Some parties create useless pressure: Fakhrul
Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has criticised the protest rallies organised by Jamaat-e-Islami and several other parties, saying such demonstrations are meant to create “unwarranted pressure” while ongoing discussions remain incomplete.
“In my view, these programmes were unnecessary. The talks have not yet reached a conclusion.
Calling protests at this stage only generates avoidable pressure, which neither benefits democracy nor helps in reaching the right decisions,” Mirza Fakhrul told reporters on Thursday after returning to Dhaka from Singapore, where he had been undergoing treatment.
He questioned whether street protests would provide any real solution. “Since the fall of Awami League, we have not taken to the streets over any issue,” he said.
Fakhrul reiterated that BNP is committed to finding solutions through dialogue and expressed optimism that the implementation of the July Charter would also be settled in that manner.
On the issue of proportional representation (PR) in elections, Fakhrul said,
“BNP does not support the PR system. Bangladesh does not require it.
The dialogue on the July Charter is still in progress. Several matters have already been settled, and those should be carried forward.”
The BNP leader emphasised that public backing is essential for any reform.
“A parliament that emerges with the people’s mandate through elections has the authority to amend or revise the constitution. Such decisions must come from there,” he said.
Clarifying BNP’s stance on banning political parties, Fakhrul noted, “We are not in favour of banning any party, whether it is the 14-party alliance or Jatiya Party.”
Speaking about his upcoming trip to the United States as part of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s delegation to the UN General Assembly, he said, “I am not yet aware of what role we will play there, as I have not had a discussion with Dr Yunus about it. Perhaps I will know after we talk.”
He added that the agenda would most likely highlight the promotion of democracy in Bangladesh alongside issues of development.
When asked about claims that many key decisions concerning Bangladesh are made abroad, Fakhrul responded, “I don’t agree with that. Our national decisions should be made collectively by us.
We have always made our own choices and will continue to do so.”
He further said there is no necessity for foreign interference in this matter.