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BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has commented that it is not normal to delay in announcing the date of free and fair elections.

Addressing the interim government, he said, ‘Reform is an ongoing process. Holding everything back for this reform will never be acceptable to the people or to those who review politics and observe the various histories of the world. We have all spoken about the necessary reforms, but people will not accept it naturally if you keep repeating the word ‘reform’ and block the path of democracy. I think this delay in announcing the date of a free and fair election is also not normal. The people must be informed when their elections will be held.

He said these things in his speech as the chief guest while inaugurating the stall of the Zia Smriti Pathagaar and Zia Parishad at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Sunday (February 2) afternoon.

Rizvi said, ‘Many have said that the revolution was made for the sake of elections. Revolutions are made on the basis of a craze. People could not vote for 16-17 years. People could not change their government according to their own thoughts for 17 years. Therefore, free and fair elections and the right of the people to go to the polling station and vote was taken away. This is one of the conditions of democracy.

The BNP spokesperson said, ‘Today, as much as we can breathe a sigh of relief, as much light and air as we can, its scope should be expanded. We have to ensure the work that remains ahead. We have got the environment to walk on the path of democracy, but we have not yet got full democracy. People have not yet regained their ownership, that is, the power of the people to form their government has not yet been ensured. The day free, fair and inclusive elections are ensured, the biggest element of democracy can be ensured and the people will be able to walk on the path of full development of democracy after getting their ownership back.

Rizvi said, ‘If there is a truly democratic environment, then an environment is created for everything to develop and move forward, and if it is blocked, then nothing will develop. Humayun Ahmed wrote a book, and the High Court ordered him to change the text of that book, so what was the practice for the last 16-17 years?

It is very important to read books and create a knowledge-based society. The foundation of a democratic society is a knowledge-based society.

Also present at the time were Abdus Salam, advisor to the BNP Chairperson, and the central leaders of Zia Smriti Pathagar and Zia Parishad.

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