Announce poll date to uphold dignity of second independence

BNP Advisory Council member Zainul Abedin Farroque has demanded that the interim government promptly announce the national election date by upholding the dignity of the July mass uprising, reports UNB.
"I request the Chief Adviser (CA) of the interim government to immediately announce the election date without any further delay or wastage of time in order to keep intact the honour of the second independence, earned at the cost of the blood of Abu Sayed and Mugdho," he said.
The BNP leader came up with the remarks while addressing a rally, organised by Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Friday.
Farroque, a former opposition chief whip, said the interim government should not waste unnecessary time holding the polls under the guise of reforms.
"Reforms will continue, the election date will be set, and preparations for the election will also go on. I demand the immediate announcement of the election date," he said.
The BNP leader recalled that former Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at that time, arranged a free and fair election in Bangladesh in 1991 within a short time after the fall of autocratic ruler HM Ershad.
He said there is now no need for so many reforms to hold a free, fair and credible election like that of 1991.
The BNP leader observed that the nation needs reforms that will provide relief to the people and allow them to purchase rice and other essential commodities at reasonable prices.
He slammed the government for increasing value-added tax (VAT) and supplementary duty (SD) on nearly 100 goods and services, making life more expensive.
"You came to power through the revolution of students and the masses. You are in government through the students' movement. So, why have you imposed VAT on the tiffin boxes of school students? Why have you immorally imposed VAT on all daily essentials?" Farroque said.
He said the country's common people are facing severe hardships due to the VAT and SD increases. "Where they earlier managed to live on Tk 10,000 a month, now they cannot even make ends meet on Tk 25,000."