Staff Reporter :
In a renewed call for clarity from the interim government, BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas has pressed for an immediate announcement of the upcoming election date and a transparent roadmap for proposed state reforms.
This call comes shortly after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s recent appeal for an election roadmap and a conducive environment for free and fair elections.
Speaking at a Dhaka discussion event on Tuesday, Abbas emphasised the urgency of establishing trust with the public by providing a clear election timeline.
“The people of the nation deserve transparency. If you leave the nation in uncertainty, there is no reason for them to sit idle and watch your mockery,” Abbas stated.
He also voiced concern that the current political climate could worsen without concrete steps toward resolving the growing tensions surrounding the election and state reforms.
Abbas expressed frustration with government advisors, accusing them of making misleading remarks on reforms and constitutional amendments.
He argued that any changes to the constitution should involve freedom fighters and other relevant stakeholders, insisting that it should not be altered at the whim of those in power.
He also denounced those labeling recent protests as a “second independence,” which he claimed disrespects Bangladesh’s Liberation War and the independence proclamation by the late Ziaur Rahman in 1971.
He further questioned why BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, remains barred from returning to the country.
Abbas urged the government to withdraw cases against Rahman and other BNP leaders, suggesting it could be done through an ordinance.
“These cases can be removed through an ordinance, but you are not doing this,” he noted, adding that Rahman’s absence hampers BNP’s operational capacity.
Abbas also addressed accusations that BNP is driven by a desire to regain power.
He argued that the party’s 17-year struggle has been focused on restoring democracy and protecting citizens’ rights, rejecting claims that BNP’s push for an election is self-serving.
“Those who claim that we are desperate to return to power are mistaken. In reality, we are fighting to restore the rights of people,” he asserted.
The BNP leader warned that the nation’s unrest stems from a lack of clarity on both the election and reforms.
He urged the government to provide “peace” and “relief” to the people by clearly stating its plans, calling for an end to what he described as government “mockery.”
He expressed hope that the government would respond to public demands and hold timely elections, allowing citizens to exercise their democratic rights.
“The people of the country did not accept an unelected government in the past, and they will not accept one in the future,” he said, underscoring the importance of transparency in restoring public trust.
