BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday warned that some political parties might attempt to disrupt the upcoming national election after becoming frustrated by the findings of a recent opinion survey, but said the public would resist any such move.
“A survey report was published today. One of the questions asked which party is likely to win the most seats in the next election. Sixty-six percent of respondents chose BNP, while 26 percent mentioned Jamaat-e-Islami. The gap is 44 percent,” he said.
Speaking at the opening session of the third day of BNP’s “Plan to Build the Country” programme, Nazrul noted that support for other parties was significantly lower, with several well-known parties polling below one percent.
“Out of frustration and despair, some may resort to conspiracy. But the people, who have already made their decision, will not allow any such attempt to succeed,” he cautioned.
Nazrul, a member of BNP Standing Committee, said the country had already taken a step toward restoring democracy with the “fall of fascism,” adding that full democracy would only return through a free and fair parliamentary election under a non-partisan caretaker government.
He said the people of Bangladesh had recently toppled a “repressive and fascist” regime that ruled for 15 years, adding, “The same people will not allow any conspiracy to succeed. No plot has ever defeated them and none will, Insha’Allah.”
Nazrul criticised the current state of development, saying that despite visible infrastructure growth; such as high-rise buildings, expressways and new trains, the basic needs of the population remained unmet.
He pointed to reports highlighting country’s rapid rise in the number of millionaires, contrasting it with the millions who fall below the poverty line each year.
“On one side, some become millionaires; on the other, millions live in poverty. This is not acceptable, this is not development,” he said.
He added that building large structures and roads while people remain unemployed and hungry is “like decorating a graveyard with lights; beautiful on the outside, but surrounded by darkness.”
On November 27, BNP launched a six-day “Plans to Build the Country” initiative involving its affiliated bodies, including Chhatra Dal, Krishak Dal, Ulema Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal, ahead of the national election.
Leaders and activists from Ulema Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal attended Tuesday’s session for training on outreach strategies to present BNP’s plans, manifesto and pledges to the public.
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