Elections needed quickly after reforming police, election commission: Mirza Fakhrul

The BNP called for quick elections following the reform of police administration and the Election Commission, saying the remaining reforms can be done by those who come to power aftering being elected.

Speaking at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Shammilita Peshajibi Parishad (BSPP) at the National Press Club today (19 November), BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the BNP's 31-point reforms have been made through discussions with political parties, but those discussing reforms in the interim government are not political figures.

"Many in the government are saying different things. I would ask them to focus on one thing first. Hold elections quickly after reforming the police administration and Election Commission. The remaining reforms will be done by those who come to power after being elected," Fakhrul added.

"Now the new ones who are coming [in the government] are saying different things to each other. Those who are in the interim government are not political figures and they do not have political experience either.

"Politics is a science, that is why it is called political science. Is the BNP talking about elections to come to power? No. If elections are held quickly, many of the country's problems will be solved," he added.

Fakhrul also said doubts were being raised about the interim government, especially centring on the recent rounds of unrest.

"We want the [interim] government to achieve success, their success means our success. If they fail, we will fail. We do not want Sheikh Hasina to return. We do not want the two-pronged rule of the Awami League to return," he said.

Regarding the Titumir College students' movement, the senior BNP leader said, "Didn't the government's intelligence have information? Couldn't they have taken any action earlier? In fact, the government has not yet been stabilised."

"That's what I am saying, form the Election Commission, hold the elections, announce a road map, and tell us when will these happen. Then people will have confidence. Many are disappointed due to the rise in commodity prices. Many are asking, is that why we have struggled? Our enemies will take advantage of this," he said.

Reminiscing, he said, "The improvement of the garment industry, remittance inflow, and high-yielding rice were initiated in the hands of Ziaur Rahman. He worked for women's empowerment. How can we forget his contribution? He believed that democracy was the only way. The destroyers of the country killed him."

Fakhrul said dictator Ershad was removed through the elected government led by Khaleda Zia. "When Sheikh Hasina cancelled the caretaker government, we could not build resistance, why couldn't we? We could not remove her [Sheikh Hasina] from power even after fighting for 15 years. But the students scored the final goal. We have to admit this."