BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday once again urged the interim government to announce a specific date for holding the next general election by December, reflecting the people's aspirations.

“I urge the interim government once again— bear the people's aspiration and immediately announce a specific date for holding the national election by December,” he said while addressing a discussion in the capital through a virtual platform from London.

BNP arranged the discussion at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium marking the 44th martyrdom anniversary of BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia addressed the discussion as the chief guest. It was presided over by party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

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Tarique said here there is no issue of the victory or defeat for the interim government; rather it should present the freedom-loving people a fair election to help make the democracy victorious.

Criticising the interim government, he said, “This government is in no way accountable. It has no scope to be accountable to the people as well.”

Even after ten months in office, the interim government has yet to declare a specific date for the election, creating a sense of uncertainty in both the state and political arenas, said the BNP acting chairman.

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“This uncertainty has brought the country’s economic activities to a near standstill,” he said, adding that in the absence of a stable, elected government with a fixed term, desired investments are also not seen in the country.

Tarique said the people of Bangladesh are ready to vote for their preferred candidates to establish an accountable government through an election. “But the interim government seems to be failing to realise the people's expectations,” he added.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, noted educationalist Prof Mahbub Ullah and Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, among others, spoke at the function moderated by BNP publicity secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku.