United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday said the interim government is simply ‘showing banana’ in the name of reforms, while failing to take any concrete steps to ensure elections to be held within December. “How many times will you inaugurate these reforms?” he asked while speaking at a discussion organised by BNP’s krishak Dal at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the capital, marking the 44th death anniversary of party founder Ziaur Rahman, Salahuddin criticised the government for repeatedly inaugurating phases of reform discussions without any tangible progress, saying that there was an inauguration in the first phase, then another in the second. “Now again in the third phase you have merged things together… you are just showing us the ‘banana of reforms’,” he said. Mentioning that the chief adviser has called for another round of talks on June 2, he said, “We’ve told you, compile what has already been discussed and present it to the nation. But instead, you are just going through rituals with no real work being done. Why another fresh inauguration on June 2 for the third round? How many inaugurations does it take?” Salahuddin asserted that justice for crimes against humanity committed by ‘fascists’ must remain the highest priority, even above reforms. He also slammed the chief adviser for not delivering on a previous assurance that the election would be held within December. “You told us that the people of Bangladesh would have an election by December. But then you backtracked. That is unfortunate.” In jibe at CA, Abbas says 'only one person doesn’t want election by Dec' Highlighting the sacrifices made by BNP activists, he said they shed blood, endured torture and served jail terms and went to ‘Aynaghor’. “We didn’t go through all that for nothing,” said Salahuddin who was allegedly abducted from his home in Uttara on March 10, 2015 by individuals posing as detectives. The BNP leader mentioned that it was to establish a democratically elected government, to restore voting rights, and to build a society free from discrimination. Salahuddin went on to say, “If merely speaking about reclaiming our democratic rights makes you uncomfortable, Honourable Chief Adviser!, That is truly disappointing. How much longer will you delay reforms using this excuse?” Questioning the rationale behind any possible delay, the BNP’s standing committee member said there is not a single valid reason to postpone the election. “You (Prof Yunus) have no justification. If you have even one reason to hold the polls beyond December, please make it public,” he urged. He acknowledged that reforms are a continuous process, but stressed that it should not be used as a pretext to delay elections. “Reform is never a finished task. It evolves with the needs of the country. But that doesn't mean you can keep pushing the election date using it as an excuse.” Krishak Dal General Secretary Shahidul Islam Babul chaired the discussion, attended, among others, by BNP Acting Chairman’s adviser Mahdi Amin, BNP Executive Committee member Tabith Awal and other Krishak Dal leaders.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday urged Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to run the government with a strong hand and proceed towards holding the national election soon, maintaining neutrality. “I would like to call upon the chief of the interim government to lead your government with a strong hand. Let no one get scope to say that you are exhibiting any favoritism,” he said. Mirza Fakhrul made this call while addressing a discussion over BDR carnage, arranged by BNP, at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the city in memory of the martyred army officers who were killed in the 2009 Pilkhana tragedy. He said they do not want to hear such words about him because he is a very famous person throughout the world. “We hope that you will proceed towards the election by maintaining complete impartiality, completing the minimum necessary reforms as soon as possible,” said the BNP secretary general. He said they expect from Prof Yunus that he would hold a free and fair election to bring stability and peace in the country and also prosperity for the future Bangladesh. Following the ouster of fascist Hasina through the student-people mass uprising, a new opportunity has been created to build a new Bangladesh as a democratic and prosperous state, but now conspiracies continue to destroy that opportunity again, he said. Fakhrul alleged that Sheikh Hasina, staying in India, is planning and conspiring to thwart all the achievements of this mass uprising and victory as well to create anarchy and an unstable situation in Bangladesh. “As part of her conspiracy, an unstable situation is being created in different ways from various parts,” he said. Hasina spearheaded Pilkhana carnage for two days: Fakhrul He said the interim government that came through the student-people revolution was formed on the basis of the blood sacrifices from some 2000 students and people. So, everyone hopes that this government will fulfill the expectations of people, he said. Fakhrul said his party has repeatedly said a stable situation will not be achieved unless a democratic system is established in the country. “That is why we have been saying from the beginning that one thing - a people's government must be established in the country through a truly impartial election,” he said. But now, there are attempts to take the country towards anarchy by raising various questions about this point (election), he said. The BNP leader said now some quarters are trying to unfairly make the country unstable and the people of the country agitated as well as trying to bring everyone to the streets in various ways. “In the same way, they are trying to create anarchy in the country. This is not good for the independence and democracy of Bangladesh at all. This is not good for the stability of Bangladesh at all,” he said. Fakhrul urged the people of the country to stay united by stopping mudslinging and debate and controversy to reach a democratic system. BNP Does Want Reform The BNP secretary general said many people are now criticising his party and trying to say that the BNP is pressing for only the election but doesn’t want reform. The critics are spreading such big lies and false propaganda against BNP in various ways particularly on social media, he said. “A few persons, a handful of men, have targeted the BNP. They want to humiliate the BNP by resorting to negative campaigns and propaganda (against the party),” said Mirza Fakhrul. He said BNP is a party that protected the country’s independence and sovereignty in the past and will do so now as well. About the Pilkhana carnage, the BNP leader said 57 brilliant army officers were killed in a well-planned manner. So many army officers had not been killed even in the Liberation War, he said. “So, come forward to take a vow that we’ll protect the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh at any cost, ensure stability and restore democracy in Bangladesh,” he added. BNP standing committee member Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed presided over the event, while BNP standing committee member Selima Rahman, BNP Chairperson's advisory council member Abdus Salam, RAB-2 Commander during the BDR mutiny Lt Col (Retd) Shamsuzzaman Khan and Major General Shakil Ahmed’s son Rakin Ahmed, also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, a documentary about the 2009 BDR mutiny was screened at the event.