Dhaka, May 20 -- BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday expressed grave concern over what he termed a "new dark shadow" threatening Bangladesh's democratic future. He warned of a concerted effort to derail the upcoming national election and deny citizens their right to vote.

"After the blood and sacrifices of countless students and ordinary people, a new hope for real democracy and a modern, fascism-free Bangladesh had begun to emerge. But now, that hope is under threat once again," Fakhrul said during a virtual address from Thailand, where he is recovering from recent eye surgery. His remarks were delivered at a joint meeting of the BNP and its affiliated organizations.

Fakhrul alleged that a calculated conspiracy...