BNP vows to continue anti-govt campaign

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced it will continue its anti-government campaign, labelling the 12th national election as "illegal and undemocratic" due to its "lopsided nature".

At a press conference on Monday, BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan said that their peaceful movement would continue until a "pro-people and accountable government" takes office.

He reiterated the party's demand for a fresh election under a neutral caretaker administration, announcing mass-contact campaigns for Tuesday and Wednesday to rally public support for their cause.

The briefing, held after a 71-day hiatus at the party chairperson's Gulshan office in Dhaka, saw Moyeen Khan criticise the ruling Awami League for what he called a "dummy election" with "dummy candidates" and "dummy election observers".

"Despite their efforts," the BNP leader said, "the Awami League could not attract voters to the polling stations. If people had confidence in the government, they would have come out to vote."

"People have rejected this one-sided election. A total of 63 political parties did not take part in the polls. I thank all for boycotting it," he said.

Moyeen Khan also elaborated on the discrepancies in turnout figures announced by the Election Commission: "First, they said 27.5 per cent, then 40 per cent and now 41.8 per cent. This inconsistency exposes the election as a sham."

He claimed the shutdowns of some polling stations due to irregularities further exposed the commission's attempts to portray the election as legitimate.

"The upcoming government will be one for the dummy and by the dummy," he commented. "The people don't want this. They want change, as this government has created an oligarchy through abuse of power."

Asked about waiting another five years for the next election, BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan responded, "This fake election proves free and fair polls are impossible under the current government. People boycotted it, and therefore, this government must resign."

He reiterated the party's demand for a reconstituted Election Commission and a national election under a neutral caretaker government.

BNP Standing Committee Member Begum Selima Rahman was also present at the press conference.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal announced a final voter turnout of 41.8 per cent at Agargaon Nirbachan Bhaban on Monday.

This figure had fluctuated throughout Sunday evening, with earlier pronouncements of 26.37 per cent and 40 per cent.

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