BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan issued a pointed rebuke against what he described as “cosmetic reforms” aimed at legitimizing the extension of the current government’s rule, calling such efforts a direct threat to Bangladesh’s democratic aspirations.

Speaking as chief guest at a May Day rally organized by the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal in the once-thriving Palash-Ghorashal industrial belt, Dr. Khan stated: “Those who advocate reforms only to justify extending the term of this government cannot be friends of democracy.”

While acknowledging the need for reform, Dr. Khan emphasized that genuine political renewal must begin with restoring electoral integrity. “Reforms are not a fixed goal—they are an ongoing process,” he said. “But alongside reforms, ensuring elections, democracy, and human rights is essential.”

In a broader critique of the ruling Awami League’s nearly two-decade tenure, Dr. Khan cited widespread corruption, mismanagement, and an erosion of labor rights as key contributors to the economic deterioration of once-prosperous industrial zones like Palash.

“Over 100 industries that once drove growth and employment have disappeared,” he said. “The ruling party has turned this industrial hub into a graveyard of lost potential.”

Warning against what he described as attempts to undermine democratic transition under the pretense of “balance,” Dr. Khan cautioned that “those who create obstacles in the name of balance are not on the side of the Bangladeshi people.”

He concluded by calling for a national course correction through “a credible, neutral election,” which he described as the only viable path toward restoring the rights of 180 million citizens.

The rally, which drew workers and grassroots supporters, was presided over by Sramik Dal leader Md. Al-Amin Bhuiyan and attended by BNP International Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Babul, Palash Upazila BNP Senior Joint Secretary Bahuddin Bhuiyan Milton, and Chhatra Dal President Nazmul Hossain Sohel, among others.

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