The BNP leader stresses the importance of a credible electoral process for national stability
Published : 30 Oct 2024, 07:54 PM
Bangladesh must focus on elections to ensure its survival as a state, says BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Fakhrul urged the government to prioritise elections over other issues during a discussion held in honour of the 17th founding anniversary of the National People's Party, or NPP, at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Wednesday.
The BNP leader said, “If we want to survive as a state and as a nation, and if we want to move forward, then we need an election that is acceptable to all, with participation from everyone, and that is completely neutral. Our most pressing need and greatest challenge now is to establish a democratic state.”
Three days after the fall of the Awami League government amid a mass uprising, the interim government, though pledged to uphold the constitution, appears more focused on ‘state reform’ than clarifying election timelines.
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, the BNP has been demanding elections within 90 days of dissolving parliament, as per constitutional guidelines.
The Constitution mandates elections within a maximum of 180 days under exceptional circumstances, if the first 90-day period cannot be met.
Initially, the BNP had indicated that it would allow the government a ‘reasonable time’, but it has since ramped up calls for elections through different programmes.
In response to the formation of a search committee for appointing the Election Commission, Fakhrul said: “We had hoped they would consult political parties and stakeholders before forming this committee.
“However, we do not consider this a major setback. We hope for the swift formation of the Election Commission so they can proceed with their duty [to conduct elections],” he added.
Mirza Fakhrul believes that this government has no alternative political agenda.
He added that Muhammad Yunus is a globally admired figure who is deeply loved and respected by the people of Bangladesh.
Fakhrul urged Yunus to remain vigilant in preserving his standing and to ensure that it is not tarnished.
‘BIG DANGER’
Describing the current situation as ‘difficult’ and ‘very complex’, Fakhrul warned that if mistakes occur out of emotional impulses or hasty decisions, the nation could face severe peril.
“Many are trying to put us in peril and threaten our existence. We must remember these points,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul said the interim government officials are not political figures. “They have come to help us by showing a neutral path.”
“It is politicians who must solve the problems; no solution can occur without politicians, and we must operate with this understanding,” he added.