TDS Desk:

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that on some issues the interim government has been unable to play an impartial role, hoping that will change.

Fakhrul made the comment at a discussion organized by the Shaheed Asad Parishad at the National Press Club on Thursday to mark the 56th death anniversary of Shaheed Amanullah Mohammad Asaduzzaman.

He talked about the need for an impartial government to oversee the upcoming elections, saying that if the interim government is not neutral, it is essential to have a government that will ensure fairness during the election process.

In response to a journalist’s question, the BNP leader said: “I have said that if the interim government is not impartial, then there is a need for an impartial government during the election period. I have said this because we are seeing that, on some issues, the interim government is unable to play an impartial role. We hope that the interim government will play an impartial role.”

Fakhrul said the bureaucracy, which was in the same condition as before, is still playing the same role throughout the administration, from the Secretariat to everywhere. “There has been no change. In universities, education has completely stopped, and in schools and colleges, education is not functioning properly.”

He added: “The healthcare system is almost collapsed. These issues have stemmed from the past. Such changes are not possible in such a short time. That is why we are saying that elections need to be held quickly. The government that will come after the election will be accountable for fulfilling their political commitments.”

He commented on being deprived of elections for almost 15 years, saying: “The election needs to be held quickly. Through the election, the people will have the opportunity to elect their representatives. If this issue is made controversial by force, the people will be deprived of their rights.”

The BNP secretary general added: “Who comes to power in the election is not important, what is important is the establishment of people’s rights. This is the reason we have fought for 15 long years. That is why we have high expectations from the current interim government.

“Naturally, after the student-people’s uprising, public expectations have increased. But, unfortunately, considering the current state of society, we are not confident that our expectations will be fulfilled under such a system.”

He further said: “Each political party has different programs and agendas. They want to continue those programs. But there is one thing everyone agrees on: an election needs to be held. The election is not only to bring one party to power but also to create a democratic path.”

Regarding Shaheed Asad, Fakhrul said: “For those of us who were involved in the 1969 student-people’s uprising, Shaheed Asad is a name of love. In the struggle and movement we took part, Asad was an inspiration in that struggle. No matter how much his name is absent from textbooks or how much people forget, no one can sever Shaheed Asad from history. He will remain immortal in the history of our country’s liberation struggle.”

He also said: “As a result of the 1969 student-people’s uprising, we forced a fascist ruler to leave the country. In the 1969 uprising, the then-military ruler Ayub Khan was forced to step down. But we could not fulfil our goal.”

The discussion was chaired by Dr Mahbub Ullah, president of the Shaheed Asad Parishad. Other speakers included BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Aman Ullah Aman, Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, and Chief Coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Junaid Saki, among others.