FE REPORT
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Saturday that the ruling Awami League doesn't believe in democracy.
It also called upon the government to respect public demand through quitting power immediately and restore democracy through free and fair election under a neutral caretaker government.
"The government verbally says about democracy but what they do is totally against democracy," standing committee member of BNP Dr Abdul Moin Khan said at a discussion titled 'The role of citizens to restore democracy and voting rights' organised by Nagorik Kantha at the National Press Club in the capital.
"Please see the demand of the people. Leave power willingly which is not a matter of shame," he said.
"The government verbally says about democracy but what they do is totally against democracy," he maintained.
He said that despite the government's claim over the last 14 years that the country has democracy but in practice there is no democracy.
He said that the outside world has been calling the government to restore democracy in Bangladesh.
He said that autocracy is always enemy and harmful to the people of the world.
"Most bad autocrats are those who claim to be democrat," he said.
Moin Khan said that Bangladesh was liberated for democracy.
If there is no democracy then the very spirit of the War of Liberation and formation of the state will be meaningless, he stated.
He said that soon after the country's independence a one-party Baksal was established.
He claimed that another type of unwritten Baksal rule is now prevailing in the country.
He also said that it is possible to remain in power by gun but difficult to win people's mind.
He said that corruption was committed during the past 14 years of the present government through mega projects.
"We (BNP) believe in democracy. We will bring back democracy through democratic way. We don't believe in politics of vengeance. We want the government to leave power peacefully," he mentioned.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
