Moyeen Khan underpins franchise after swift electoral reforms

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has suggested that the interim government ensure people's voting right by holding the general election swiftly after exhausting reforms.
He made this call after visiting the grave of the party's founder and former president Ziaur Rahman along with Mohidur Rahman, former president of the UK BNP branch, on Sunday.
Mr Rahman returned to Bangladesh from the United Kingdom on November 16 after spending 17 years in exile.
While talking to the media, Dr Moyeen thanked the incumbent government for constituting a new election commission.
"The Awami League tortured students and the public for 15 years. Fascist Sheikh Hasina fled the country after a mass uprising. The nation got liberated after the fall of the fascist regime."
He said many party leaders, who went abroad following the filing of false cases against them during the AL misrule, would now be able to return home.
Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member and former minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Sunday the newly formed election commission (EC) will fulfil public expectations.
He said the path toward fulfilling the public expectations will be easier following the oaths took by the chief election commissioner and other commissioners.
"Turkey wants to work to resolve Rohinghya's crisis internationally," he told the media after ambassador of Turkey to Bangladesh Ramis ?en called on BNP representative headed by Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury at the party chairperson's political office at Gulshan in the capital.
He said that there has been a significant improvement on enhancing bilateral cooperation including cultural exchange, medical treatment, tourism and trade with Turkey.
BNP leader Shama Obaed was present at the office meeting, among others.
Meanwhile, standing committee member Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin said the current government would hold the election within the next six months.
It is possible to hold the vote in consultation with political parties, according to him.
"We (BNP) believe that the interim government will be able to arrange the election within the next six months. We will wholeheartedly accept whoever comes to power with people's mandate."
"We expect a Bangladesh where voting and human rights will be ensured," he said at an event marking the 35th death anniversary of Maj (retd) MA Jalil.
Heroic freedom fighter Maj Jalil was the first prisoner of independent Bangladesh and sector-nine commander during the liberation war.
The event was organised by the Barisal Division Association at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital.
At another programme, BNP chairperson's adviser Zainul Abdin Farroque has said problems might arise again in case of any lateness in holding the election.
He called upon the interim government to announce an election roadmap to facilitate people to cast their votes freely.
"Arrange the election as early as possible. Otherwise, conspiracy might be there," he told an event hosted by the Jatiyatabadi Nabin Dal outside the National Press Club the same day.
Mr Farroque pondered a question awhile why BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman was yet to return to Bangladesh. "Why a slew of false cases filed against him (Tarique Rahman) is still to be withdrawn?"
He urged the government to withdraw all false cases filed against Tarique and others without delay. "We (BNP) are not against you (interim government). We want to cooperate with you."
He also called for taking action against Hasina and her collaborators who were responsible for torturing BNP leaders and activists.
Nabin Dal president Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan chaired the event where BNP joint secretary general Abdus Salam Azad, Save the Country Save the People president AKM Raqibul Islam Ripon and Gonotantrik Party organising secretary Mir Amir Hossain Amu were also present.

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