NN Online:
BNP senior leader Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed on Saturday expressed deep concern that Bangladesh may be drawn into a war without public consent, following the interim government’s decision to permit a ‘humanitarian corridor’ into Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
“A new threat has emerged in the name of a humanitarian corridor. Are we heading towards war without the consent of our people?” he asked while speaking at the launch of the Bangladesh District and Divisional Sports Organisers Association at the NSC auditorium in Dhaka.
Hafiz, a BNP Standing Committee member, said the public is increasingly alarmed by the government’s move. “We are concerned too. BNP is the largest and most popular political party in the country, yet we have no idea how the nation is currently being governed,” he said.
The former army officer emphasized that his party seeks nothing but a free and fair election, where people can vote freely for the party of their choice. “Whoever the people elect is acceptable to us. But democracy cannot grow if citizens are denied that fundamental right,” he added.
Doubts Over Election Timeline
Hafiz accused the government of being reluctant to hold a credible election.
“For 17 years, BNP and other democratic forces have been fighting for fair polls. But it seems increasingly unlikely. Experts suggest there may be no election for the next two, three, or even five years. The current administration simply does not want it,” he said.
He claimed that despite the government’s public statements, its actions and those of its advisers indicate a clear lack of intent to restore democratic practices.
Referencing Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, whom he described as a globally respected figure, Hafiz said BNP supports the interim government but urged it to respect the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs by immediately restoring democratic order.
He recalled meeting Dr Yunus alongside BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on February 10, where they were assured elections would be held by December 2025. “Later, the Chief Adviser changed his position, saying polls would take place by June next year. It feels like the government is toying with the fate of the country,” he remarked.
Politics and Sports Should Remain Separate
Hafiz also criticized the ruling Awami League for politicizing the sports sector, accusing the party of damaging the integrity of athletics with partisan interference.
“True sportsmen possess a unique mindset and commitment. Sports should be free from political influence to protect athletes from harassment or character assassination based on their affiliations,” he said.
He revealed that he had previously advised star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan not to join the Awami League. “Shakib is now in trouble for not heeding that advice,” he claimed.
Former cricketer Tamim Iqbal, who retired in February, was also present at the event. Hafiz advised him to be cautious about engaging in politics.
