Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Wednesday warned his party men that people will treat BNP as a ‘failed opposition party’ if it cannot realise its demand for a fair election and restoration of democracy through a successful movement.

‘I want to tell you that if you think we should press for our demands only by such discussions and meetings, you’re making a mistake. We don’t have any other alternative to waging a movement for it’, he told his party colleagues.

Speaking at a discussion, he further said, ‘We must keep it in mind that if we can make our movement a success, we’ll be victorious. But, if we fail to do that, we’ll not only be loser, but also be treated as a failed opposition party by all.’

BNP arranged the discussion at Mohanagar Natyamancha marking the 81st birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman.

Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, said their chairperson Khaleda Zia is still very active with strong mental strength to lead any movement.

‘We must make all the democratic forces of the country united under her (Khaleda’s) leadership to restore democracy.’

He said a fair election is not possible under the Awami League-led government, no matter how much stronger EC is formed as the government will not allow it to work independently.

Mentioning that no election since the 1974, except 1991, 1996 and 2001 ones overseen by caretaker government, was fair, the BNP leader said it is the reality in Bangladesh that fair election is not possible unless it is taken care of by a neutral election-time administration.

Appreciating President Abdul Hamid for holding talks with political parties for constituting the next EC, he said, ‘If we can form a neutral Election Commission through the President’s initiative, it’ll be the first step (for fair polls).’

The second step should be, Moudud said, forming an election-time neutral government which will assist the EC to work independently. ‘This administration will be non-partisan which will have no political link and any interest in the election results.’

Another BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hosssain said the government has been constantly conspiring to weaken BNP and remove all the symbols of Ziaur Rahman as it fears him and his party.

‘It won’t be possible to destroy BNP which the country’s majority people support. The more the government will try to weaken it the more it will be strengthened’, he observed.

Mosharraf said the country’s economy is now at stake for unabated plundering from financial sector by the ruling party men for lack of democracy and a pro-people government.

Mosharraf said as a party of Ziaur Rahman it is BNP’s responsibility to save people from the misrule of the current regime and restore democracy.

‘On this birthday of Ziaur Rahman, we want to take an oath that we’ll restore people’s rights and democracy and establish a government of people by holding his ideals’, he added.