Don’t flip-flop on election date, BNP’s Dudu tells interim government

The BNP leader says he believes the election is being delayed to avoid the BNP forming a government by securing the people’s support and votes

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu has bashed the interim government for not setting a timeframe for the general election.

He alleges that the polls are being delayed in order to bypass the BNP.

The party leader’s statements came at a youth rally on Friday.

“People are quite worried about the actions of this government,” he said. “We don’t understand what it wants.”

‘‘We believe the election is being delayed to bypass the BNP, so it can’t form the government through an election by securing the people’s support and votes.”

Addressing the government, Dudu said: “What you’ll do or not do for Bangladesh is not the major issue. Announce a roadmap immediately top pave the way for an elected government. Tell us when the election will be held - which month, which year.”

‘‘Once you say December, and then you say June… stop this farce. We are not built for this.”

The rally organised by Bangladesh Gonotantrik Parishad was held near the National Press Club to demand the uncovering of the whereabouts of BNP leader Iliyas Ali, Chodhury Alam and other leaders and activists subjected to enforced disappearances.

‘WE WANT VISIBLE TRIAL FOR ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES’

Dudu said the enforced disappearance of Iliyas, Alam and others was heartbreaking. “We can’t even pray for their departed souls as we don’t know if Iliyas Ali and Chowdhury Alam have already died or are still alive. How will their families pray to Allah?”

‘‘People in Bangladesh know that Hasina created this deadlock. She not only abducted him (Iliyas Ali) but also wanted to annihilate him. I demand Hasina be hanged for the enforced disappearances of Ilyas Ali, Chowdhury Alam and thousands of national leaders, student leaders, youth leaders who are still missing. Take initiative to ensure the trial of enforced disappearance and killings.”

He said the BNP was clear about whether the government would ensure the trial or not. “It has already been eight months. Why has the chief advisor or any other advisor not visited the home of Iliyas Ali, a former parliamentarian? What are you busy with?”

‘‘You never visited the homes of those who fought to oust Hasina. You went to Ayna Ghar, that place of enforced disappearance, after five months.”

Dudu said the current situation in Bangladesh showed that those who destroyed democracy for the past 15-16 years are somehow being saved and some conspiracy has been hatched to save them.

‘‘Let’s bring the looters to justice. Those in the administration and law enforcing agencies who protected and allowed fascism to breed, should face justice. Take legal actions against them.”

‘GOVT ONLY DOING ROUTINE WORK’

“This government can’t do anything but the routine work,” said Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, a member of the Advisory Council to the BNP Chairperson.

‘‘The current administration focuses on two issues – the first is to arrive at the office on time and then rush back home as soon as work hours are over. The other one is to delay work. To procrastinate with a file and finally dump it on a colleague. That’s why everything has become stagnant.”