Staff Correspondent:

BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Zainul Abedin Farroque on Wednesday said the National Citizens Party (NCP), formed by students from the Anti-Discrimination Movement, is creating chaos to delay the national election.

“The people of the country ousted the fascist Sheikh Hasina by making the movement a success, paving the way for a national election. But, the new party (NCP) is now trying to create chaos to delay the election… people have started saying this,” he told a civic rally.

Ganatantra Forum organised the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club to protest against widespread violence against women, oppression, rape, online harassment, the deterioration of law and order and the lack of justice.

Farroque, a former opposition chief whip in parliament, called upon the government to announce a clear roadmap for the national election.

“If the government delays the election under the pretext of reforms, the ghosts of the Awami League will inevitably try to reemerge,” he warned.

The BNP leader said the government will surely carry out reforms, but it should also declare the election roadmap to prevent those plotting against the country and its people.

He said the NCP has demanded simultaneous holding of both the constituent assembly and parliamentary elections.

“I would like to tell the government that I don’t understand the constituent assembly. I understand only one thing that I had 84 cases against me, and I was in jail for nine years out of 16. As a political activist and freedom fighter, I urge Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus to organise a neutral national election, not a constituent assembly, in line with people’s aspirations,” the BNP leader said.

Farroque also said the political parties which had carried out the movement against fascist Sheikh Hasina would form a national government through a credible national election and implement reform proposals after discussions in parliament.

He said the people of the country have entrusted Dr Yunus with the responsibility of restoring their voting rights by organising the election. “So, the demand of people and political parties that fought in the movement under the leadership of Tarique Rahman is to hold an election swiftly.”

The BNP leader said a government formed by elected public representatives would be able to put the fascists on trial and expose their wrongdoings. “We urge the government to organise the election without further delay, allowing the people to exercise their right to vote.”