BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday alleged that people’s right to elect their representatives by casting votes has been stanched through a ‘lopsided and voter-less’ general election on January 5, 2014, reports UNB.  In a message, she urged people to get united and work together to ensure their basic rights and protect the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy. The message was issued on the occasion of the historic Mass Upsurge Day, commemorating a strong movement of students and people from all walks of life against the then Pakistani autocratic regime of Ayub Khan, on January 24, 1969. Khaleda paid homage to the valiant sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives during the movement in 1969 and other democratic movements and prayed for salvation of their departed souls.