Government has ill-intention in prioritising development over democracy

There is no democracy and rule of law in the country, and restoring those is a big challenge, BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said yesterday.

"Democracy has been exiled… Bangladesh is in danger now. We all have to be united to restore democracy and people's rights using the spirit of Shaheed Zia," he said.

He made the comments after placing wreaths at the grave of ex-president and party founder Ziaur Rahman on his 80th birth anniversary, along with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Separately Fakhrul told a discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) that the intention of the government was not good. The government is giving priority to development over democracy, but it is not possible to  ensure development by dividing the people, he said.

Asked about the government's plan to shift Zia's grave from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, BNP Vice Chairman Abdullah AL Noman said it was a government trick to know about people's reaction.

It is not possible to remove his grave from this place, because there is no instance a "mazar" was shifted from one place to another in the country, he added.  

BNP, its associate bodies, and district units observed the day with various programmes. The Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) arranged a free medical camp and voluntary blood donation drive on the ground floor of BNP's Nayapaltan central office.