Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated on Saturday that there is no alternative to reforming the state other than through an elected Parliament. Speaking at a discussion meeting in the capital, he emphasised the importance of elections in achieving meaningful state reforms.
“We want to emphasise holding an election. The election is crucial for reforming the state. I don’t believe that some people will reform the state. It must happen through the participation of the people,” the BNP Secretary General remarked.
The discussion was organised by the Bhasani Anusari Parishad at the National Press Club to mark the ninth death anniversary of former Prime Minister Kazi Zafar Ahmed, who passed away on August 27, 2015, at the age of 76.
During his speech, Mirza Fakhrul stressed the need for more visible government action regarding the election process. He called on the interim government to present a clear roadmap for conducting national elections as soon as possible, following necessary reforms through consultations with political parties.
Mirza Fakhrul reiterated that the BNP views elections as crucial since the ultimate authority to govern the country must be derived from an elected parliament. “We want the Chief Adviser to promptly present a roadmap to the public, clearly outlining how the elections will be organised, the necessary reforms will be implemented, and how these measures will ease the lives of the people,” he asserted. Expressing dissatisfaction, Mirza Fakhrul criticised the interim government for not yet engaging with political parties on specific agendas.
“The opinions of political parties need to be considered. The place where they (advisers) are sitting is the place of politics, from which future politics will be determined. So, they must exchange views with those who are engaged in politics,” the BNP Secretary General said.
He also expressed concerns about the lack of noticeable changes in key areas, particularly within the bureaucracy, since the interim government assumed office. “We have high expectations from the interim government. We believe they will, of course, hold the election within a reasonable timeframe,” Mirza Fakhrul stated.
The BNP leader further criticised the presence of individuals in the interim government who were complicit with the previous Awami League government, accusing them of oppressing people, embezzling public money, and contributing to the country’s decline. “We are concerned that despite 16 or 17 days having passed, the secretaries who were part of the previous government and engaged in misconduct are still in their positions.
We want to see individuals who are genuinely pro-people in the bureaucracy be part of the interim government,” he declared.