BNP’s Mosharraf alleges plot to delay parliamentary elections

BNP senior leader Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday alleged that various schemes are being devised to delay the parliamentary elections and prevent the restoration of the people’s rights to vote.

“People are eager to regain their rights to vote, but various plots are being hatched to delay the parliamentary elections. Many excuses are being made,” he told an iftar party.

Three BNP associate bodies –Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal, and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal – organised the event at a city hotel in honour of journalists who cover the party’s political activities.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the government is using reform as an excuse to delay the election process.

“Some of them are claiming that the [national] election will be held on completion of reforms. Reform is a continuous process. It is impossible for any government to complete reforms within a limited timeframe,” he said.

The BNP leader said although seven months have elapsed since the current government assumed office, it still has not presented any specific programme or plan for reforms. “When they announce the reform programme, the time required to complete it will depend on the pace of its execution. So, it is an ongoing process,” Mosharraf said.

He alleged that the previous fascist government of Sheikh Hasina destroyed all sectors of the country. “It is the primary duty of the future government to address these issues. The current government’s responsibility is to create an opportunity for the people so that they can establish their government through voting.”

Mosharraf said the holding of local government elections is being used as an excuse to delay the national election, but it has no relation with policymaking decisions or reviving the economy. “Only the national parliament can address these issues. So on behalf of the people, we demand that a roadmap specifying a date for the Jatiya Sangsad election be announced immediately. This is the expectation of the people.”

Once the election date is announced, he said people will become election-oriented and take responsibility to counter any plots by the fallen Awami League. “I urge the government to create that opportunity.”

He said people are hopeful of building a new Bangladesh, characterised by peace and discipline.

But, he pointed out that the deposed fascist Awami League and their associates, both at home and abroad, are engaging in various plots to create chaos. “This is not unusual, as they have been ousted from power.”

He said the interim government, which came to power as a result of the July-August 2024 mass uprising, assured the nation of restoring the lost rights of the people. “We understand that the right to vote is the people’s fundamental right.”

The BNP leader further stated that the people of the country have been deprived of their voting rights for over 16 years. “So, they are expecting to regain their right to vote.”

At another programme, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas also said a vested quarter is trying to foil the national election.

“As a political leader, I am hopeful that the election will be held. But as an ordinary citizen, I think, many are trying to derail the election,” he said at a workshop.

Dhaka South City unit arranged the workshop on BNP’s 31-point state reform proposal at Madartek Abdul Aziz High School and College ground in Basabo.

Abbas said that they have repeatedly emphasised that if people vote for their party, they will form the government. “However, if people choose not to vote for us, we will respect their decision and accept whoever they choose.”

He said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman developed the 31-point reform programme over two and a half years ago, in consultation with 62 political parties, incorporating their opinions to address the needs of the people.

“The current government has been talking too much about reforms. But what reforms have actually taken place? I still haven’t seen any...Had the government started working on our 31-point proposal, there would have been no need to talk so much about reforms and make empty claims,” Abbas said.

He urged the interim government to arrange the election as soon as possible instead of wasting time with endless talk of reforms.

The BNP leader said some people and certain political parties seem to lose their minds whenever they hear about holding the national election. “Elections can bring stability to a country, but they fail to understand this.”