Jumbangla Desk: BNP wants a roadmap for the National Assembly elections within the next two to three months. Otherwise, the party may take to the streets demanding parliamentary elections in March-April. The high-level leaders of the party feel that if the government is sincere, it is possible to hold elections in the next five to six months. BNP's highest policy-making forum, the leaders of the party's national standing committee meeting said this opinion, multiple sources said.

bnp

The meeting was held at the party chairperson's Gulshan office in the capital last Monday night. Acting chairman of the party, Tariq Rahman, joined the meeting virtually. In the meeting, the policy-making forum of the party demanded the resignation of Ali Imam Majumdar, the adviser of the interim government. At the same time, some members of the committee raised questions about the role of Jamaat after August 5.

The BNP demanded early elections in a three-round meeting with the chief adviser of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus. Although they said in the media, they want to give proper time to the government for the elections. Now the party leaders seem to want the government to extend their power without holding elections. Therefore, BNP will create pressure on the government by demanding elections.

A member of the standing committee, who did not wish to be named, told Kal Kantha that the statements of the interim government's advisors, including the lengthy discussions on state reforms, show their disinterest in elections.

He said that despite the formation of a search committee to reorganize the Election Commission, the government has not given an official statement on the election, raising doubts about the goals and objectives of this government.

Mirza Abbas, a member of BNP's standing committee, said in an event in the capital yesterday that the interim government should clarify what reforms are needed to structure the state and how long it will take. No tricks are allowed. People will not accept this government for long.

A policy maker of the party said that his statement was a reflection of the standing committee meeting. He said that the leaders were critical of the government on the issue of the election roadmap in the meeting. Some leaders strongly criticized some advisers of the government and opined that they should speak out against them.

According to the sources of the standing committee meeting, the leaders expressed their surprise that various issues including the removal of the president suddenly came to the fore. They think that the work of the government is not being seen to solve the basic problems of the people including the control of commodity prices, improvement of the law and order situation. There is also confusion about the fact that some sectors should be reformed on a priority basis for the purpose of a free, fair and acceptable election.

After the reform, the election will be arranged on the basis of national consensus, information advisor Nahid Islam's statement given last Monday was also discussed in the meeting. The leaders of the party think that the government has not given a clear idea about how the reforms will be done and when the reform process can be completed. After that the election will be arranged by discussing with the political parties, the idea of ​​delaying the election is found in this statement.

In this context, Mirza Abbas also said yesterday, 'The government is not talking about the election. When we talk about elections, you say that we are eager to come to power. Now if we say, you are crazy to stay in power without talking about elections.'

In the meeting, the members of the standing committee said that they want to give appropriate time to the government for the election. But that suitable time cannot be a few years. At this time, almost all the leaders suggested to be vocal demanding elections between March-April. However, one member felt that it would be logical to demand an election in August-September.

A leader, who did not wish to be named, said that if the government was serious about holding elections, they were in favor of waiting for a year. But they are worried about the government's disinterest in elections. For this, there is an opinion about seeking elections between March and April.

BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku told Kal Kantha, 'We want a roadmap for early elections. The government should announce the roadmap and remove the ambiguity about the elections.'

In the meeting, the appointment of Awami League's blessed people at various levels in the administration was made and the advisor Ali Imam Majumdar was blamed. They think that a fair election is not possible by keeping Ali Imam Majumdar in the government.

At the same time some leaders alleged that Jamaat against BNP is running a kind of negative campaign. They said that Awami League and Jamaat are working together in the administration.

Recently, the search committee to form the new election commission has written to propose four names as commissioners. According to the search committee's letter, it was decided to propose four names from BNP in the standing committee meeting.

In the meeting, the leaders opined against the creation of a new voter list and felt that the list should be updated.
Hasan Shiplu