BNP’s Fakhrul urges Hasina to look at Malaysian election

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to look at the Malaysian polls that toppled an “undemocratic and corrupt” government.

“I’m urging this illegal government and the prime minister to take a look at the Malaysian election.”

“The government cannot resist public opinion even with all the strength if it falls out of favour with people or sinks in corruption. Malaysia is a glaring example,” Fakhrul said.

He spoke at an event in Dhaka on Friday marking the 34th anniversary of Khaleda Zia’s leadership for BNP.

The 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as the prime minister of Malaysia on Thursday after the Pakatan Harapan coalition defeated the ruling Barisan Nasional led by Najib Razak who got embroiled in a massive corruption scandal.

Highlighting the BNP chairperson’s leadership role in different movements and politics, Fakhrul claimed that Khaleda was unlawfully jailed.

About the upcoming Gazipur and Khulna City Corporation elections scheduled for May 15, Fakhrul said the government has been staging a drama over the elections out of fear to be defeated.

He alleged that police arrested their party leaders and activists, including the prospective polling agents of the party’s mayoral candidate in Khulna polls, in a sweeping crackdown.

The BNP leader said police have turned into an opponent of BNP as they are trying to influence the election in favour of the Awami League.