Constitutional amendments must be made by elected officials: BNP's Nazrul

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan stresses the urgency of establishing an elected government, warning that delays could lead to new threats

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan has stressed the need to ensure that a duly elected government takes the reins soon, saying that any amendment to the constitution must be made by elected representatives.

He highlighted the potential dangers that could arise if elections are not held without delay during a rally at the National Press Club on Saturday.

The rally was held to demand the reintroduction of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani's biography in 7th and 9th-grade textbooks.

The BNP leader remarked that despite the downfall of 'fascism' during the student-led mass uprising in July and August, the aspiration for 'restoring democracy' and 're-establishing people's rights' remains strong.

He stressed that democracy should be reinstated in a way that protects against misuse. "We need a democracy that truly serves and belongs to the people. For this to happen, essential reforms must be implemented swiftly to re-establish a government elected by the people of Bangladesh."

Nazrul highlighted the urgency of establishing an elected government, warning that delays could lead to the emergence of new organisations and individuals pushing their agendas under the guise of representing public aspirations.

Only elected representatives have the legitimacy to speak on behalf of the people, he said, adding, "Claims by even the largest party in Bangladesh about representing the people's will must be validated by the people themselves. Without their approval, these claims cannot be accepted."

"It is crucial that the country is governed democratically, with the confidence and consent of the people, aligning with their true aspirations. To achieve this, our constitution needs to be amended to include the necessary provisions."