Unb, Dhaka

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday hoped that the new year, 2020, will be the year of “restoration of democracy”.

“2019 was the year democracy was devastated, people’s rights were snatched and fascism was victorious,” he said.

The BNP leader further said, “We always want to think afresh in the new year, and want to strengthen our organisation to materialise our goals. We believe a mass upsurge will happen and we’ll be able to restore democracy in the country under the leadership of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal upholding the tradition of student movements. “

He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, together with leaders and activists of JCD, marking the organisation’s founding anniversary.

Fakhrul said 2018 was the year of destruction of democracy as the ruling party established “one-party rule”.

“Those who struggled for democracy were humiliated this year while our leader Khaleda Zia has been kept in jail. Her jail term has been enhanced too. Thousands of our leaders and activists were harassed and implicated in false cases. Many journalists in Bangladesh were repressed while the country genuinely fell prey to fascism this year,” he observed.

Asked about their party’s expectation from the upcoming elections to two Dhaka city corporations, he said they think no election can be held in a free and fair manner under the current government and the Election Commission. “Even after that, we’ve taken the election as a way to reach people and take our demands to them as we believe in democratic politics.”

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, a pro-BNP student organisation, will celebrate its 41st founding anniversary today. A discussion will be held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on the occasion.