BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan urges vigilance, free polls to seize rare chance restore democracy. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Feb 4, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Standing Committee Member and Chairman of the party's central election management committee Nazrul Islam Khan today said an opportunity has emerged after a long time to restore democracy in the country and no one should be allowed to unjustly waste it.

"If the upcoming election is not free, fair and impartial, public frustration will have no end. Everyone must remain vigilant so that the opportunity to restore democracy is not squandered by anyone," he said.

Nazrul Islam Khan made the remarks while speaking at an exchange of views meeting with members of the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at a city hotel in Gulshan.

He said elections are the main vehicle of democracy, adding that without elections there can be no democracy. To ensure people's right to express their opinions, a neutral election is extremely important, he added.

Addressing journalists, he said media professionals have access to the most information about the country and seeking the truth is one of their fundamental responsibilities.

He also said casting fake votes is a crime and preventing anyone from voting is an equally serious offence, stressing the need for vigilance so that no unethical or unlawful activities take place during the election process.

Expressing concern over media ownership and neutrality, Nazrul Islam Khan said most media outlets are owned by industrialists or businesspeople who are directly or indirectly involved in politics, creating political influence over the media. 

Despite these challenges, he urged journalists to play a neutral and objective role in news presentation.

The meeting was chaired by BNP chairman's adviser and chief coordinator of the central election management committee Islam Jabiyullah and inaugurated by BNP senior joint secretary general and member secretary of the committee Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

BNP chairman's adviser and election management committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin, former election commissioner Dr Zakaria, RFED president Kazi Jebel, general secretary Golam Rabbani, former president Saidur Rahman and others also spoke at the meeting.