Acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Tarique Rahman on Thursday underscored the need for holding fair elections for continuation of democracy.
鈥榃e must hold a free and fair election aiming to keep the country鈥檚 democracy continue,鈥� he said in a message, marking Shaheed Jihad Day.
鈥楨lection time non-party caretaker government is the prime condition to hold a free and fair election. Democracy doesn鈥檛 only mean the elections, but restoring people鈥檚 freedom and fundamental rights,鈥� Tarique Rahman continued.
鈥楤eing imbued with the spirit of Shaheed Jihad, we must work together to restore democracy and protect country鈥檚 independence and sovereignty,鈥� he said.
鈥業n doing this, we have to prevent all conspiracies being orchestrated by evil force at home and abroad,鈥� the BNP leader said.
Showing deep respect to Jihad, the BNP acting chairperson said that the sacrifice, made by BNP activist during the movement against Ershad rule on October 10 in 1990, was unforgettable.
The movement was for re-establishing the multi-party democracy, freedom of speech and press, Tarique said in his message.
He added that tyrant Ershad had killed the democracy and that鈥檚 why Jihad embraced martyrdom to restore democracy with his firm determination.
鈥楬is [Jihad] soul will suffer immensely if we fail to realise his dream,鈥� Tarique noted.
Nazir Uddin Ahmed Jihad, a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist of Ullapara upazila in Sirajganj, was shot dead in Dhaka on October 10, 1990, during the anti-Ershad movement.