Unb, Dhaka

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday urged both the government and the Election Commission to take a lesson from the US presidential election.

“The Awami League government has completely destroyed democracy by using state institutions and ruined all the prospects of democracy. But it’s not the end,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference, the BNP leader said, “They (govt) should review the election (US election). Awami League and those who are in charge of the Election Commission should take a lesson from the polls.”

BNP arranged the press conference at its chairperson’s Gulshan office to present the party’s observations on the role of the government and EC in the Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj-1 by-elections.

Fakhrul said the election authorities in the US remained steadfast in the face of pressure and upheld the verdict of people. “That’s called democracy.”

“Democracy cannot be established without democratic institutions. The institutions must be neutral, the Election Commission, the judiciary and the administration must be completely impartial and strong. They should work for the welfare of people,” he observed.

He alleged that the AL government cannot realise the country’s situation and read the languages of people’s eyes and writings on the wall as it has plunged into darkness.

About the atmosphere in the by-polls to Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj-1, he said law enforcers are raiding the houses of BNP leaders and activists at night and threatening their family members of dire consequences if they stay in their areas.