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BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Thursday urged people from all walks of life to extend their cooperation in holding the next national election in February next year, foiling all conspiracies to derail it.
“It seems to us that there is no scope for deferring the election from February. So, we must hold the election within this timeframe. To that end, we seek the cooperation not only of political parties but also of all the people of the country,” he said, UNB reports.
The BNP leader made the call while speaking at a discussion titled ‘Reimagining Bangladesh’s Political Future’.
The Dhaka Forum Initiative organised the programme on the book ‘Tarique Rahman: Politics and Policies’ and the BBC Bangla Interview at a hotel in the capital.
Mosharraf, a BNP Standing Committee member, said when the interim government took office, BNP supported it with the hope that it would hold the election as early as possible and hand over power to the people’s elected representatives.
He said the interim government itself also assured the nation through the media that it would hold the election early and then leave power. “The government has now firmly declared that the election will be held in early February next year, and we have welcomed that.”
The BNP leader said his party is taking all necessary preparations for the upcoming polls. “You’ve seen our Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has already announced candidates for 236 out of 300 constituencies,” he said.
Mosharraf alleged that some parties are trying to create confusion over the election by raising the demand for the proportional representation (PR) system, but they are not explaining how it can be adopted.
He said such a system would lead to a situation where it would be impossible for any party to form a government.
The BNP leader explained that under the PR system, even a party securing 40 percent of the vote would not achieve a majority of seats needed to form a government, while in the past, governments were formed with 35 to 40 percent of the vote share because they won a majority of constituencies.
“Under the current system, voters elect their own representatives who are accountable to them. If MPs are chosen based on vote percentage under the PR system, they would be party MPs, not the people’s MPs. That cannot be acceptable,” he said.
Mosharraf alleged that a section of people at home and abroad are plotting to delay or cancel the election.
“Some who were linked with autocratic regimes in the past and some who fled abroad are involved in this plot. Certain people in Bangladesh are also trying to create a crisis by turning non-issues into major issues,” he pointed out.
The BNP leader said their party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon all political parties and citizens to work together to make the election a success so that people’s representatives can go to parliament and form a government.
“Our Acting Chairman has made it clear, and we are also saying — there is no alternative to elections. Whether it is today or tomorrow, elections must be held,” Mosharraf said.
He said the safest and most suitable time for the election is within this coming February, as after that Ramadan will begin, followed by the monsoon and floods, and then public examinations like SSC and HSC.
The BNP leader also said the current interim government will be able to leave power with due dignity if the election is held in February next year.
BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also addressed the discussion.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters after the programme, Khosru urged the government to remain vigilant against those trying to foil or delay the upcoming national election.
He said the clash in Chattogram took place between two rival criminal groups. “There was an existing conflict between them. The BNP is not taking the matter lightly,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that some quarters intending to obstruct or delay the election are trying to exploit this conflict. “Those who want to hinder the election are attempting to use the rivalry between these two groups,” he said.
Khosru said it is the government’s duty to maintain law and order. “The situation must be brought under control. The government must be more cautious so that those who want to disrupt the election cannot carry out their ill motives.”