Information and Broadcasting Minister Barrister Andaleeve Rahman on Thursday said the Awami League is trying to build a new narrative abroad that there is no democracy in Bangladesh, stressing that there is no scope for such a narrative to gain ground in the country.
“Democracy is a process. It is taking time to recover from the system destroyed over the past 17 years. People have voted us, we have been elected, and we have an opposition. I believe democracy will improve further and reach a better position,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists during a visit to Bankerhat Bazar in Bhola Sadar upazila in the evening.
Andaleeve, also chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), exchanged greetings with party leaders and activists.
He said the Awami League had previously claimed that Hindu religious festivals would not be held in the country if the BNP came to power. “However, Hindus celebrated their religious festivals this year peacefully and amid festivities.”
The minister said he had never before witnessed such a beautiful and secure celebration of Durga Puja in Bangladesh as he saw this year.
He said shortly after the Awami League was ousted, a campaign began claiming that Hindus were being persecuted in Bangladesh, alleging that some Indian media outlets were also trying to spread such claims.
Andaleeve said nearly 5 crore people aged between 15 and 35 were directly or indirectly involved in the fall of the Awami League.
Given the involvement of such a large number of people, it will be very difficult for the Awami League to regain public support through its narrative, he added.
