Civil society leaders have demanded the announcement of the rescheduling of the 12th national parliamentary election and the release of BNP and other political leaders.
They believed that the environment for conducting fair elections has not yet been created.
They made this remark at a discussion meeting titled “Rearranged Elections: Citizens' Anxiety '' at the DrikPath Bhobon in the capital's Panthapath on Tuesday.
Under the initiative of the Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights, the founder of Naripokkho Shireen Huq, the executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) Faruq Faisel, election observer and chief executive officer of Brotee Sharmeen Murshid, constitutional expert Dr Shahdeen Malik, and Member Secretary of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports Professor Anu Muhammad took part.
Led by Badiul Alam Majumdar, coordinator of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), Professor of the Law Department of Dhaka University Asif Nazrul presented the keynote at the meeting.
Drik's Managing Director photographer Shahidul Alam conducted the event.
In the original article, Asif Nazrul said: “The government is trying to block the participation of BNP in the election by filing arbitrary cases against the opposition parties including BNP. They are being tortured through judicial intervention and their intention is to destroy the power of protest and movement against this rigged election. The government is using every institution of the state including the police, public administration, and criminal justice system in this regard.”
Professor Anu Muhammad said: “As per the plan, all kinds of peaceful movements have been blocked by October 28. Now a terrible situation has developed. Houses are being attacked, but the police are not doing anything. No cases are being filed. So I will say that the government should come through fair elections without lying and cheating. Then no one will have any problem.”
Shireen Huq said: “Everyone is worried about the situation in the country. The election is a small part of that. The government's consistent disregard for dialogue shows that they have a one-sided election mindset. We are afraid of their plans. Our young society is depressed.”
Badiul Alam Majumdar said: “The legitimacy of the current government is questionable. The government that has survived through the constitutional amendment in 2014 is unconstitutional. The election that is being planned now is not just a controlled or arranged election but a one-sided election.”
At that time, Sharmeen Murshid said: “The Election Commission should release those who have been detained unethically and unreasonably. So that a fair election environment can be created. At the same time, the election schedule has to be rescheduled. It is not possible to have a fair election in the current situation.”
Lawyers, human rights activists, social movement activists, and civil society representatives were present at the meeting.
