'Restoring' democracy BNP's resolution

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said “restoring” democracy, installing a pro-people government and forcing the government to hold an acceptable national elections are the major challenges for their party in 2018.

He, however, said their party still wants to hold talks with the government over the 11th parliamentary elections.

“We've long been talking about dialogues. No problem, we think, can be resolved without talks. But, the government has taken a position to hold the polls... without a dialogue only to cement one-party rule. People won't accept it.”

Fakhrul came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave along with leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), marking its 39th founding anniversary.

He said people think a credible and neutral election is not possible without a non-party election-time neutral government.

The BNP leader said their party thinks 2018 will be a year of people and victory of democracy, and people will make it happen.

Referring to the movement of teachers and employees of non-MPO educational institutions demanding enlistment under the government's Monthly Pay Order (MPO) facilities, he said their party fully supports the justified demand and protest programmes of the teachers.

Fakhrul, on behalf of their party's student wing Chhatra Dal, congratulated the people on the New Year. He hoped that JCD will play a pivotal role in restoring democracy and resolving students' problems by strengthening their organisational capacity.