Nothing except govt changed through student-people uprising: Gayeshwar

BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy has said that ‘nothing else’ except the government was changed through the student-people uprising.

“If all the cases of Awami League can be withdrawn in the time of 1/11, why are our cases not being withdrawn now? You yourselves have said that false cases were filed against us,” he said.

The BNP leader added: “When the Chief Adviser was humiliated with false cases, the entire nation demonstrated anger. Then why are torture, oppression and so many false cases filed against us not coming into your consideration?”

Gayeshwar said this while addressing a discussion titled “BNP's Role in Disaster Risk Reduction” at the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) here on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on Sunday.

Jatiyatabadi Prachar Dal organized the discussion with its President Mahfuz Kabir Mukta in the chair.

BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council Member Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, BNP Joint Secretary General Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, Sechasebok (Voluntary) Affairs Secretary Mir Sarfat Ali Sapu and National Executive Committee Member Shah Md Necharul Haque spoke on the occasion, among others.

Gayeshwar said, “Though we were sympathized and vocal about false cases filed against you (Chief Adviser to interim government). But after you took over the charge, the status of cases against us still remains the same and we are being compelled to go to courts as before. That's why I said though the government has changed, you and I remain the same as before”.

Extending greetings to all on the occasion of the Bijoya Dashami, he said the fate of Bangladesh has not changed yet.

Those, who shed blood, fell victim to enforced disappearance, lost their children and their parents for the welfare of the people and established their rights in the last 16 years, have lost everything, the BNP leader said.

“With the passage of time Sheikh Hasina has been ousted, but everything remains as before,” he added.

Speaking about elections, Gayeshwar urged the government to constitute an acceptable Election Commission (EC) that will be able to hold a free, fair and credible election.

Noting that as soon as the elections are held, the people’s participation will be high, he said, “If the election is held now, the vote turnover will surpass all the records of the elections held in the past in Bangladesh”.

During the last 16 years, people wanted to see a fair election so that they could cast their votes as they wished, he said. “Your (interim government) responsibility is to bring reforms that are necessary for holding a free and fair election”, he added.

“We have put forward a 31-point reform proposal. The political parties, on the basis of the reform proposal, will take decisions through consensus in the coming days.

 Elected public representatives will come to parliament and they will make those reforms based on consensus,” the BNP leader said.

Noting that if the interim government fails, the entire nation will fail, Gayeshwar said, “Your failure means the failure of the student-people movement. We want to see you successful. We are giving you all the support and we will give so.

 But make it clear to the people that you will hold the elections”.

Jatiyatabadi Prachar Dal Vice President Ruhul Amin presented the keynote paper in the discussion while Jatiyatabadi Prachar Dal General Secretary Akbar Hossain moderated it.