Those seeking election delay are anti-democracy campaigners

Stating that some parties have accepted the national election and referendum schedule with heavy hearts, BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday said those who had earlier pushed for delaying the polls belong to an "anti-democracy camp", reports UNB.
"The announcement of the election schedule on Thursday was a successful step for democratic transition. We welcomed it. We expressed satisfaction… But many were forced to welcome it with heavy hearts," he said.
Speaking at the opening session of the sixth day of BNP's "Plan to Build the Country" workshop at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Farmgate, he said the main expectation of the Mass Uprising was to ensure people's voting rights. "This schedule is a step towards that."
He criticised the parties and individuals who demanded "no PR, no election", wanted local government polls first, asked for a referendum along with the national vote, or even urged waiting until 2029.
"I don't want to name them… but they all belong to the anti-democracy camp. They want democracy in their own way as their definition of democracy is different," the BNP leader said.
Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee member, said late President Ziaur Rahman founded BNP to unite people of all classes, professions, religions and cultures, making the party "a school of inclusive politics".
He said BNP never wants to create divisions based on religion, ethnicity or language. "Everyone's constitutional identity is that of a citizen of Bangladesh," he said.
Salahuddin also accused a political party of avoiding criticism of the Awami League as they are trying to attract its voters.
"In our village saying, they don't even dare to mention their brother-in-law's name. They are doing everything to pull Awami League's votes," he said.
The BNP leader urged party activists not to forget the "painful history" of democratic struggles and the corruption, repression and rights violations that took place during the Awami League period.
Referring to economist Debapriya Bhattacharya's report "White Papers on the State of the Bangladesh Economy", he said BNP activists should explain the findings to people in simple language.
Salahuddin claimed the misuse of public funds from 2009 to 2023 could have financed "two education budgets or three health budgets".