Staff Reporter:
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday voiced frustration over the Chief Advis-er’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 stu-dents 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’m 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 program at the National Press Club marking the 48th death anniversary of late nation-al leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.
Fakhrul emphasized 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 (govt) to move forward with a people-accepted approach. We have not created any obstacles so far; rather, we are sup-porting 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. “They won’t allow you to reform what you aim to do.”
The BNP leader alleged that most of the bureaucrats currently working at the Secretariat are aligned with the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina.
He said the government has yet to take any tangible action against those bureaucrats who have amassed vast wealth through corruption. “Your actions must be visible to the public.”
Fakhrul said that the government should prioritize good governance and manage the administration ef-fectively, so that people can experience relief and peace.
“The prices of commodities have risen to such an extent that there is no reason for peace. Despite this, people are enduring it, hoping that something better will be offered to them,” he said.
The BNP leader also urged the government to make its efforts in controlling the market more visible. “Take steps to dismantle the syndicates… establish proper governance. If people are still forced to pay bribes and see the collaborators roaming freely, they will not tolerate it,” he said.
“I believe this government and the youth and students 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.”
The BNP leader 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 expe-rience, we are saying to hold the election for the welfare of the nation. The longer this kind of govern-ment remains in power, the more problems it will create, as it lacks a public mandate. This is not an elected government,” he said.
Fakhrul recalled that after the political changeover in 2007, the Fakhruddin-Moyeenuddin government attempted to cling to power by forming a so-called ‘King’s party’. “People didn’t accept it, and eventual-ly, they were forced to flee by holding an election.”
He said Sheikh Hasina had to leave the country due to her various mistakes and her failure to understand people’s sentiment. “No one should take any such actions that could lead our country into uncertainty and instability,” he cautioned.
Fakhrul said the election should be arranged on completion of the necessary reforms related to it.
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.
