Voter age: BNP criticises CA's proposal as 'it could delay polls'

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (28 December) alleged that the chief adviser's suggestion to set the minimum age for becoming a voter at 17 has sparked controversy, as it could delay the election process.

Addressing a discussion at the National Press Club in Dhaka, he referred to a statement made by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus that the voting age should be 17 and said, "Now we have to make a new voter list. You, as the chief adviser, are suggesting that it would be good if the voting age is 17.

"It creates pressure on the Election Commission [EC] when you say this. It's their job. Leave it to them," he added.

Infographic: TBS

Fakhrul said the chief adviser talked about a matter on which there is no consensus.

The BNP secretary general said, "Eighteen years is acceptable to everyone. If you want to reduce it, let the EC propose it. Talk to the political parties.

"It would have been better to discuss this matter with stakeholders instead of just saying it like this. Then there would be no controversy."

Fakhrul said people will now increasingly fear that this will take more time, causing further delays to the national election. "People are getting the impression, not me, that this government is deliberately delaying the election process for some reason."

Yesterday (27 December), Chief Adviser Yunus suggested that the minimum voter age should be lowered to 17 years.

"To give their [youth] opinion on their own future, I think the voting age for them should be fixed at 17 years," he said in a video message played in a dialogue arranged by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies.

'Unelected govt shouldn't remain in power for a long period'

Reiterating the demand for an immediate election, Fakhrul said an unelected government should not remain in power for a long period.

"We have no objection to carrying out reforms. But the biggest problem now is the chaos and instability in Bangladesh. These problems will be significantly alleviated if there is an elected government," he added.

Fakhrul said an elected government can assert its power to deal with problems effectively as they have public mandate.  "We must always remember this. We also strongly advocate for reforms. But we also believe that the unelected government should not remain in power for a long time," he said.

Fakhrul said the main task of the interim government is to arrange a credible election and hand over power to the elected representatives of people.

The BNP leader affirmed that his party still fully supports the interim government.

He also expressed a desire for the interim government to succeed and they are ready to offer all necessary cooperation to ensure its success.

The BNP leader said they also want the interim government to succeed and they are ready to offer all necessary cooperation to ensure its success.

"My biggest request is to arrange the election swiftly. Otherwise, the ongoing crisis, problems, acts of sabotage, and border issues cannot be contained," Fakhrul observed.

He said reform is not a new concept but a continuous process. "You [govt] have set up several commissions for reforms, and they are working. That's fine. But with whom are these commissions working? They have brought in some scholars... we know them well and respect them. However, at the same time, you must engage with the people to understand what they want."

The BNP leader said carrying out reforms is a continuous process and will not end anytime soon. "But we can't delay the election for the sake of reforms. We can't allow an unelected government to continue to run the country day after day in name of completing reforms."

Referring to newspaper reports, Fakhrul said two to three more political parties would be formed before the election.

"We have no objection if another two or three parties are formed as part of the electoral process. We wouldn't even mind if one hundred or two hundred parties emerge. The question is, how useful will they be for the nation?" he said.

Fakhrul lamented that social media is dangerously creating an environment where anyone can become a politician, philosopher, journalist, or YouTuber.

He said many are now making political statements and comments, sometimes even mocking political parties. "This is not fair and should not happen."

The BNP leader alleged that ordinary people in the country are facing a difficult time due to the rising prices of essential items, including rice, pulses, oil, salt, eggs and chicken. "The lives of the common people have become unbearable."

He accused the interim government of showing no concern for this issue, as they have not taken action to reduce the price of commodities.

"When we raise this issue, they say it's not possible to resolve quickly. But we want to see your initiative. We want to know what measures have been taken. We have not seen the advisers or those in charge going to the markets, talking to people, and understanding where the problems lie," the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul also alleged that the government has failed to ensure any relief to the people through effective steps.

"I attended an event yesterday, where Debapriya Bhattacharya made an important point: everyone wants reforms, but they also want relief. They want relief in the markets, and they do not want to be killed on the streets," he said.

Fakhrul called upon the government to focus on administration and governance to achieve the desired goals and fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people.

He said the July-August mass uprising had created a new opportunity to build a new Bangladesh by ousting the fascist rule of Sheikh Hasina.