Plots visibly afoot against democratic transition in BD, warns Salahuddin

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed ahs said conspiracies by both local and foreign forces are visibly underway to obstruct Bangladesh's democratic transition, but the country's people are now united to thwart such plots, report agencies.
"It is now evident that some quarters are conspiring to obstruct Bangladesh's democratic transition. We can assume that both local and international forces are active in this regard," he said.
Talking to reporters at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave, Salahuddin said the people of Bangladesh are now united and, in the post-uprising situation, they are determined to restore democracy.
"Whoever creates obstacles to the country's democratic progress, or engages in any kind of conspiracy-whether at home or abroad-will be resisted by the people, InshAllah," he said.
The BNP leader said no one can deny that the people are now focused on elections, with potential candidates actively campaigning across the country. "The country is in the mood for elections. In this situation, if any party creates confusion or obstacles in the electoral process, the people will recognise them and may politically reject them."
Earlier, Salahuddin, along with leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Ulama Dal, paid homage to Ziaur Rahman by placing a wreath, marking the 46th founding anniversary of the organisation.
He strongly opposed some parties' demand for the introduction of a Proportional Representation (PR) system in the next parliamentary election.
"I have spoken before about the PR system. PR means Permanent Restlessness. Experiences at home and abroad show that it leads to constant instability. No stable government can be formed properly under this system. Governments are rarely formed on the basis of a majority, and parliaments often remain hung, leaving the country in uncertainty," Salahuddin said.
He mentioned that one survey claimed that 70 percent of people support PR while another showed 56 percent of people do not even understand the system. "If 56 percent of the people don't even understand the PR system, how can 70 percent possibly want it? This is confusing."
The BNP leader said that for them, PR means Public Relations-connecting with people-and that everyone is now engaged in that kind of PR by campaigning and building unity with the people. "That is the PR we believe in. Those who want to impose proportional representation to create permanent restlessness will not succeed."
Salahuddin said BNP is a party that believes in religious values, but its politics is based on inclusiveness. "We practise politics on the foundation of Bangladeshi nationalism, bringing together all communities in this land. We have never wanted, do not want, and will never want any division in politics based on religion."
Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that both domestic and foreign conspiracies are escalating against Bangladesh and its democratic system.
"These conspiracies are growing stronger, mainly targeting the Zia family and nationalist forces," he said.
The BNP leader mae the remarks while speaking at a meeting with leaders of the Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB) at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the capital on Tuesday.
Rizvi claimed that efforts are being made to destabilise the country by creating chaos and threatening communal harmony.