Dhaka: BNP Standing Committee Member and Chairman of the party’s central election management committee, Nazrul Islam Khan, emphasized the critical opportunity to restore democracy in the country, urging that it should not be wasted. He highlighted the necessity for vigilance to ensure free, fair, and impartial elections to prevent public frustration from escalating.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Nazrul Islam Khan expressed these views during an exchange of opinions with members of the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at a city hotel in Gulshan. He stressed that elections are fundamental to democracy, noting that without them, democracy cannot exist. He underscored the importance of neutral elections to uphold people’s right to express their opinions.
Addressing the journalists present, Khan remarked on the media’s crucial role in seeking and presenting the truth. He pointed out that casting fake votes and preventing lawful voting are serious offenses that require vigilance to avoid any unethical or unlawful activities during the election process.
Khan also raised concerns about the ownership and neutrality of media outlets, noting that many are owned by individuals with political affiliations, which could influence media impartiality. Despite these challenges, he called on journalists to maintain neutrality and objectivity in their reporting.
The meeting was chaired by Islam Jabiyullah, BNP chairman’s adviser and chief coordinator of the central election management committee, and was inaugurated by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP senior joint secretary general and member secretary of the committee. Other notable speakers included BNP chairman’s adviser and election management committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin, former election commissioner Dr. Zakaria, RFED president Kazi Jebel, general secretary Golam Rabbani, and former president Saidur Rahman.