BNP has demanded an immediate announcement of the election roadmap by December. Otherwise, it will be difficult for them to continue cooperating with the government, the party said.
On Thursday, BNP called an emergency press conference at the Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, the capital. The party’s standing committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain read out a written statement.
It said that BNP is demanding the transfer of power to an elected government by 2025. This is the main responsibility of the current interim government.
The standing committee member said that the culture of the government not doing what the people want and doing it under pressure has already undermined the government’s capacity and dignity. It has also justified others to demand the same process. BNP believes that the government is entirely responsible for this unwanted and embarrassing situation.
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has also called on the interim government to maintain maximum neutrality in the interest of unity. He said that the extent to which the public expectations or the aspirations of the mass uprising have been fulfilled in the past 9 and a half months is now facing question. The anti-fascist national unity has started to crack.
Now, the interim government was supposed to maintain maximum neutrality in the interest of unity. But some of the recent activities of the interim government have created doubts in the public mind about their neutrality. Implementing the agenda of some quarters to gain political benefits has become part of the government’s action plan.
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that the highest priority is now to establish an elected political government as soon as possible in accordance with the aspirations of the people in order to ensure the democratic rights, constitutional rights, human rights and voting rights lost by embracing the aspirations of the mass uprising. Therefore, he demanded an immediate announcement of a specific roadmap for the formation of the National Parliament by December through fair, free and impartial elections. Otherwise, it will be difficult for BNP, as a party of the people, to continue its cooperation with this government. Inevitably, BNP will be forced to reconsider whether it will continue to cooperate with the interim government.
Call to remove controversial advisors
Khandaker Mosharraf said that in the interest of maintaining the neutrality of the interim government, some controversial advisors whose statements and actions are tarnishing the image of the government should be removed. Among them are advisors of the interim government who are directly and indirectly involved with a new political party. Their presence in the advisory council is constantly questioning the government’s non-partisan identity. Therefore, it is necessary to dismiss them to protect the image of the government.
Claiming that the National Security Advisor has once again sparked a new controversy over the humanitarian corridor, it was said at the press conference that he should be dismissed to protect the image of the government. Some advisors who are allies of fascism should also be removed.
Mosharraf Hossain said that the main task of this government is to hold a national election. Therefore, instead of having a big advisory council, it is advisable to have a small advisory council to manage routine work (daily activities). The party has demanded that national interests be taken into consideration in the government’s various statements and activities regarding the humanitarian corridor and Chittagong port. The party has raised the question of whether the interim government has the authority to take such nationally important and long-term policy-making decisions. BNP has called for keeping sensitive and nationally important issues related to the country’s security on the highest priority.
Reform-election-trial ongoing process
Khandaker Mosharraf said that reform is an ongoing process, so both the reform and election processes can go on together. The trial process of fallen fascist forces and individuals and those accused of crimes against humanity will also continue.
The campaign to surround the Election Commission is embarrassing
Khandaker Mosharraf said, ‘Amid the process of creating a reform charter based on the consensus of political parties, the campaign to surround the Election Commission by a party demanding local government elections has embarrassed us and the government. It is purposeful and mysterious.’ He said, ‘We hope that the government will take steps to swear in Ishraq Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation very soon, respecting the verdict of the Election Tribunal and the High Court.’
Standing committee members Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed were present at the press conference.
