BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged all political parties to participate in the upcoming national election to move the country’s democratic process forward, setting aside minor differences.

He made the call while addressing the anniversary celebration of the daily Naya Diganta in Dhaka.

Bangladesh can only progress through a free and fair election. If the polls are held on time, we’ll be able to return to a truly democratic system,” Fakhrul said.

The BNP leader alleged that during the previous government’s tenure, around 6 million party activists were implicated in false cases, while 20,000 were either disappeared or killed.

He also emphasized that instead of allowing political violence and divisions to intensify, parties should view the election as their ultimate destination.

At the same event, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of “establishing BAKSAL through a unique formula,” claiming that at the time, all media outlets produced news based on her dictated statements.

Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam, who was also present, said the current media has failed to expose the culture of fear that existed under the previous government, stressing that journalists now have a responsibility to bring those issues to light.