The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Monday said that establishing absolutism by banning political parties had never brought anything good.
鈥楾hose who were supposed to be banned [by the new government], they became banned by themselves and fled the country. There is no one to make a statement, no one to raise slogans [on their behalf],鈥� BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said at a discussion at the National Press Club.
Swadhinata Forum organised this discussion on the occasion of 鈥楪reat National Revolution and Solidarity Day鈥� to be observed on November 7.
Gayeshwar said that people from all walks of life made the country independent and Awami League formed the government.
鈥楢re they following the constitution that they wrote in 1972? Theft, robbery, fraud, bank robbery, and torturing women鈥攚ere these written in the constitution? They are the ones who violated the constitution of 1972. They violated the constitution and established one-party rule,鈥� he said.
In the last 52 years of the country鈥檚 history, no parties violated the constitution as聽 Awami League did, he added.
鈥楬asina has not obeyed the law. Now she is afraid of the law. Hadn鈥檛 she been afraid she wouldn鈥檛 have left the country,鈥� Gayeshwar said.
BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, lifting the bans on political parties, gave opportunity to all to do politics, he said, adding that Zia also gave Awami League a chance to do politics.
鈥榋ia gave rebirth of Awami League. He [Zia] was the second leader of Awami League and the first leader was Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani,鈥� he said.
Saluting the student leaders who led the July uprising, Gayeshwar said that the people of the country would be happy if they did what they should do based on their experience in building Bangladesh.
鈥楾he people of the country want elections, BNP also wants elections. Stubborn decisions never brings peace,鈥� he said.
