2008 polls was pre-planned, says Moyeen Khan

BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has claimed that the 2008 national election in Bangladesh was neither free and fair nor impartial, describing it as a pre-planned and controlled process, reports UNB.

"I am compelled to say that the 2008 election was neither free and fair nor impartial. It was a planned, rigged and controlled election," he said.

He made the remarks whiel addressing a discussion organised by former students of Dhaka College at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Saturday.

Dr Moyeen, a BNP standing committee member, alleged that the 1/11 government in 2008 had an unethical plan to depoliticise Bangladesh.

He said, "Although that plan eventually failed, an election was held with the help of certain quarters and it was portrayed internationally as free and fair, but in reality, it was not."

He noted that different forms of propaganda were used at the time, claiming that there were millions of fake voters and that BNP was wrongly blamed for it.

"I want to reveal the historical truth. I know many citizens at that time were registered either in their village home or at their workplace in the city. Due to the system, some were listed twice, but no one voted more than once. They voted either at home or in the city, depending on where they were on the election day," the BNP leader explained.

Dr Moyeen emphasised that the false history created by the Awami League, which led to the 1/11 political changeover, must be exposed.

He said the 1/11 government prepared a new voter list and conducted a national election, adding that the vote was completely controlled and heavily lopsided."

The BNP leader alleged that the entire election was planned one. The allocation of the 300 parliamentary seats had been decided days before polling, enabling the Awami League to form the government. "As a result, Bangladesh has suffered politically, morally, economically, culturally and religiously over the past 15 years," the BNP leader observed.

He said the mass uprising in 2024 was the culmination of a 15-year struggle by BNP and other democratic forces amid oppression, when students and ordinary people finally rose up.

The BNP leader said the then Awami League government acted desperately, killing people of all ages -- from children and youths to workers and the elderly -- even firing from helicopters in a bid to cling to power.

He said when the interim government was formed following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, BNP assured it of full cooperation to help people embrace democracy and form a government through a free and fair election.

Dr Moyeen said the interim government has indicated that the next national election is expected to be held before Ramadan in February. "We hope the Election Commission will now officially fix the specific date and election schedule."

Meanwhile, BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed said the people of Bangladesh are united and determined to resist evil efforts to derail the upcoming national election and the country's democratic transition.

"Those who are now casting doubts about the election through various statements against democracy are neither on the side of democracy nor on the side of the people of Bangladesh," he said.

Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee member made the remarks while speaking at a doa mahfil programme arranged by Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal at BNP's Nayapaltan central office in the capital on Saturday, marking the 81st birthday of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The BNP leader said they believe the people of Bangladesh are resolute in overcoming any obstacle to the path of democratic transition in the days ahead.

Salahuddin called on all democratic political parties to remain united as they did during the anti-fascist movement to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.

"I would like to request all democratic forces and political parties to bring the same kind of unity that we showed during the anti-fascist democratic struggle. Let us remain united, engage in discussions and work together so that we can hold the election fairly and peacefully and thus make the path of democratic transition smoother," he said.

In the context of current politics in Bangladesh, Salahuddin said BNP has been working under the guidance of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia to advance democracy through dialogue and consensus.

"She directed us to make the path of democratic transition easier through dialogue and consensus. Following her guidance, we have held discussions with the government several times and are also in talks with all democratic forces," he said.

The BNP leader said his party, together with the entire nation, is awaiting a credible election to restore democracy for which many have sacrificed.