but also a focal point of Bangladesh’s politics, history, heritage and culture.