BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday declared that the primary aspiration of the nation this Bangla New Year is the swift and unconditional restoration of voting rights.
Speaking at a discussion and cultural programme organised by Sathi Swajan at the Sanskriti Bikash Kendra in the capital in celebration of Pahela Baishakh, Rizvi said the demand for voting rights has been at the heart of the BNP's struggle for the past 15 to 16 years.
"We have been fighting tirelessly to restore the people's right to vote. Although some progress has been made, any further delays are unacceptable," he said.
He accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of dismantling democratic institutions, curtailing press freedom, and abolishing the rule of law to establish a one-party authoritarian regime.
"The right to vote was taken away under her rule. But the people of Bangladesh have never bowed to oppression. With the strength of our heritage and culture, we have resisted. That resistance led to a significant victory, which now must be solidified through a democratic system," Rizvi stated.
He criticised efforts to link voting rights with political reform, arguing that democracy itself is a form of ongoing reform. "Why are voting rights being tied to so-called reform? In no democratic nation is this the standard. Democracy is not static—it is a process, like a flowing river: transparent, dynamic, and unimpeded," he said.
Rizvi also condemned what he described as the imposition of foreign cultural values and deliberate attempts to mock opposition figures through cultural events. He referenced the Mongol Shobhajatra masks from a previous year that, according to him, caricatured BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and religious individuals in a derogatory manner.
"Such representations are disrespectful and divisive. Not every person who wears a beard or a prayer cap stood against the Liberation War. In a true democracy, every citizen deserves respect and protection of their rights," he added.
Recalling last year’s mass movement, Rizvi described the August 5 uprising as a pivotal moment not only in challenging autocratic rule but also in resisting cultural and economic domination. "It was a comprehensive victory—political, cultural, and ideological," he said.
The event was also attended by National University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Nurul Islam, poet Rezabuddaula Starlin, BNP Executive Committee Member Mahbubur Rahman, Jubo Dal leader Mehedi Masum Shanto, and Chhatra Dal leaders Tawhid Aowal and Raju Ahmed.
