Staff Correspondent

The Bangladesh Editors' Forum has strongly condemned and protested the BNP-Jamaat's arson, sabotage, burning and conspiracy in the name of boycotting the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections on January 7.

In a statement signed by Bangladesh Editors' Forum Chief Advisor journalist leader Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Convener Rafiqul Islam Ratan and Member Secretary Farooq Ahmed Talukdar, said that since October 28, BNP-Jamaat and some of their like-minded parties have been conducting continuous blockades, hartals and protests in the name of boycotting and preventing elections. The people of the country have already rejected and resisted the terror and anarchy created by the non-cooperation program by burning vehicles and trains and killing people.

It is a democratic right of any individual and party to decide to participate in the elections or abstain from the elections. But the attempt to create an unstable situation in the country by rigging the election in the name of boycotting the election is completely illegal and a crime.

We strongly demand the law enforcement forces to take strict action against this. The 2013-2015 BNP-Jamaat election rigging that killed hundreds of people through terrorism was rejected by the people with disgust and the elections were completed on time.

This time too the terrorism and sabotage caused by BNP-Jamaat will not be able to stop the elections and the elections will be held properly on time.

It is to be noted that the many countries and international organizations including the United Nations have called for a fair and peaceful election in Bangladesh, we call on them to keep a watchful eye on the anti-election terrorism and sabotage caused by the BNP-Jamaat in the name of boycotting elections.