United News of Bangladesh

Top leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday said state reforms will be undertaken only after the national election, dismissing any rationale for linking these matters to the electoral process. “There will be no compromise on elections. No justification exists for delaying the election roadmap in the name of reform or justice. It was BNP, under Begum Khaleda Zia, that first placed reform proposals before the nation,” BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said while speaking at a youth-focused party rally in Nayapaltan. Khosru highlighted the party’s earlier push for reform, saying, “BNP introduced a 27-point reform agenda two years ago. The people of Bangladesh will decide on reforms—not an ‘all-party’ commission or any externally imposed structure.” About the calls for accountability for the Awami League, Khasru said, “The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government will be largely credited to the uncompromising struggle of Begum Khaleda Zia, who risked her life, and the relentless efforts of Tarique Rahman. No party has endured or suffered as much as BNP. If justice is to be served, BNP will deliver it.” Another senior BNP leader, Abdul Moyeen Khan, emphasised the pivotal role of students and youth in resisting autocracy and reviving democracy. “Let’s not forget, the July–August victories were only the first phase. The current phase of our movement is to ensure fair elections. We are cooperating with the government and expect it to respond by announcing elections without delay.” He said the youths’ aspirations must be respected and BNP’s movement would only end when power is transferred to elected representatives through democratic means. In a scathing critique of the interim government, BNP leader Mirza Abbas said, “This administration, once seen as a government of public trust and expectation, has now become a source of disregard. Over the past nine months, the people have received nothing but neglect. This is a colonial-style regime. Most of its members are not even citizens of this country.” BNP’s youth rally turns Nayapaltan into a sea of people Abbas dismissed the ruling authority’s reform pledges, saying, “They failed to implement reforms in nine months—they won’t succeed in nine or even ninety years. The government must apologise and hand over power to the people’s representatives before the nation suffers irreparable damage.” Echoing the demand for immediate elections, BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the ruling party had taken no real steps to restore voting rights. “They are conspiring to delay the elections. Otherwise, there’s no reason to conflate reforms and justice with elections. We had little expectation from this government, and it has failed to meet even that.” BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed warned that any attempt by the government to stall the electoral process or obstruct democratic rights could lead to a political movement against the interim administration. We asked for a roadmap to elections in December — we did not demand anyone’s resignation. The people of Bangladesh have witnessed a theatrical display of resignation. If speaking out for democratic rights is a crime, then BNP is prepared to commit that crime again and again,” he told the rally. He issued a stern warning, stating that failure to facilitate the swearing-in of Ishraque Hossain as Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation and to promptly announce a clear roadmap for the upcoming general election would only fuel further agitation. “Such a course of action, if taken, will be most unfortunate.” BNP wings’ rally underway at Nayapaltan;  traffic gridlock paralyses parts of Dhaka Criticising the prevailing state of the judiciary, he said, “Court verdicts are no longer implemented. Under these circumstances, unity among pro-democratic forces is imperative. We must build an unbreakable alliance among all democratic powers to ensure that authoritarianism does not rise again in Bangladesh.” The BNP leader also emphasised the need for systemic reform. “We want a constitution and a state structure that ensures no future resurgence of autocracy.” The BNP rally drew tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters, turning the Nayapaltan area—stretching from Kakrail to Arambagh—into a sea of people from early morning. The event officially began at 2:00 PM, but participants from Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Faridpur started arriving well before that, travelling in buses and pickups. Members of BNP’s student, youth and volunteer wings -- Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal--wore caps in red, green and yellow with party logos and carried banners in a spirited display of party unity.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has commented that no reform will work unless there is a change in the country's political culture. He made these remarks on Saturday evening (March 15) while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion and iftar gathering organized by the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) at the IEB auditorium in Chittagong. Amir Khasru Mahmud said, "We need to bring a change in the culture of politics. Even if there are differing opinions, there must be mutual tolerance and respect." BNP’s Mosharraf alleges plot to delay parliamentary elections Emphasizing the importance of creating a level playing field in all sectors for everyone in the country, Amir Khasru said, "As soon as possible, we need to conduct elections to elect representatives of the people and restore people's ownership. Every day is passing by in a country without democracy. Every day goes by where there is no representation of the people and no feedback from the people." He added, "Democratic order cannot be restored without the support, representation, and elections of the people." The event, chaired by Monzur Khorshed Alam, President of the IEB Chittagong Center, also featured speeches from Engineer Selim Mohammad Jan-e Alam, President of IEB, and Zahidul Karim Kochi, General Secretary of Chittagong Press Club.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday expressed the hope that political parties will reach a ‘minimum consensus’ on state reforms through talks to facilitate the quick holding of the national election. “There will be discussions on the reports provided by the reform commissions. The political parties will engage in talks with the commissions, and efforts will be made to reach a consensus,” he said. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the National Consensus Commission, the BNP leader said political parties participated in initial discussions with the Consensus Commission. “Different political parties made various remarks there.” "We (BNP) hope that a minimum consensus on this reform will be reached very soon and that the national elections will be held very soon based on that. This is our expectation,” he said. Fakhrul said the chief adviser, along with the National Consensus Commission, held the first meeting with the political parties on Saturday and he talked about the necessity and importance of reforms. “In the meeting, he mentioned that political parties will discuss each of the reports submitted by the reform commissions in the coming days,” the BNP leader said. Govt enters second phase as national consensus talks begin: Press Secretary In response to a question, the BNP leader reiterated that they have already made it clear that the national parliamentary election must be held first, and then the local government elections will be held. He, however, said they did not engage in any in-depth discussion about the elections during the meeting. "There was only a preliminary discussion today (Saturday)... You could say the discussion was introductory. Different political parties expressed different views, and that reflected their own opinions," Fakhrul said. He also said there was no positive, constructive discussion in the meeting due to the lack of scope. Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said they told the meeting that reforms are necessary and should be implemented first before holding the election. "The chief advisor mentioned that the national elections will be held by December. We are observing how this progresses," he said. The Jamaat leader said the members of the National Consensus Commission will hold separate discussions with different parties and stakeholders to implement the reforms. “Jamaat-e-Islami will welcome all positive decisions…we have stated that the election will be held as soon as possible after the final decisions of the reform commission are made,” he said. Amar Bangladesh Party (AB) Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju said they informed the meeting that the government's authority in the administration has not yet been clearly established. Political parties, National Consensus Commission to set Bangladesh's vision: Press Secretary In such a situation, he warned, organising any election would be dangerous. Meeting sources said some political parties, mainly the Islamist ones, emphasised the need holding the local body elections before the national election, but the majority of others opposed this proposal. Earlier, major political parties, including the BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, had begun their meeting with the National Consensus Commission, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, on Saturday. The meeting began at 3 pm at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. This was the first meeting between political parties and the commission. Delegations from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, LDP, Jatiya Party (Kazi Jafar), Nagorik Oikya, Islami Andolan, Khilafat Majlish, Ganosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonoforum, Biplobi Workers Party, Jagpa, NPP, Labour Party, BJP Bangladesh JSD and Jatiya Nagorik Committee participated in the meeting. Around 100 politicians from 26 parties and alliances attended the meeting, with all invitees present. A six-member BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul, attended the meeting. The other BNP delegation members were Jamiruddin Sircar, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. BNP, Jamaat, others start meeting with National Consensus Commission A seven-member 'National Consensus Commission' was formed on February 12 under the leadership of the Chief Advisor. This was the first meeting of the commission. Meanwhile, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the interim government has entered its second phase with the start of the National Consensus Commission's meeting with political parties to discuss the future direction of the country, said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. Speaking to reporters outside the Foreign Service Academy during the Asr prayer break on Saturday, he said, “Today is a historic day as the meeting of political parties with the National Consensus Committee has begun.” He said around 100 politicians from 26 parties and alliances attended the meeting, with all invitees present. During the meeting, the Chief Adviser said that the first phase of the government concluded after six months, and the second phase has now started.  The government is working towards building a Bangladesh that enjoys the support of the international community, major global nations, the people of the country and even the full backing of the United Nations, Shafiqul Alam said. The Chief Adviser also highlighted the findings of the UN Human Rights Commission’s report on the July mass uprising, which revealed the horrific killings that occurred and identified those responsible. The report, he stated, also exposed the human rights violations that took place at that time. “The second journey of the government has begun today through this meeting and it will be decided through this meeting what kind of Bangladesh we want in the future,” the Press Secretary said.