BNP on Monday termed ‘ridiculous’ and ‘deceptive’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s statements made in her interview with Voice of America over Bangladesh’s election.

‘The Prime Minister’s comments on election in an interview with the Voice of America are considered absurd and misleading not only to the country’s people but also to the global community. Her comments also made the country’s people surprised and speechless,’ said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

During her recent interview with the Voice of America, Hasina said a ‘farce’ had been staged in the name of election since the assassination of the Father of the Nation and those who had illegally come to power destroyed the election system.

She also said her government restored democratic system and developed the country’s election system. ‘People can now exercise their right to franchise in the elections, and this is our contribution.’

Protesting her remarks, Rizvi said all the elections held since the 2009 were marred with government-sponsored terrorism, vote rigging, polling station capture and snatching ballot boxes while the Election Commission has been made the government’s ‘rubberstamp’ by repeatedly forming it with controversial people.

‘We would like to say it won’t be possible to confuse people with falsehood. We strongly denounce and protest the Prime Minister’s remarks,’ he said.

Describing Hasina as the snatcher of people’s voting rights, Rizvi said as per her definition of democracy the country should be run unilaterally by a single party stopping the activities of all other parties, obliterating alternative opinions and controlling the media.

Turning to Rohingya issue, the BNP leader said expecting Rohingya mothers are badly suffering for lack of food and healthcare. ‘There’s no step to ensure the protection and healthcare of the expecting mothers.’

Rizvi, who visited Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday, also said the refugees are facing a serious humanitarian crisis under the open sky amid rain and scorching hot weather.

He said it is very crucial to ensure pure drinking water and sanitation system alongside healthcare in the Rohingya camps.

The BNP leader said they installed some tube-wells and set up permanent sanitation there with their limited ability.