BNP will not allow anyone to tactically withdraw from election: Salahuddin

BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said the Election Commission and a political party are looking for an opportunity to tactically withdraw from the election, but BNP will not allow anyone to do so.

He made the remarks at an exchange meeting with family members of victims of enforced disappearances, killings and torture at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital on Saturday, January 17.

Salahuddin Ahmed said no scope would be given for any conspiracy or tactics. Warning those concerned, he said attempts to obstruct the path of democratic transition would not succeed and democracy would inevitably return to the country.

Referring to Tarique Rahman’s visit to northern Bangladesh, he said BNP had suspended its programme at the request of the Election Commission in the interest of peace. However, he said the Election Commission and a political party had wrongly perceived this as BNP’s weakness, describing it instead as BNP’s political decency.

He further alleged that since then, the Election Commission and the political party have been using various tactics to cast doubt on the election and to find a way to withdraw from it.

BNP chairperson Tarique Rahman spoke as the chief guest at the meeting. Senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, treasurer Rashiduzzaman Millat, Atikur Rahman Rumon and other party leaders were also present.