BNP leader Hafizuddin slams Prof Yunus for ‘untrue’ remark on election timeline

BNP senior leader Hafizuddin Khan on Monday alleged that Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus disappointed their party by making an ‘untrue’ comment abroad that only one party wants the election to be held by December this year.

Speaking at a discussion, he urged the government to promptly hold the national election as the elected parliament will execute all reforms and expedite the trial of fascists, UNB reports. 

The Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 44th death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.

“Prof Yunus is a virtuous son of the country and its pride. All political parties have supported him and will continue to support him in the future, but he has disappointed us,” the BNP leader said.

Hafiz, a BNP Standing Committee member, said they never imagined that a person like Prof Yunus would speak untruths.

“Even, he uttered it abroad. Going to Japan, he (CA) said that only one party, BNP, wants elections in December. Is this true?” he said.

The BNP leader claimed that 42 parties had earlier met the Chief Adviser, telling him they want the election to be held by December.

During a meeting in February, Hafiz recalled that the Chief Adviser clearly told a BNP delegation that elections would be held in December. “I was in that delegation.

He deplored that the Chief Adviser’s stance on the election changed just two days later.

The BNP leader said Sheikh Hasina’s mafia regime was ousted through a mass uprising with the participation of people from all walks of life.

“So, whatever reforms are to be carried out, the elected parliament will undertake them. Arrange the election promptly. The representatives of the people will carry out all necessary reforms,” he said.

Hafiz said a reform to restore the election-time caretaker government system is essential, and it has already been achieved as all parties have reached a consensus on the matter.

“What we need now is trial. Let the process begin. Those who come to power through the next election must hold the trial of the mafia regime elements involved in enforced disappearances, the killing of innocent children and youths using helicopters, and other misdeeds such as money laundering,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged that holding trials is a time-consuming matter. “If it takes five years to complete the trial, will we sit idle without elections for five years?”

On behalf of the freedom fighters, he said, “I request the Chief Adviser not to obstruct the democratic transition by delaying the election.”

He said most of the advisers in the interim government made no contribution to the July-August mass uprising, yet they have become its beneficiaries.

The BNP leader lamented that those who actually led the revolution on the streets have been so thoroughly ignored that four of them have recently attempted to take their own lives in despair.

Speaking at the programme, BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Abdus Salam said the interim government is trying to delay the national election on the pretext of reform and the trial of fascists.

He said their party is also in favour of reforms and it had placed a 32-point reform outline to overhaul the state more than two years ago, but the government is taking too much time to complete its reform initiative.

The BNP leader said their party also wants the trial of Awami fascists more than any other party as the leaders and activists of the party were subjected to serious repression and suppression by the Sheikh Hasina regime.

He, however, bemoaned that the interim government has not made any notable progress in initiating the trial of the fascists and their cohorts over the last 10 months.

Salam urged the government to hold the national election as early as possible to hand over power to the elected representatives of the people and restore stability in the country.