Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday accused certain political parties of intentionally raising new demands to derail the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls.
Addressing a discussion at the National Press Club marking the 10th death anniversary of veteran politi-cian Kazi Zafar Ahmed, Fakhrul said, “Unfortunately, some political parties and groups are deliberately pushing for new and unfamiliar demands as part of a calculated effort to sabotage the election”.
He said that the demands, like the proposed introduction of a Proportional Representation (PR) system, are being raised without proper knowledge among the general public. “People are not familiar with terms like ‘reform’ or the PR system. It is a concept that requires time for the common people to under-stand,” he explained.
The BNP leader also voiced concerns over the forceful push by some political parties to implement the PR system, saying that it threatens to confuse the electoral process even further.
Reflecting on the current political situation, Fakhrul expressed both resilience and frustration. “While the political landscape has changed and people’s mindsets have evolved, I have never been politically dis-heartened,” he said.
“However, I cannot help but notice a growing sense of frustration. Everywhere I look, I see corruption — whether in government offices or the courts. It’s not like it used to be. Previously, you might have had to pay one lakh in bribes, but now you’re being asked for five lakh,” he said.
