Staff Correspondent

BNP standing committee member Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed on Tuesday demanded the Interim Government should dissolve the existing Election Commission headed by Kazi Habibul Awal by 24 hours and sit in dialogues with political parties for the transition towards democracy.

“Abolish this EC within 24 hours, if you want to restore democracy, They (Kazi Habibul Awal-led commission) are not the people’s election commission. This Election Commission conducted the voting at night, a day before the balloting time,” he said, pointing at the interim government. The BNP placed the demands while addressing a meeting at the National Press Club in the city.

Jatiyatabadi Matsyajibi Dal arranged the memorial meeting of Freedom Fighter Rafiqul Islam Mahatab who recently passed away.
Hafizuddin said, “We want democracy. We don’t want to be ruled by a neighboring country. We don’t want to be ruled by any other power. We want people’s rule.”

Pointing at the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, The BNP standing committee member said his party will assist him. “You, take the country on the path of democracy,” he said.

He also called upon the Chief Adviser to be tough to resist the counter-revolution of the fallen dictatorship against the student-led mass revolution.

“We want the revolution not to lose its way,” he said, adding that those who are in the advisory council should bear the essence of the revolution and thwart the counter-revolution.
Hafizuddin said Sheikh Hasina’s successors are still in the country and the country’s every force,especially the police and the administration. They helped the illegitimate government (Sheikh Hasina’s government) cling to power for 16 years, he said.

“We want this revolution to come to a successful conclusion. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, You are our glory… Be tough, and don’t think yourself weak. The people of Bangladesh are with you, “said the BNP leader.

He asked all to stay vigilant to resist the counter-revolution against the students-led mass revolution.

Hold dialogues soon: Hafizuddin urges Interim Government

Hafeez said, “Our request to the Chief Adviser and the Advisory Council (of the Interim Government) is that the political parties are the stakeholders of the people of this country. If you want democracy, talk to the political parties.”

He asked the Interim Government to hold talks quickly with those political parties that had representation in Parliament in the past. Talk to political parties on how to restore democracy and receive recommendations from them.

The BNP leader asked the government to announce a roadmap soon for restoration of democracy in the country.

“Allow people’s representatives to take over the charge by holding an election in a reasonable time. The Interim government should have no objection to announcing the roadmap,” he said.

“Citizen army to be made”

Hafizuddin said if the people give the mandate to BNP through a fair election, the BNP government will turn the entire nation into soldiers with military training. “We will build a citizen army so that no neighboring country can show red eyes towards us and we are not the victims of any aggression,” he said.

Freedom Fighter Rafiqul Islam died in the city on August 12 last.