Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of BNP’s Standing Committee and chairman of the Election Steering Committee, has said that if the upcoming election is not fair, free, and impartial, the disappointment of the country’s people will know no end. Everyone must be vigilant so that no one can unethically destroy the opportunity that has arisen to re-establish democracy, he said.
He said these things at an exchange of views meeting with members of the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Wednesday.
Nazrul Islam Khan said, “The main vehicle of democracy is the election. Where there is no election, there is no democracy. Impartial elections are extremely essential to ensure people’s opportunity to express their opinion.”
Addressing journalists, he said, “The journalists of the country know the most information, and searching for the truth is one of their key responsibilities. Casting fake votes is a crime, just as preventing someone from voting is the same type of crime. He urged journalists to maintain vigilant watch so that no unethical or wrongful activities take place centering the election.”
Nazrul Islam Khan said, “The people of the country have not yet fully received the benefits of independence and democracy. For a long time, many have been victims of enforced disappearance, murder, and torture. The sons of this country have given their lives against these injustices. Currently, an opportunity for change has been created, and we must utilise that opportunity appropriately.”
Expressing concern about newspaper ownership and impartiality, he said, “Most of the country’s media are now in the hands of big industrialists or businessmen. Since they are directly or indirectly involved in politics, a kind of political influence remains on the media. Despite such adversity, media professionals must play an impartial and objective role in news dissemination.”
Highlighting the importance of the upcoming election, this senior BNP leader said, “The challenges of this national parliamentary election are much greater. Overcoming the current social and economic crisis of the country is extremely complex. To address this situation, responsibility must be entrusted into the hands of competent individuals through voting.”
The exchange of views meeting was presided over by BNP Chairman’s adviser and Chief Coordinator of the Election Steering Committee, Islam Jabir Ullah. The meeting was inaugurated by BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General and Member Secretary of the Central Election Steering Committee, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Also present at the event were BNP Chairman’s advisor and spokesperson of the Election Steering Committee, Mahdi Amin, former Election Commissioner Dr Zakaria, among others. Others who spoke included RFED President Kazi Zebel, General Secretary Golam Rabbani, former President Saeedur Rahman, among others.
