NN Online:
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday warned the interim government that it risks losing the support of BNP and its allied parties if it fails to announce a clear and timely roadmap for the upcoming national election.
Speaking at a discussion held at the Jatiya Press Club, Khosru said, “There is nothing above democracy. If the government positions itself against it, then our support — which was extended to facilitate a democratic transition — will not remain. It is not a blank cheque.”
The event, titled ‘10 Months of the Interim Government: Questions of Democracy and National Security’, was organised by the Democratic State Council.
Khosru, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, clarified that BNP does not seek confrontation but rather urges the interim government to act impartially and commit to a transparent, time-bound process for returning to democratic rule.
“We want a neutral role from the government and a specific roadmap that reassures the nation of a genuine democratic transition. People must feel that ownership of the state is being restored,” he said.
He questioned why the government appears hesitant to present such a roadmap if there is, in his words, “no political disagreement on the need for reforms or the trial of authoritarian actors.”
“Those who fear elections lack trust in the people and confidence in the democratic process,” Khosru added.
The BNP leader alleged that some quarters within the government are mimicking the authoritarian tendencies of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by obstructing the electoral process.
“Sheikh Hasina avoided fair elections because she knew she wouldn’t win. Now, who else is afraid of a free election? Is that why elections won’t be held in Bangladesh?” he asked.
Khosru also warned that if the interim government continues to use delaying tactics or maneuvers instead of restoring democratic governance, its neutrality will come into question.
He criticised any narrative that pits electoral reforms and justice for past abuses as mutually exclusive, calling instead for a parallel process that ensures both.
“Five or ten individuals can’t decide the future of the country while excluding the people. If that’s the path taken, how are they any different from Sheikh Hasina?” he said.
Khosru concluded with a stark warning: “The longer an unelected regime stays in power and distances itself from democracy, the greater the risk of national instability and erosion of citizens’ rights.”
