TEN-POINT DEMAND FOR RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY

Spotlight | By BNP Media Cell | On

Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP on Saturday, Dec 10, 2022,  announced a 10-point charter of demands, including the resignation of the fascist Awami League government and the restoration of the election-time caretaker government system, to restore democracy in the country.

The BNP’s national standing committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain announced the ten-points demand. 

The ten-point demands are as follows… 

  1. The ruling fascist regime that grabbed power through stolen election, disenfranchising the citizens of Bangladesh must resign and dissolve the current unelected illegal parliament. 
  2. A neutral non-party Caretaker government has to be formed in keeping with Section Kha, Ga and Gha of Article 58 of the constitution that was added to the constitution in 1996. 
  3. The non-party Caretaker government has to repeal the current illegal election commission and form a new independent and neutral election commission which is acceptable to all. The new commission, as an inevitable prerequisite of ensuring a level playing field, would amend the RPO, cancel EVM system and ensure voting through paper ballot. And the use of party symbols has to be abolished in local government elections. 
  4. Orders of conviction against all opposition leaders and workers including Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia, human rights activists and journalists performing duties professionally and that of Alems (religious leaders) have to be quashed; all false cases against them be withdrawn and the political prisoners freed immediately. Not to create any obstacle in assembly and expression of opinions in the country, no administrative interference or ruling party hindrance in carrying out democratic and peaceful programs by all parties independently, no new cases and arrests of opposition party leaders and workers to silence the opposition voices in autocratic style. 
  5. Digital Security Act-2018, Anti-Terrorism Act-2009, Special Power Act-1974 and all other draconian laws against fundamental human rights must be repealed. 
  6. The government’s anti-people decision to increase the prices of power, energy, gas, fertilizer, water and every other public service has to be withdrawn. 
  7. The prices of essential commodities must be brought within the people’s purchasing capacity. The market of essential commodities has to be freed from existing corrupt syndicates. Price-index based wages for the working class has to be ensured in line with inflation. Child labour must be stopped and fair prices for agricultural products have to be ensured. 
  8. A Commission has to be set up to identify incidents of money laundering, corruption in all public sectors including banking and financial sectors, power-energy and stock market over the last 15 years. 
  9. All victims of enforced disappearances over the last 15 years must be rescued and punishment against the perpetrators of each and every incident of extrajudicial killings and state sponsored torture has to be meted out. Punishment under legal process must be ensured against those involved in persecution against religious minorities, attack on their homesteads, places of worship and usurpation of their properties. 
  10. Law enforcement agencies, public administration and judiciary must be freed from government interference so that they can discharge their duties independently under institutional discipline with professionalism. 

10-Point demands in short… 

  • Dissolution of parliament, resignation of government
  • Formation of 1996-like impartial caretaker government
  • Reconstitution of EC, scrap of EVM use, reform of RPO
  • Cancellation of sentences against Khaleda, other opposition leaders, journalists, activists, Islamic scholars and release of political prisoners
  • Repeal of repressive laws like Digital Security Act-2018, Anti-Terrorism Act, Special Powers Act
  • Scrap of decision to increase prices of power, gas, fuel, water
  • Control of price hikes of essentials
  • Formation of commission to identify pervasive corruption 
  • Rescue of missing citizens, speedy trial of extrajudicial killing, torture 
  • Independent functioning of law enforcement agencies, administration, judiciary without government interference

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