BNP Vice President Advocate Zainul Abedin urged the government to hold elections by December and step down, on Saturday.
He said: “It doesn’t take 10 months to reform and hold elections. Yet, you’ve already taken ten months. Our leader has said elections must be held by December. We don’t believe major reforms are necessary within this timeframe. If you hold elections by December, you can step down with dignity. We will all cooperate.”
He made these remarks as the chief guest at an event organized by the Dhaka Bar Association on Saturday, marking the 44th death anniversary of BNP’s founder and former President Ziaur Rahman.
Remembering Ziaur Rahman, Zainul Abedin said: “The fascist government tried to erase Ziaur Rahman from people’s hearts. They thought they could wipe out his name. But he cannot be removed from the people’s minds. He remains deeply rooted in their hearts.”
He added: “Ziaur Rahman declared independence and fought in the war because he loved Bangladesh. He was hurt when the country was labeled a bottomless basket.”
Zainul further said: “Ziaur Rahman will forever remain in the hearts and lives of the people. His family has endured struggle and hardship but survived. With Allah’s help, no one can be killed if it’s not destined. They tried to kill BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia but failed. She is doing better now than before. Tarique Rahman has kept his father’s memory alive and has united the BNP from thousands of miles away. He has fought for democracy before and will continue to do so.”
The event was presided over by the Acting President of the Dhaka Bar Association, Md Abdur Razzak. Other attendees included General Secretary Syed Nazrul Islam, former Bar President Mohsin Mia, Vice President Shahiduzzaman, former General Secretary Hossain Ali Khan Hasan, and Member Secretary of the Nationalist Lawyers’ Forum Dhaka Bar Unit, Nihar Hossain Faruq, among others.
