BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday voiced frustration over the Chief Adviser’s address to the nation as he did not unveil an outline for the election.
Speaking at a discussion, he also warned BNP leaders and workers not to create a distance from the students who made the movement against the Awami League regime a success.
The BNP leader said many became happy over Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus’s address to the nation on Sunday, marking the interim government’s completion of 100 days in office.
“But I am a bit disappointed. I was hoping that the Chief Adviser, with all his wisdom, would identify the problems and give an outline for the election,” he observed.
BNP arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 48th death anniversary of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.
Fakhrul emphasised that the election can solve half of the country’s problems, regardless of whether the BNP comes to power.
Besides, he said, those who want to harm and destabilise Bangladesh and lead the country into conflict will be forced to back down if an elected government is formed with the mandate of the people.
“We don’t just want reforms, we have initiated them and we’ll do them. We request you to move forward with a people-accepted approach. We have not created any obstacles so far; rather, we are supporting you in every case,” the BNP leader said.
He questioned how the government will carry out reforms while associates of the autocrats are staying in place in their positions in the Secretariat.
“I believe this government and the youth will be able to build a new Bangladesh,” Fakhrul said.
He said it is a fact that the students finally played the major role in ousting the Sheikh Hasina regime, though BNP had struggled for 17 years. “So, we shouldn’t create any distance with the students. We should think about it. Students are saying many things, and they have that right.”
He said BNP wants reforms to be done within a logical time; otherwise, people will get the impression that the government has bad intentions to stay in power for a longer period. “From our experience, we are saying to hold the election for the welfare of the nation.”
Fakhrul said the election should be arranged after completion of the necessary reforms.
He recalled Maulana Bhasani’s contributions to the nation as a patriotic politician. “His presence is felt in our entire existence.”
Born in an ordinary family, Fakhrul said, Bhasani was an exceptional and legendary national leader.
Earlier, on Sunday, Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus said the government would issue a roadmap for the election once decisions on electoral reforms are made.
