Desk Report:
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, ‘Our party has nominated you (the disabled) in the past and will do so in the future. We want to run the state together with everyone like you.’
He said this as the chief guest at a three-day program titled ‘Peace-Building Disabled Advocate Training’ held at the office of ‘Bangladesh Protibandhi Kalyan Samity’ adjacent to Dakshinkhan Bazar in the capital today (September 15).
Responding to journalists’ questions about elections under the PR system, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, ‘Each political party will have its own philosophy, ideas, and opinions. After many years, it is time for the people of the country to exercise their voting rights. Anyone can do whatever they want by participating in the next national election and gaining the support of the people and coming to power in the state.’
Responding to a question from the disabled people who came from different parts of the country, Amir Khasru said, ‘There is no room for any kind of division among the citizens of Bangladesh. Because the Constitution of Bangladesh talks about equal rights for every citizen. There is no mention of a disabled person here, only of a citizen.’
Amir Khasru said at the event, ‘I do not believe in the word minority, my party does not believe in it either. I personally feel a little bit of crisis when I say disabled. When I say disabled, they are treated differently. I want to see all citizens of Bangladesh equally. So I do not want to use this word.’
Amir Khasru said, ‘BNP is not only a political party, BNP is also a productive party. It has to acquire capacity according to what it needs. To increase capacity, the state has to invest in increasing the capacity of those like you.’
Former PP Advocate Khademul Karim, who is physically disabled, presided over the event. At that time, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s advisor Dr. Ziauddin Haider and many others were present.
