Shawdesh Desk:

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party is hopeful that democracy will be ‘restored’ in Bangladesh in the New Year, 2022.

“Hopefully, in this New Year 2022, democracy will be restored and our leader Begum Khaleda Zia will be released (fully from jail). We’ll surely be able to establish a government of people,” he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing a wreath at party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with the leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, marking its 43rd founding anniversary.

On behalf of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Fakhrul also greeted the country’s people on the occasion of the English New Year.

Ailing Khaleda

Fakhrul said Khaleda Zia is fighting for her life in a hospital in the capital for lack of advanced treatment abroad.

He alleged that the BNP chief was jailed out of political ‘vengeance’ of the government. “She’s not being given a scope to receive medical treatment abroad not because of a legal matter but because of reprisal.”

The BNP leader also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created such an atmosphere in the country driven out of political vengeance so that Khaleda cannot get any chance to get advanced treatment abroad.

“They want our chairperson to move towards death slowly with critical diseases,” he said.

Fakhrul warned that the government will be held responsible if anything bad happens to Khaleda for lack of proper treatment.

“The leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal took a vow today (Saturday) to intensify the ongoing movement to restore democracy in the country and ensure our leader’s (Khaleda’s) treatment abroad. InshAllah we’ll succeed in 2022,” he said.

“Pointless” Dialogue

Replying to a question, Fakhrul said their party thinks President Abdul Hamid’s ongoing talks with political parties on the reconstitution of the Election Commission EC) is a meaningless exercise.

“We feel that the current crisis is not related to the formation of the Election Commission or enacting a law. The main crisis is related to the nature of polls-time government,” he observed.

The BNP leader said a credible and meaningful election is not possible if it is held under the Awami League government.

He said the 12th parliamentary election must be held under a polls-time neutral and non-party government to be conducted by an impartial EC.

Earlier last week, the BNP standing committee at a meeting decided not to join the talks on EC.