Bangladeshi diaspora urged to remain vigilant ahead of national election

Bangladeshi expatriates in the United States have been urged to remain alert against any attempts to derail the country’s upcoming national election.

The call came from Dr Sheikh Farhad, Proctor and Associate Professor at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), during a discussion with leaders of the Diploma Engineers Association of Bangladesh (DUAB), US chapter. The meeting was held on 27 August at Mezzan Party Hall in Jamaica, New York, and was chaired by DUAB President Engineer Sharif Chowdhury Pappu.

In his remarks, Dr Farhad criticised the previous Awami League government, accusing it of curbing freedom of speech and voting rights. He praised the current administration for what he described as freeing the nation from a “suffocating situation” and said that a credible national election would restore full democratic rights to the people.

“Conspiracies are underway to foil the upcoming election,” Dr Farhad warned. “Expatriates, alongside people at home, must stay vigilant to prevent any force from sabotaging it. Democracy in Bangladesh depends on a free and fair election.”

Highlighting the historic role of the diaspora in key movements, including the 1971 Liberation War and later uprisings, Dr Farhad said the BNP’s overseas supporters had always stood by the party in difficult times. He expressed hope that BNP would secure a landslide victory in the forthcoming polls and that its acting chairman Tarique Rahman would return to lead the country as prime minister.

Other speakers at the event included Maulana Wali Ullah Md Atiqur Rahman, President of New York State BNP, along with General Secretary Saidur Rahman Said, Bangladesh Society’s Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Jamal Ahmed Jony, and Democratic Party district leader Attorney Moin Chowdhury.