Leaders of a pro-BNP professional organisation on Friday demanded the government cancel the schedule of national elections and hold dialogues with political parties.
Demanding new schedule of polls, they also urged the government to ensure an atmosphere for a free, fair and acceptable elections through dialogues, stopping torture and attacks on professionals and releasing the imprisoned politicians.
They came up with the call at a rally organised by Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad in front of Jatiya Press club in the capital.
Speakers of the rally demanded stop of arrest and torture of professionals, and politicians, release of all prisoners, and holding participatory elections under a non-partisan government.
Professor Tajmeri S A Islam, a retired teacher of Dhaka University said that a situation had to be created to hold a competitive inclusive election through releasing politicians. To create that situation, elections must be held under a neutral government.
‘Mockery elections were held in Bangladesh in 2014 and 2018. People of the country never want such elections further and they demand to bring back democracy in the country through a free, fair and impartial election under a caretaker government,’ she added.
Zia Parishad president Abdul Quddus said that the peaceful rally of BNP (on 28 October) was attacked in a planned manner by the ruling party. All BNP offices had been locked.
‘Meanwhile, a one-sided election schedule has been announced. But people will not participate in this election,’ he said.
BSPP former convener Ruhul Amin Gazi who presided over the rally, said that professionals were being oppressed in various ways due to talking about democracy and human rights.
‘You (government) want to arrest the professionals and hold one-sided elections. You forget that the country will not accept elections like 2014 and 2018. So, cancel the poll schedule immediately,’ he urged.
BSPP member secretary journalist Quader Gani Chowdhury conducted the rally where people from different professions including university teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, agriculturists, journalists, cultural workers participated.
The organisation brought out a procession after the rally that paraded several roads in the press club area.
