Khasru urges unity for democratic order in upcoming elections

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury urged political parties on Sunday to unite for the upcoming elections instead of fighting in the streets. He told a gathering at the Institution of Diploma Engineers that blocking the vote would prevent democracy from returning to Bangladesh after 16 years of struggle against authoritarian rule.

Khasru said parties should present their platforms to voters rather than using violence to settle disputes. He warned that street confrontations would bring back conditions similar to Sheikh Hasina’s government, which collapsed 14 months ago. The country still lacks an elected parliament despite the lengthy battle for democratic rights.

The leader praised parties for signing a reform charter but stressed that restoring democratic practices requires tolerance and respect between rivals. He said elections serve as a filtering mechanism that allows citizens to judge competing visions. Khasru noted that Western democracies developed gradually through parliamentary processes.

He appealed to the parties to preserve the unity they had formed when they opposed fascism together. Differences in philosophy should not cause division but instead motivate groups to seek public mandates through voting.