Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Saturday said their movement under Khaleda Zia’s leadership will continue until democracy is restored in the country.

‘We’ve been on a movement for establishing true democracy in the country and it’ll continue under Khaleda’s leadership until the restoration of democracy,’ he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also sought cooperation from people in making their movement a success.

Afsar Ahmed Siddique Foundation arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 14th death anniversary of ex-BNP vice chairman Afsar Ahmed Siddique.

Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said their party does not want to go to power by any means or through a lopsided election like that of January-5 one. ‘Many people became MPs without votes in the last election and this is the brand of Awami League’s democracy. But we want true democracy for which we liberated the country.’

The BNP leader urged the government to accept their demand for arranging an election under a non-party administration to resolve the country’s political crisis.

Speaking at another programme, Nazrul Islam alleged that the government has been suffering from Khaleda and Tarique phobia. ‘The ruling party blames Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman for anything bad happens as they’re suffering from Khaleda and Tarique phobia.’

Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal arranged the doa mahfil programme at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office seeking early recovery of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, now in London.

Referring to media reports that Swechchhasebak Dal president Habibun-Nabi Khan Sohel will be charged with the murder of Italian citizen Cesare Tavella, Nazrul urged the government to refrain from bringing such ‘strange’ allegation against the opposition men.

Cesare Tavella was gunned down by some miscreants on 28 September in the city’s Gulshan area.