DHAKA, Dec 29, 2024 (BSS) - BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas today said BNP demands election as it wants restoration of the people's voting rights.

“It is wrong to say that movement of last 17 years has not worked. During the construction of buildings, it starts from the bottom, not from the top. The movement against the Awami League government has also been like that,” he said.

Abbas was addressing a views-exchange meeting of newly elected leaders of BNP’s Dhaka City South unit with journalists at Ananda Community Center in the capital.

He reiterated his call to the interim government to hold the national election within reasonable time to meet the people’s expectations.

The senior BNP leader said though autocrat Sheikh Hasina has been deposed, her allies are still persisting in different positions.

Mirza Abbas mentioned several incidents including fire at secretariat, catching fire at a goods-laden barge at Chattogram seaport, chaos centering Ansar men, saying these incidents are not happening randomly.

“Someone is instigating to make these happen. They are sitting at the secretariat. We know everyone,” he said.

“When we heard the word of burying the constitution, I got hurt. I participated in the front line in the Liberation War in 1971. Many of my fellow warriors embraced martyrdom in front of me. But if there is anything bad in this constitution, it can definitely be scrapped,” he said.

Dhaka City South BNP convener Rafiqul Alam Majnu chaired the meeting, which was moderated by its member secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin.

BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Abdus Salam, Executive Committee member Kazi Abul Bashar, Dhaka City North BNP convener Aminul Haque, member secretary Mostafa Zaman, chairperson's personal photographer Nuruddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Vice-President Bashir Jamal, journalists Kamruzzaman Rajib, Mohsin Hossain, Nazia Afrin, Ahmed Salehin, Reza Karim, Babul Talukder and Md. Mohsin also spoke.

Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat of the Muktijoddha Dal, SM Jilani of the Swechchhasebak Dal, Hasan Zafir Tuhin of Krishak Dal, Shahidul Islam Babul, Abul Kalam Azad of the Tanti Dal, Harunur Rashid Harun of Dhaka City South unit of BNP were also present, among others.