BNP blames AL for shaming nation

BNP on Saturday claimed that the incumbent government's autocracy has been unmasked by a report of the German-based think tank Bertelsmann Stiftung.
The BNP also described the country's listing as a new 'autocracy' by the German organisation as a shame for the nation.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the remarks while speaking at a press briefing at the party central office at Nayapaltan in the capital. The BNP leader said, "We have been saying this for so long and now the world has recognised this. This research finding has reflected our conviction."
"Democracy has disappeared from here and autocracy has been established," the BNP secretary general said.
"Those of us who as citizens of Bangladesh fought for independence and democracy feel really ashamed of the findings of the report," he added.
The BNP leader accused the incumbent government of bringing about this for the country by its autocratic policies and activities.
"For all these days, BNP has been saying democracy is absent in the country and that is now being proven to be true. The government's mask has been unveiled," Fakhrul said.




Bangladesh is under an autocratic government, said Bertelsmann Stiftung pointing to shortcomings in elections as sign of autocracy.
In the report on Friday, the German-based think-tank Bertelsmann Stiftung said that Bangladesh is among five countries which no longer meet minimum standards for democracy and are now under autocratic rule. The four other countries are Lebanon, Mozambique, Nicaragua and Uganda.
Democracy has been undermined in these five countries for years, and it is often the shortcomings in the quality of elections that tipped the balance, the study said. BNP Standing Committee members Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Mirza Abbas and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, among others, were present at the briefing. The BNP earlier held joint meetings with leaders of different levels.