Bangladesh’s primary opposition party has called on voters to boycott the upcoming general election scheduled for next year, emphasizing their demand for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), facing challenges with its top leaders either incarcerated or in exile, advocates for Hasina’s resignation and the appointment of a neutral authority to supervise the January 7 polls, which the BNP itself is not participating in.
Despite persistent calls for her resignation, Hasina, seeking her fourth consecutive term, rejects the opposition’s demands. She attributes the ongoing anti-government protests in Dhaka, which have resulted in at least 10 fatalities since late October, to the BNP’s instigation.
During an online press briefing, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General, urged citizens to “boycott the dummy election on January 7” and refrain from participating in what he termed a “monkey game.” He called for a widespread withdrawal, urging government employees involved in organizing the election to quit and advocating a halt to all services, including banking and the judicial system.
Rizvi further proposed the suspension of taxes, fees, utility bills, and other payments to the government.
Amid accusations from rights groups, the government denies targeting opposition leaders and supporters but faces international pressure, especially from Western nations, to ensure free, fair, and participatory elections.
