Immediate declaration of election roadmap needed: Dr Zahid

BNP's Standing Committee Member Professor A Z M Zahid Hossain has said that the government is trying to delay the election on various pretexts. He asserted that the people want an election as soon as possible, wishing to exercise their right to vote. Therefore, the election roadmap should be announced immediately.

He made these remarks on Friday (May 9) at a discussion meeting titled "Establishing Voting Rights for Overseas Remittance Warriors, Dignity, Protection of Domestic and Overseas Assets, and the Upcoming Election," organized by the affected expatriate families at the Jahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club.

Dr. Zahid said, "The issue today is expatriates' voting rights. There are over ten million or more than one crore expatriates living abroad, but they are unable to exercise their right to vote. For the past 17 years, the people of this country have also been deprived of their voting rights. Currently, under Dr. Yunus's leadership, some reforms are ongoing, and I hope that people will be able to exercise their voting rights."

He added, "During the previous government’s time, many BNP leaders and activists became victims of abductions and killings, and many students and civilians gave their lives, through which we can now speak freely."

Dr. Zahid recalled, "The first initiative for the remittance warriors was taken by the martyred President Ziaur Rahman. The garment sector, which now contributes significantly to the economy, was also established under President Ziaur Rahman’s leadership. Therefore, he should always be remembered, alongside the War of Independence."

He further said, "Today, people are no longer able to tolerate the Awami League because they are facing the consequences of their wrongdoings. The Awami League was not accountable to the people, and that is why no elections were held during their tenure. The Awami League must atone for their actions. We must continue the unity on which the fascist Hasina government fled after the 5th August student uprising."

Dr. Zahid continued, "We urge the current government to stop delaying the election as the people do not want this. The people want to exercise their voting rights. Therefore, the election roadmap must be declared immediately."

He also stated, "BNP has always agreed with the demand for expatriates to vote. However, there is a need for discussions on how this can be done. It is the responsibility of the government to protect the assets of expatriates, and not just those of expatriates, but the assets of the entire nation."

The main speaker, MA Malik, President of UK BNP and Adviser to the BNP Chairperson, said, "The homes built by expatriate Bangladeshis across the country, including Sylhet, were taken over by the former autocratic government. Our appeal to the current government is to protect the assets of those whose remittances sustain the country and to ensure their voting rights quickly."

He also said, "The associates of the Awami League attacked my house, vandalized, looted, and set it on fire, even taking the soil."

The meeting was presided over by Jahangir Alam Mintu, Coordinator of Expatriate Family 24 and Editor-in-Chief of Weekly Joyjatra. Other notable attendees included MA Malik (President of UK BNP), MA Malik (Adviser to BNP Chairperson), UK BNP Vice President M. Zakaria, Mahmudullah Mamun (Defendant in the case of Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the US), Barrister Obaidur Rahman Tipu (UK), Advocate Parvez (UK), Barrister Mariam Chowdhury, Lecturer Khokon (Italy), Ripon Sarkar (Italy BNP), MM Rashed, Ikbar Hossain (London), Momtaz Hossain Lipi (Central Committee of Women’s Wing), Billal Hossain Mal (Labour Party), expatriates who suffered in Saudi Arabia like Kabir Hossain Dewan, Abdul Hamid Bhuiyan, Jafar Dewan (Saudi Arabia), and others.