Forge national unity to protect democracy: Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday called upon the political parties and leaders to forge a national unity to protect democracy.
‘The way democracy has been looted and the people’s rights have been snatched away, no politician is secured... Under this situation, if we cannot get united the nation will not forgive us,’ Fakhrul said.
He was addressing an iftar party, hosted by Nagorik Oikya, in a Dhaka hotel. 
The BNP secretary general said that the current crisis was not just a crisis of an individual or a political party rather it was a crisis of the nation.
Fakhrul warned that it would not be wise to think about holding a general election without the release of jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.
‘As long as a level playing field for all is not created, election is not conducted by a neutral government and a neutral Election Commission, the parliament is not dissolved and army is deployed during election, there would not be any meaningful election,’ he said.
Juktafront chairman Badruddoza Chowdhury, also Bikolpodhara Bangladesh president, said that they were against any future government that would not take a stand against corruption and terrorism 
but deny democracy to the people. 
The only path is ‘we all have to wake up and get united behind us,’ he said.
Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna asked the government to make public names, addresses, allegations and cases along with evidences involving the people who were killed in the current anti-drugs drive across the country.
Manna said that he had invited Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader to the iftar party but he did not come.
Ganashasthya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction president ASM Abdur Rob, Gana Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas and Dhaka University teacher Asif Nazrul, among others, addressed the iftar party. 
Leaders of different political parties and members of civil society attended the iftar party. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net