BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday accused the Awami League (AL) of hatching conspiracies to completely destroy democracy. “The fall of the autocratic government has not yet been completed. Autocratic ruler Ershad is still sustained. Their collaborator, the Awami League, has helped him to sustain,” he said while speaking at a discussion at Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

The BNP leader iterated his demand for talks to find out the path for holding an acceptable election. “There is still time… Please take the initiative for talks. I believe that we'll be able to find out a path for holding an acceptable election,” he said.

He called upon youths to get united and work together to force the government to hold the next general election under a neutral administration and neutral Election Commission (.

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) of 90 and Sorbodoliya Chhatra Oikya organised the meeting to mark "Democracy Day".

Presided over by former vice-president of the DUCSU, Amanullah Aman, the meeting was addressed by BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, BNP adviser Habibur Rahman Habib, Khairul Kabir Khokan, Mostafizur Rahman Babul, Saifuddin Ahmed Moni, Khandaker Lutfor Rahman, Asadur Rahman Asad, Azizul Bari Helal, Advocate Rafique Sikder, Nazimuddin Alam and Kamruzzaman Raton, among others.

Fakhrul said the AL is afraid of holding a free and fair election, sensing that it has become isolated and lost its popularity. Terming the AL a “fascist autocrat”, Fakhrul said Ershad was not worse than the AL as he had not killed people by firing at rallies.