'No polls sans voting rights guaranteed'

FE REPORT
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) warned on Saturday that no elections would be held in the country unless the people's right to vote is ensured.
The observation came following election commissioner Md Anisur Rahman's comment at a training programme that the polls would be held in the first week of next year.
"… There will be no elections unless voting rights of the people are ensured," BNP standing committee member Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury told a discussion.
The event styled 'Justice, Democracy and Human Rights in the Present Perspective' was hosted by Democracy Forum at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
"The government thinks that people are fool. There will be no elections under the current illegal government. It's not easy that elections will be held just after declaration of election schedule…"
"Hundreds and thousands of people come to streets to get back their democratic, constitutional and voting rights. Millions of people are with this movement," maintained Mr Khasru.
About development, he said, "In the name of development, the government has broken the country's economic structure."
Mr Khashru further said that banks were facing cash crunch as the ruling clique has diverted money abroad.
The government has printed new paper currencies worth taka one trillion as banks' reserves are getting depleted, thereby emptying the state exchequer.
On the launch of Dhaka Elevated Expressway, the BNP stalwart said: "It's the symbol of a tyrant. They take mega projects just to commit corruption by way of showing development."
Democracy Forum president VP Ibrahim chaired the event where BNP leaders Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Fazlul Haque Milon and Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmatullah, among others, were present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com