Stating that vested quarters sometimes make efforts to create divisions using religion, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said a strong unity of all Bangladeshis is a must to take the country forward and ensure its prosperity. “Communal  violence is almost zero in Bangladesh. That’s  the reality. But there’re some vested quarters who sometimes try to create divisions using the religion,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks at the funeral of Suddhananda Mahathero, the principal of the Buddhist Monastery in Basabo. He said those who live in the country all are Bangladeshis and they may have different religions and different thoughts. “This is the philosophy of Bangladesh advocated  by  Ziaur Rahman.” Read: New CEC a staunch Awami Leaguer, claims BNP Fakhrul said their party does not do the politics of divisions as it believes that it is possible to unite the entire nation following the philosophy of Bangladesh. “We always do the politics of unity. If Bangladesh is to prosper and take forward, then there must have a strong unity among all Bangladeshis,” he observed.  

BNP on Thursday received a letter from the search committee formed by the president seeking 10 names for the appointments of the new Chief Election Commissioner and the Commissioners. “A letter from the Cabinet Division reached our central office today (Thursday). We received the letter,” said party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Read: BNP sold out the War of Liberation sharing power with anti-independence forces: Quader He, however, said their party will not recommend any name as per a decision of their party’s standing committee meeting. “Our party secretary general has already said we won’t give any names to the search committee." Earlier on February 7, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said their party thinks it is valueless and meaningless to give names to the search committee. “So, there's no question of giving any name by us.”

BNP standing committee has said that the people of the country will turn down with “hatred” the recommendations of the search committee for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioners and other Commissioners. At their virtual meeting on Monday, the BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, also said almost all members of the search committee are directly or indirectly involved with Awami League, said a press release signed by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday. Read: ACC probes wealth of Ex-MD of Eastern Refinery Rezaul and his wife “Our meeting felt that BNP did not want to show any interest in the search committee as the Election Commission to be formed by them (search panel) would not be able to conduct an acceptable, free and fair election unless it’s held under a neutral government,” it said. The BNP policymakers also think the formation of the Election Commission through the current search committee as per the ‘controversial’ new law is unacceptable and meaningless. “It’s clear that the Election Commission to be formed based on the recommendations of this search committee will aim to bring Awami League back to power like the outgoing commission. This is nothing but another deception with people. People will reject such a mockery with hatred.” The BNP standing committee alleged people’s basic human rights and right to vote have been snatched in the last one decade. “This is a big crime. Awami League will have to face trial.” On Saturday, a six-member search committee, led by Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hasan, was formed to suggest the names of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Read: ACC probes wealth of Ex-MD of Eastern Refinery Rezaul and his wife At their maiden meeting on Sunday, the search committee decided to request the registered political parties to propose names of eligible persons for the posts of chief election commissioner and other commissioners for the reconstitution of the Election Commission. The BNP policymakers said there is no alternative to a neutral government in overcoming the current political crisis in the country. Replying to a question, Mirza Fakhrul said the Awami League government has destroyed every institution. “The Election Commission is not only failing to hold credible elections, but they are stealing public money and involved in corruption. “It's unbelievable,” he said. The BNP leader said their party strongly believes that no fair and acceptable election can be held under a partisan government in Bangladesh. BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said the government must quit dissolving the parliament and then a new interim government will be able to constitute an impartial election commission and bring back the democratic institutions to the right track.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said the BNP observed the historic March 7 this year to belittle the significance of the occasion.

BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Friday said their party is waiting for an atmosphere conducive to creating a mass uprising to turn Bangladesh into a democratic country by ousting the current government

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Saturday alleged that people are getting scared of politics due to ‘wrongdoings’ and ‘spiting venom’ by the government in the name of politics.