He added, “There is much to say, but I cannot speak it all from this platform. I have evidence about how the country has been damaged, who embezzled how much, and how much loot happened—but I will withhold those details for now.”

Referring to deliberate attempts to blame BNP for various unrest, Abbas said, “Wherever there is murder, looting, or extortion, a certain party tries to link BNP to it. This is a purposeful attempt to tarnish BNP’s image and put it in the dock before the people. We understand this very well.”

Addressing the new political party National Citizens Party (NCP), he said, “You want to come to power, and so do we. If the people vote for us, we will come to power; if not, we will accept that. But we want elections. BNP has fought for democracy and elections for the past 17 years.”

Abbas also criticized some political parties who, he said, do not want elections despite publicly supporting them, fearing BNP’s victory. “BNP has never ruled the country and will not; but we have tried and will try to govern.”

On the ongoing political turmoil, Abbas said, “Many say the 36-day movement gave Bangladesh a second independence. Bangladesh was liberated once in 1971, at the cost of millions of martyrs. Now, those responsible for killings in July-August—whether government officials, common people, or even Sheikh Hasina—must be brought to justice. Justice takes time and should proceed alongside elections. Don’t say elections should come only after justice is served.”

He accused the Awami League of conspiring from India to destabilize Bangladesh and prevent elections.

The discussion was chaired by JASAS Dhaka Metropolitan South acting president Shawkat Aziz. Other speakers included BNP Joint Secretary General Abdus Salam, Labor Affairs Secretary M A Malek, JASAS central convener Helal Uddin, and Abdur Rab Mia, father of people’s uprising martyr Miraj. The event concluded with a cultural program by JASAS artists.