Interim govt betrayed people: Fakhrul
Staff Reporter :
Blaming the country’s current crisis on the interim government, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the interim government has betrayed the people.
He stated that there is no longer any scope for a referendum before the election – the referendum will take place on election day itself, with two ballots: one for the referendum and another for the parliamentary election.
He made these remarks on Friday while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organized on the occasion of the 53rd founding anniversary of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) at the National Press Club auditorium in Dhaka.
During the discussion, addressing the interim government, the BNP Secretary General said:
“The commission you formed has been discussing various issues for nearly a year and eight or nine months, reaching consensus on many points. We had some disagreements on certain issues, so we submitted ‘notes of dissent.’
That means, although we had differences, we had reached a consensus on the main issues – that’s the norm. When we go to the election, these matters will be included in our manifesto.
If the people vote for us, we will bring those issues forward, pass them in parliament, and bring change to the country. If they don’t, those issues will be dropped.”
Accusing the interim government of betraying the people, he further said, “I remember the day we submitted the consensus document – it was raining, on the 17th. Before that, everything had fallen apart.
We reorganized everything, and all political parties came to an agreement. Holding umbrellas in the rain, we signed the document.
But when it was presented to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, we saw many differences.
Especially, the ‘notes of dissent’ we had submitted were omitted. So we said, ‘It’s a bridge of trust.’ But they broke that bridge – they have betrayed the people.”
He added, “They deceived the people. The trust we had placed in them, they failed to uphold. Therefore, the interim government is responsible for the current political crisis.”
Calling BNP a reformist party, he further said, “Let me make it clear – BNP is a party of reform.
BNP was born out of reform. In 1979, the martyred President Ziaur Rahman founded the BNP to establish multi-party democracy, breaking away from one-party rule.
At that time, all newspapers were shut down – he reopened them and restored people’s basic rights.”
Mirza Fakhrul continued, “Political reform, economic reform – all were initiated by Shaheed Zia. Later, Begum Khaleda Zia, the leader of the nation, restored the parliamentary system from the presidential one.
Initially, we didn’t accept it, but she held elections, won a majority, and incorporated the caretaker government system into the Constitution. Under that system, four credible elections were held.”
He added, “Those who claim that BNP doesn’t want reform are misleading the nation. BNP has always been in favor of reform.
First, we proposed a 10-point program, then 27 points, then 31 points – all for reform. We attended every meeting, participated in discussions, and finally signed the consensus document.
If there is any confusion, it has arisen from those responsible for the consensus commission, not from us.”
Regarding the election and referendum, Mirza Fakhrul said, “We will participate in the election – we want to contest.
We agree with the declaration made by the Chief Adviser of the interim government.
But now, a certain quarter is trying to sabotage the election – spreading confusion.”
He added, “There is no longer any possibility of holding a referendum before the election.
The referendum will take place on election day – there will be two ballots: one for the referendum and another for the National Parliament. No one should have any disagreement on this.”
The BNP Secretary General further said, “Those who are taking to the streets and creating chaos over this – I urge them, please stop misleading the people.
Once, you stood with Pakistan and opposed the Liberation War. Do not now oppose the people’s demand for elections.
The people of this country do not forgive the politics of selling out the nation.”
He added, “We want to form a government together with our allies – those with whom we have struggled and worked side by side for the past 15 years.
Our position is very clear: let us all take this election opportunity together. Let us hold a fair and peaceful election and form a people’s parliament and a people’s government.”
The discussion was presided over by JSD Senior Vice President Tania Rob. JSD General Secretary Shahidul Islam Swapan, and Gono Forum Acting President Subrata Chowdhury, among others, also spoke at the event.