BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan . File Photo

DHAKA, June 16, 2025 (BSS)- BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has said people of Bangladesh are eagerly awaiting for vote, as the spirit of voting is deeply ingrained in their identity.

“If you ask the people of Bangladesh what they want, their answer will be- we want vote, even in hunger, they don’t complain— they simply cherish to exercise their right to vote. It’s in their blood. They are looking forward to doing so in a festive atmosphere,” he said.

Moyeen Khan made this remark while replying to questions from journalists at a press briefing at the political office of the BNP Chairperson in the capital’s Gulshan.

The briefing was arranged after a meeting between British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke and BNP delegation, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. 

Organizing Secretary and Special Assistant to the BNP Chairperson's Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee Member Shama Obaid was also included in the delegation.

Moyeen Khan said a range of issues — including the country’s current state of politics, education, economy, healthcare, and instability in the Middle East— were discussed during the meeting with Sarah Cook. 

When asked about the next elections, he said, people of Bangladesh wish to see their democratic aspirations genuinely reflected.

He added that millions— including a new generation who haven’t had the opportunity to vote for the past 17 years— are eager to participate in the electoral process. 

“Whenever the government gives a clear signal, the Election Commission will announce poll schedule and people across the country become visibly jubilant to exercise their franchise,” he noted.

Referring to his recent visit to village home, Moyeen Khan said, “I witnessed huge enthusiasm among people for vote, and I believe that same excitement is prevailing across Bangladesh.”

Highlighting people's desire to vote in a festive atmosphere, the senior BNP leader said, “For the people of Bangladesh, the Election Day is like the celebration of Pahela Baishakh— it’s a festival. That’s why they eagerly await the moment they can cast their votes and exercise their fundamental rights.”

He added, “The real discussion lies on that the people will choose their own representatives. We have also talked about how, once democracy is fully restored in Bangladesh and a government is elected through the people’s vote, it will open the door to deepening cooperation on various matters with Britain in the future.”

When asked whether the BNP had any specific demand regarding the election date, Moyeen Khan responded, “These aren’t demands in the true sense. Sometimes I feel we’re stuck in a paradigm where simply making demands is expected. But Bangladesh needs to move beyond that. What we truly need is a spirit of reconciliation.”

He added, “Since June 13, there has been a qualitative shift in the country's atmosphere. Regardless of what anyone says, this change is undeniable. People are now hopeful and forward-looking. They’ve begun to dream again with the belief that democracy will return to Bangladesh.”

Highlighting that Bangladesh was founded for democracy, he said that millions sacrificed their lives for this cause. “We need democracy,” he emphasized, adding that democratic institutions must be rebuilt and reinforced so that the people can fully exercise their democratic rights in this country.

Regarding the unrest in the Middle East, Moyeen Khan noted, “The root of this crisis lies in the Gaza Strip. It has been discussed that the entire world is drifting toward instability, which is clearly not a healthy environment. Our only hope is for a peaceful solution.”

He continued, “It’s always the ordinary people who suffer the most in such conflicts. Who gains? It's those who manufacture weapons and drones — the business interests that profit from war. They want their products to be used and sold. But the ones paying the price are innocent civilians. That’s why this conflict must be resolved, and we hope to see a peaceful abode.”