BNP rejects CA’s voting age proposal
Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday stated that the people of the country believe the interim government is intentionally delaying the election.
Reiterating the demand for an immediate election, the BNP leader said an unelected government should not remain in power for an extended period.
“We have no objection to implementing reforms. However, the most pressing issue right now is the chaos and instability in Bangladesh,” said Mirza Fakhrul while addressing a discussion. He emphasised that these problems could be significantly mitigated if an elected government were in place.
The discussion was organised by a faction of the Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) at the Jatiya Press Club. Fakhrul stated that an elected government, backed by a public mandate, has the authority to address challenges effectively. “This is something we must always keep in mind.
While we strongly advocate for reforms, we firmly believe that an unelected government should not remain in power for an extended period,” he remarked.
He outlined the primary responsibility of the interim government, which is to ensure a credible election and transfer power to representatives elected by the people.
Fakhrul reaffirmed the BNP’s full support for the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, expressing optimism about its success. He added that the BNP is prepared to provide all necessary cooperation to facilitate its objectives.
“Our foremost request is to expedite the election process. Without it, the current crisis, ongoing challenges, acts of sabotage, and border issues cannot be adequately addressed,” Fakhrul observed.
He highlighted that reform is not a new idea but an ongoing process. “The government has already established several commissions for reforms, which is acceptable.
However, the key question is, who are these commissions engaging with? While we respect the scholars involved, it’s crucial to also connect with the people to truly understand their aspirations,” he noted.
Additionally, the BNP Secretary General criticised the Chief Adviser’s proposal to lower the minimum voting age to 17, arguing that it has created controversy and could delay the election process. “Prof Yunus’s suggestion to set the minimum voting age at 17 implies that a new voter list would need to be prepared,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul concluded by pointing out that the Chief Adviser’s remarks on this matter lack consensus, further complicating the situation.
