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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said it is now a fact that elections can never be free, fair and credible under the current Awami League government, reports UNB.
He came up with the observation while addressing the biennial general meeting of a faction Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday.
If the election is not participatory, it will not be accepted as per the country’s constitution, Fakhrul said.
He said, “A truth has now been established in Bangladesh that elections can never be fair, free, and acceptable and people here can never express their opinions and exercise their right to franchise freely if the Awami League government remains in power,”.
He also alleged the government has already snatched the people’s freedom of expression and voting rights to cement its power.
The senior leader of the party said it is now recognised in the entire world that there is no place for independent journalism in Bangladesh.
As Bangladesh is now completely in the hands of an authoritarian ruler, he said freedom of the press, the main pillar of democracy, has been regulated here by the regime to meet their needs.
Mirza Fakhrul said in the whole world, those who believe in a free press, democracy, and freedom to express dissenting opinions, are all saying in one sentence that there is no democracy, free press, or freedom of media in Bangladesh as the government does not have the mindset to tolerant different opinions.
“They (govt) are hampering the people's freedom of expression of dissent, the right to vote and the right to live by applying excessive force with the aim of establishing a one-party rule and perpetuating their power,” he alleged.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
