Dhaka, July 20 -- BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said democracy could once again come under threat if political parties fail to maintain a minimum level of mutual understanding on key national issues.

"Political parties must collectively maintain at least a minimum understanding on some fundamental national issues. If they fail to do so, democracy will once again be endangered. Along with democracy, the country's independence and sovereignty could also be put at risk," he said at a discussion at the auditorium of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology.

He alleged that the previous "fascist" government systematically dismantled democratic institutions including the Election Com...