The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Friday said that neighbouring country India wants to see 'plastic democracy' in Bangladesh and so it has supported the one sided election on January 7, 2024.
Senior secretary general of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the comment at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the capital replying to Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud's observation that India supported Bangladesh election for the continuation of democracy here.
"The Foreign Minister said that India supported election on January 7 for the continuation of democracy. We all know about India's strong democracy ... or like steel democracy," he maintained.
"If the election was just for the continuation of democracy and India supported it as per Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud's comment, then we may think that India wants to see a strong and steel like democracy in its own country and a 'plastic democracy' in Bangladesh," he continued.
"They (government) are isolated from the people. They don't have public support. They get frightened of losing power," he went on.
"They (government) are a failed government. They failed to keep the freedom of expression. It is visible that they couldn't save the country's independence and sovereignty," he said.
Mr Rizvi further said that people have observed how Bangladeshi people were killed due to mortar shells landed in Bangladesh territory from Myanmar side.
"The government even couldn't issue any statement and they still remain silent that forced the people to think whether we have sovereignty, independence or whether we do live in an independent country," he said.
He said that the government has failed to show any instance for protecting the country's independence and sovereignty through protests and diplomatic efforts for protecting, securing and strengthening the country's sovereignty.
He also said around one million Robingya people have taken refuge in Bangladesh following persecution carried out by the Myanmar government and the Bangladesh government till today could not send back even a single Rohingya to their own country.
Thirteen BNP leaders have died due to persecution in jail so far, he alleged.
He also said the level of oppression on BNP leaders and activists has been intensified as per desire of a particular person.
BNP vice-chairman Nitay Roy Chiwdhury, member of party chairperson's advisory council Abul Khair Bhuiyan and central leader Abdus Salam Azad were present, among others.
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