Dhaka [Bangladesh], March 6 (ANI): Bangladesh's Jatiya Party, which was an ally of the ousted premier Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, has called for free, fair and inclusive elections to be held on a level playing field with party leader Masroor Mawla emphasising that until polls are declared the country will not attract any investments.

'Unless the election is declared, no new investment will come in Bangladesh,' Masroor Mawla, a presidium member of Jatiya Party, said in an interview with ANI.

The Jatiya Party, founded by late President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, was part of the Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance, and participated in three previous general elections.

'What we have seen is that for the last six or seven months, this interim government has been running the country. So far, we haven't seen any development except the rising rate of everyday crimes. The economy has completely deteriorated because no new investors are coming to Bangladesh at the moment,' Masroor Mawla said in an interview with ANI.

'Whenever we talk to the international community, they only talk about elections, they want hear an election roadmap of Bangladesh. Unless the election is declared, no new investment is coming. The old investors, I mean the investor who already invested in Bangladesh huge amount of money are also feel insecure,' Mawla said.

Mawla, who is also the Special Envoy for International Affairs of the Jatiya Party has criticised the Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus' recent remarks which stated that the crime rate of the country had reduced from before.

'So what this government is doing, I am sure this government does not know what they are thinking about. I don't see any focus on the economy. A few days back Professor Yunus spoke to one of the BBC journalists, he said, the crime rate is now normal than before. Honestly speaking, how can you judge or how you differentiate about the crime rate in Bangladesh. How many general diaries or the cases are being recorded in the police station that you have to see first', Mawla said.

Jatiya Party's headquarters in Dhaka was set ablaze by protesters in November last year for their alliance with ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Mawla said that he had gone to the police station for filing the case regarding arson and vandalism of the party's central office, however, none of the cases had been recorded.

'I faced a lot of difficulties when I went to the police stations to file case about the burning and vandalizing our central office. We wanted to file case, but none of the cases has been recorded. If you look into this way, you will find the answer, whether the crime rate is stable or crime rate is deteriorated,' he said.

The Jatiya Party leader further said that Professor Yunus does not have any idea about the law and order situation in the country.

'I think Professor Yunus is out of his mind. I am sure he is not following the law and order where going. He doesn't have any idea, he doesn't have any clue. Because if you talk about law and order, you will find no law and order at all,' Mawla said.

He accused the the Yunus-led government of differentiating between political parties and claimed that the Jatiya Party is not being given level-playing field alleging that media in the country have been directed to 'not give coverage' to them.

'After our Jatiya Party office burned down, our office is still active, regular activities are going on, the question is regarding our political role, we haven't got any level playing field so far. A level playing field is being given only to other two political parties, not Jatiya Party. That is the reason we are doing the meeting is internal. Outside we can't do any meeting,' he said.

'This government is differentiating between the political parties. Professor Yunus has called unity, he has called level playing field for all the political parties, he said election will be inclusive, how he is talking about because we are completely neglected. Even they said to the media to do censor or not to give any coverage of our political activities,' Mawla said.

Masroor Mawla said that Jatiya Party will participate in the polls if they are held free and fair and the level playing field is ensured. He said that Jatiya Party does not trust the present local administration.

In response to a question, he said, 'Of course, Jatiya Party will participate in the election if election is held free and fair and the level playing field is ensured. It should be inclusive. If don't all party participate, we will not participate. We don't trust the present local government administration. We have not any faith on them. We have requested the United Nations and other stakeholders in international community, we told that we need United Nations and Bangladesh army intervention. Without their intervention election will not be free and fair'.

Regarding the newly launched political outfit the National Citizen Party (NCP) led by the students, the Jatiya Party leader said, 'As a democratic country, everybody can form a political party. I don't think it is a negative thing. But the question is what is their motto?. What I have seen, their first stand was Inquilab Zindabad. What does it mean Inqilab Zindabad, in English Inqilab means revolution, but why do they have to say Inqilab Zindabad, they could have said in a different form, so there is a big question mark for me what is their moto.'

Responding to a question regarding Bangladesh's relation with India, he said both the neighbouring countries need to rely on each other to maintain stabilty.

'We are the neighbouring countries, India needs us, We need India, We can't ignore India. The students are completely out of reality. Maybe somebody from somewhere is poisoning them and feeding them poisonous things against the neighbouring country. To keep our country stable, the economy as well as security, we need India and India needs us'.

In August 2024, a student-led movement led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after weeks of protests and violence. According to a UN fact-finding assessment report, as many as 1,400 people could have been killed during the protests. Hasina, 76, fled to India, and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was subsequently formed. (ANI)