Dhaka: General Secretary of Biplobi Workers Party (BWP) of Bangladesh, Saiful Haque, has announced that freedom of speech is now unbridled across the nation, marking a significant expansion of the democratic political trend. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Haque stated that this newfound freedom was one of the key demands during the 2024 movement, allowing individuals, institutions, or parties to express opinions freely without fear of pressure or threat.
In his remarks during an interview on the occasion of International Democracy Day, Haque criticized the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina, which he accused of suppressing voting rights in elections from 2014 to 2024. He described the era as one of state terrorism, state fascism, and autocracy. The mass uprising of 2024, followed by an interim government, led to the February 2026 election. This election, according to Haque, resulted in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) winning a massive majority, thus forming a democratic government and initiating a positive trend in the country.
Saiful Haque highlighted that nearly seven months have passed since the democratic election, and for the first time, no terrorist activities have been reported. Incidents of enforced disappearance, repression, and politically motivated arrests have been minimal, he noted. This has allowed the country to shed its earlier political culture of fear, thus broadening the scope for practicing democratic rights.
Freedom of speech, Haque emphasized, was a crucial demand from the 2024 movement, and this demand has now been met. He noted that the opposition is exercising full freedom to criticize the government, which is a significant shift from the past. However, he pointed out that newspapers still practice self-censorship, not due to government pressure but perhaps out of a sense of responsibility.
While acknowledging the expanding democratic trend, Haque expressed concerns about certain constitutional and democratic institutions not operating independently. He specifically mentioned limitations within the Human Rights Commission, the Information Commission, and the judiciary. Haque underlined the importance of a balanced relationship between the executive, parliament, and judiciary for a modern democratic state to function effectively.
He also criticized the judiciary's past actions under the Awami League government, citing it as an extension of the party and a tool for persecuting the opposition. However, he acknowledged efforts by the BNP government over the past six months to move away from such practices.
Saiful Haque praised the BNP's efforts in restoring democracy, giving them an 'A plus' for their success in upholding people's rights. However, he noted that disparities remain for marginalized communities, including the poor, women, hill people, and small ethnic groups. He expressed optimism about the initiatives taken by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to uplift these disadvantaged sections of society.
International Democracy Day, observed on September 15, was declared by the UN General Assembly in 2007 to promote and consolidate democratic principles globally.