BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan has said his party is going to participate in the upcoming national election as part of its movement to restore democracy in the country, reports UNB.
"We must remember that there will be efforts to steer our movement and its hard-won victory off course. We have to face those harmful attempts," he said.
Speaking at a discussion on Thursday, the BNP leader also said his party has to play the main role in upholding the victory of last year's mass uprising, as more BNP leaders and activists were killed, jailed and oppressed than those of any other party.
Former student leaders of Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) and All-Party Students Unity (APSU) of the 90s organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Thursday, marking Shaheed Dr Milon Day and the 35th martyrdom anniversary of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, who was killed during the 1990s' anti-autocratic movement.
"So, keeping their sacrifices in mind and honouring their memories, we must deliver the results of this movement to the people. With that goal, our struggle must continue. The upcoming election is an integral part of this movement. Democracy cannot be restored without it," he said.
Nazrul, a BNP Standing Committee member, said a free and fair election must be held in February next year for the sake of democracy and to establish it properly.
He said if his party wins the election and gets the responsibility of running the country, they will take all necessary steps for public welfare by using their previous experience.
"We all know every candidate claims to be the best. But think about it: if an AC or any device breaks, you don't let just anyone fix it. You look for someone who understands the machine and has experience. A country's state machinery is far more complex and valuable than any device. So the people who want to run the state must have the ability and experience to do so," the BNP leader said.
He said BNP is the only party with long and proven experience in running the country.
Nazrul said they will present themselves to people with that capability and that if they are given responsibility again, they will use their experience, including lessons learned from past mistakes, to serve people better.
He said these points are relevant to the discussion about Shaheed Milon because he also struggled and sacrificed his life for democracy.
