Bangladesh Nationalist Party vice-chair Shamsuzzaman Dudu on Friday accused the government of deliberately delaying the national election in a bid to prevent the BNP from gaining public support and forming a government through a fair electoral process.
Speaking at a rally in front of the National Press Club in the capital Dhaka, he dismissed ongoing speculations about the election time frame, saying, 鈥楽top this nonsense about elections being held sometime between December and June. Clearly announce the聽 exact day, month and year of the election.鈥�
The rally was organised by the Bangladesh Democratic Council to demand the whereabouts of missing BNP leader Ilias Ali and other abducted party activists.
鈥楾he public is deeply concerned about the actions of the interim government. It is unclear what they truly want,鈥� Dudu said.
He alleged that those who destroyed democracy in Bangladesh over the 15-year period are being protected in various ways and are being given opportunities to conspire.
Dudu demanded capital punishment for the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, alleging that she abducted and murdered numerous BNP leaders, including Ilias Ali.
BNP chair鈥檚 adviser Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said no one in the world can understand the pain felt by the wife and children of BNP leader Ilias Ali, adding that the families of all those disappeared have been suffering in the same way.
He said pressure must be mounted on the government in order to find out the whereabouts of the missing BNP leader and activists.