Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday said that those casting doubt on the upcoming elections were not allies of democracy.
He hastened to add that some individuals and groups were making ambiguous statements to undermine the democratic process.
He was speaking at a discussion and prayer event organised by the Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal at the BNP central office at Nayapaltan to mark party chair Khaleda Zia鈥檚 81st birthday on Friday.
He said that those questioning the elections in the name of democracy were not true supporters of democracy and did not represent the people of Bangladesh.
鈥楾hey may be twisting their words for various reasons, in an attempt to delay or derail the election. But the people of Bangladesh are united and determined to exercise their democratic rights and their right to vote,鈥� Salahuddin said.
Calling for unity among all pro-democracy forces, he urged the political parties and the civil society to work collectively towards a peaceful and credible election.
鈥榃e must engage in a dialogue to facilitate a smooth democratic transition. Let us maintain the same unity in the upcoming elections as we have done in the democratic struggles so far,鈥� he said.
Describing Khaleda Zia as a historic figure in Bangladesh鈥檚 political landscape, Salahuddin said that she was not just a name, but a symbol and a chapter of (our) history.
During the Liberation War, he commented, Khaleda Zia endured hardship with her two young children, later led a nine-year movement against a military rule, and introduced parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh.
Salahuddin reiterated the BNP鈥檚 commitment to a constructive engagement and dialogue with the government, saying that they had held numerous discussions under the guidance of Khaleda Zia to establish national consensus and meet all democratic conditions.
He said that the entire nation awaited a fair, inclusive, and peaceful election.
Salahuddin called for the preservation of national unity, emphasising that it was essential to build a strong and democratic Bangladesh.
He said that it was necessary to maintain and strengthen the national unity achieved to build a powerful democratic state, as it was only through this collective resolve could the hopes of those who sacrificed for democracy be fulfilled.
At the discussion meeting, former Juba Dal president Saiful Alam Nirab, among others, spoke, with Juba Dal general secretary Nurul Islam Nayon presiding over the event.
