Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a rally at its Nayapaltan central office on Wednesday, with Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman set to address the event via a virtual platform. The rally will also feature speeches from senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, BNP Vice Chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon urged party leaders and activists to attend the rally, which is scheduled to commence at 2:00 pm.
At a press conference held at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan,
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on the President to expedite the formation of an interim government. He warned that any delay could plunge the country into a political vacuum.
“The task of forming a non-partisan government should be completed within 24 hours. As this period is rapidly closing, I urge the President to dissolve Parliament and establish an interim neutral government by 2:00 pm on Wednesday,” said Mirza Fakhrul.
Mirza Fakhrul also indicated that Tarique Rahman, the BNP’s Acting Chairman, is expected to return to the country soon. “The people of the country want Tarique Rahman to return home soon, so he will be back any time,” he stated.
Regarding the formation of the interim government, Mirza Fakhrul noted that while the BNP is ready to provide names if requested by the President, they have not yet discussed potential candidates within their Standing Committee.
“The President, as head of state, has the sole authority to oversee the formation of the interim government. We will propose names when called upon. However, we have full confidence in the students’ movement and continue to support them. It is crucial that all-party considerations are prioritised,” he added.
When asked about BNP’s stance on the students’ proposal to appoint Dr Muhammad Yunus as the head of the interim government, Mirza Fakhrul responded, “It is not a matter of our support at this stage. We will provide names to the President if requested.”
The BNP’s rally and the ongoing political developments come in the wake of significant changes in the country’s political landscape, including the recent resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the need for a transitional government.
Meanwhile, after a closure of 13 years, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami reopened the gates of its central office at Boro Moghbazar in Dhaka on Tuesday. The reopening was marked by the offering of Azan, the Islamic call to prayer.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, along with other party leaders, entered the office and held a press conference following a central committee meeting. “We left here (central office) on September 19, 2011. We have entered (the office) now,” Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told journalists.
Following the reopening, leaders from Hefazat-e-Islami, including Moulana Mamunul Haq, visited the office. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman noted their visit, pointing out that they observed the remnants of vandalism in the office.
The Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer urged the nation to take a firm stand against criminal activities. “We would like to call the nation today to curb criminal acts with firm hands wherever you see these things. We are promising that we’re ready to extend our full cooperation to the existing administration in this regard,” he stated.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman condemned recent acts of violence and vandalism, describing them as the work of opportunistic miscreants. “A section of opportunistic miscreants attacked, vandalised, looted, and set fire to a number of government establishments, rivals’ houses, and religious institutions of various religions in different parts of Bangladesh-both in cities and rural areas-with the advent of a change,” he said.
He further stated that those with a sense of conscience and humanity would not engage in such acts. “That is why our organisation strongly condemns the miscreants who are repeatedly committing such actions,” Dr. Shafiqur Rahman added.
The Jamaat Ameer also called on citizens and party members to act as vigilant protectors wherever people are in danger, emphasising that all Bangladeshis, regardless of caste or religion, have equal rights. “Here all citizens have equal right and there is no nothing as minority and no majority in a country,” Dr. Shafiqur Rahman affirmed.
In his address, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman urged the President to promptly form an interim government to restore the people’s government system. “I emphasised to the President that he should start the process of bringing back the people’s government system by forming an interim government without any delay,” he asserted.
Commenting on the students’ proposal to appoint Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser of the interim government, he expressed respect for the student movement and their proposal. “We respect the students. We show deep respect to them,” Dr. Shafiqur Rahman concluded.