BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan on Saturday said it is now a demand of the time to complete reforms quickly for establishing a government elected by the people.
“One aspiration of 16 years’ struggle and the mass uprising of students and people in July-August has been fulfilled with the fall of fascism. But another aspiration is the restoration of democracy and the restoration of people’s rights,” he said addressing a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
The BNP leader said democracy needs to be restored in such a way that it cannot be used against the people.
“True democracy and people's democracy must be reestablished. Therefore, it is now a demand of the time to establish an elected government and elected rule by completing the necessary reforms,” he said.
Nazrul, a BNP Standing Committee member, warned that the longer the government takes time in holding the election, the more new organisations will emerge and many individuals will present various proposals and aspirations, claiming to represent the people's will.
Even, he said, "If the biggest party in Bangladesh claims that this is the aspiration of the people, it will still not be valid until it is approved by the people."
The BNP leader said the rule of the people needs to be established with the confidence of the public, and the democratic government must run the country as per the people’s consent and aspirations. "For that, I believe the necessary provisions should be incorporated, and the constitution should be amended."
This rally was organised by the Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani Anusari Parishad, demanding the re-inclusion of Bhasani's biography in the seventh and ninth grade textbooks.
Nazrul said the current interim government did not usurp power, as they were entrusted by all with the responsibility to address the people’s daily needs and materialise their aspirations.
He said that people have the sole authority to make decisions on important matters related to their emotions, interests, and desires, and it is impolitic to impose any decision on these issues.
“We incorporated the system of referendum in the constitution so that people can express their opinions on important state issues, but the previous government deprived them of that right by removing the system,” the BNP leader mentioned.
He said the provision of referendum should be reincorporated into the constitution to allow the public to express their views on significant issues. “It won’t be enough to rely solely on the opinions of a few learned and prudent individuals regarding matters that affect the people's interests.”
Recalling the role of Moulana Bhasani, Nazrul said the Awami League regime attempted to erase the name and immense contributions of the great leader from history.
“They (AL) have already been punished for it. They were not only defeated but had to flee. There is no such instance in the history of this country. Many leaders were previously assassinated and imprisoned, but no one fled the country,” he observed.
The BNP leader said that there are many reasons why the Awami League had to endure such a significant insult. “One of them is that they tried to erase the names of many great sons of the soil. They prioritised not just a party but a family, which is a political crime. They received their punishment. I believe this should be a lesson not just for them but for all of us politicians.”
He said everyone’s place in history and their achievements and contributions should be acknowledged. “Otherwise, history won’t forgive you.”
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday said there is no alternative to establishing an elected parliament and government for restoring people's ownership of the country and fulfilling their aspirations.
“Now is the time to restore people’s ownership of Bangladesh. This means fully ensuring their right to vote fully so that they can elect a parliament and government that will be accountable to them. There’s no alternative to this,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at the sixth national council of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
Khosru, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, said that a monster like Hasina was created because she never required votes as she usurped power through one-sided elections repeatedly.
He said Sheikh Hasina snatched people's voting rights, violated human rights and undermined the rule of law. “Restoring people's ownership is the main issue now, and this must be achieved by holding free, fair and acceptable elections and reestablishing democracy.”
The BNP leader said Sheikh Hasina was removed through a national unity. “We must maintain that unity to achieve our goal of restoring people's ownership of Bangladesh.”
He insisted that there has been a significant shift in people's mindset, with new thoughts and aspirations emerging about the future of Bangladesh.
Khosru said the nation must move forward to realise the people's desires by maintaining unity. “If politicians fail to understand the nation’s needs and changes in mindset, then politics will have no future,” he warned.
He also said there should be no division among political parties on fundamental issues like democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the economic emancipation of the people.
The BNP leader acknowledged that while there may be differences of opinion among political parties, they must respect one another to fulfill people's desires through healthy political practices.
He also said the only way to restore democratic order in the country is by holding credible, neutral, and inclusive elections through promptly carrying out electoral reforms.
Khosru alleged that Sheikh Hasina has destroyed the country's institutions and political structure, which must be reformed.
Banning BCL not enough, illegal arms holders must face justice: BNP
He mentioned that their party, led by Khaleda Zia, first presented reform proposals six years ago by unveiling the Vision-2030.
Later, the BNP leader said that their party, together with other democratic parties, put forward a 31-point proposal for state reforms. “These aren’t just BNP proposals as those were formulated with other parties who’re in our simultaneous movement. Reform isn’t new to us. We need to implement the 31-point reform and form a national government after the elections. We’re committed to this.”
He said there are no differences of opinion about the need for electoral reforms to ensure a credible and acceptable election. “This is an easy task. You (govt) just need to form the election commission and update the voter list for a transparent election. The remaining basic reforms can be achieved through national consensus.”
