Cumilla will be declared division if elected: Asif

Former adviser and chief organiser of the National Citizen Party, NCP, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said the 11-party alliance wants to state clearly that if they are elected, Cumilla will be declared a division within one month of assuming power.

He made the remarks on Wednesday January 28 at a street rally held in favour of the referendum at New Market Muktiyuddho Chattar in Debidwar, Cumilla.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said, “During the 15 months when I was in office, I worked for the development of our unfortunate and deprived Cumilla. Over the past one and a half years, all the processes required to make Cumilla a division have been completed.

Only a formal declaration is now pending. Whichever political party comes to power, there will be no option other than declaring Cumilla a division.”

Referring to what he described as Sheikh Hasina’s particular grievance towards Comilla, he said, “Because of that grievance, not only were no new initiatives taken for Cumilla, but even the ongoing projects were shut down. In areas where Comilla had paved roads, they turned into dirt roads before the work was even completed.”

He further said, “We have witnessed repression over the past 17 years, and after 17 years of oppression, the people of Bangladesh have again faced repression over the last 17 months. Over those 17 years, we saw enforced disappearances, killings, torture, extortion, tender manipulation and all forms of injustice under Sheikh Hasina. But over the past 17 months, despite not being in power, one party has given the people of Bangladesh the same experience of those 17 years. That experience alone should be enough for us to make a decision when exercising our voting rights.”

He called on voters to ensure the victory of the 11-party alliance candidates in the February 12 referendum.