BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that delaying the announcement of a free and fair election date is not a normal practice.
He made the remark in his speech as chief guest while inaugurating the stalls of Zia Smrity Pathagar and Zia Parishad at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Sunday afternoon.
Addressing the interim government, he said: "Reforms are a continuous process. Holding everything back in the name of reforms will never be acceptable to the people or to those who analyze politics and study historical events across the world."
He added: "We have all spoken about necessary reforms, but if you keep obstructing the path to democracy by repeatedly highlighting reforms, people will not accept it.
“Procrastinating over announcing the date of a free and fair election does not seem normal to me. The people must be informed about when the election will take place."
Rizvi further said: "Many have asked whether the revolution took place just for an election. Revolutions are driven by a craze. People have been unable to vote for 16–17 years; for 17 years, they have been unable to change their government as per their own will.”
“Thus, the right to a free and fair election and the ability of the people to cast their votes were taken away—restoring this is a fundamental condition of democracy," said the BNP leader.
Rizvi said: "A truly democratic environment allows everything to flourish. It creates a setting for progress. But if that environment is suppressed, then nothing can develop.”
He added: “Humayun Ahmed once wrote a book, and an order was issued by the High Court to change its content. So, what kind of regime was in place for the last 16–17 years?”
“Reading books and creating a knowledge-based society is crucial. The foundation of a democratic society is a knowledge-based society," Rizvi further added.
