BNP demands roadmap for December polls, calls for dismissal of advisers related to 'new party'

Key Highlights:

• Wants dismissal of national security adviser, advisers who are 'allies of fascism'
• Says highest priority should be establishing political government
• Believes govt responding to pressure and not acting on time has undermined it
• Says interim govt doesn't have authority to make decisions on long-term policies, issues of national interest

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has demanded the removal of any adviser related directly or indirectly to a newly-formed political party or those who are "allies of fascism", alongside that of the national security adviser. 

It also called for a specific roadmap to hold election in December.

In an emergency press conference today (22 May) at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office, the party's Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the presence of advisers related to a new party continuously led to questions over the government's non-partisan identity so it was necessary to dismiss them to protect the government's image.  

He also said National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman's statement yesterday had once again given rise to a new controversy, so he, too, must be dismissed. 

"We have raised the demand for the removal of some advisors who were allies of fascism many times in the past."

Urging for a specific timeline for elections, he said the main task of the interim government was to hold parliamentary polls. 

"It is advisable to have a small advisory council to conduct routine work [daily activities] instead of having a large advisory council," he said. 

'National polls now top priority'

Stating that it will be difficult to continue cooperation with the government, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, "In order to ensure the democratic rights, constitutional rights, human rights and voting rights lost by upholding the aspirations of the July-Chhatra mass uprising, the highest priority now is to establish an elected political government in accordance with the aspirations of the people as soon as possible." 

He demanded the immediate announcement of a specific roadmap for the formation of a national parliament by December 2025 through fair, free and impartial elections. 

"The people believe that giving top priority to this highest aspiration of the people should be the main agenda of the current interim government."

'Doubts raised about interim govt's neutrality'

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said there were questions about people's expectations since the mass uprising and what had been achieved in the nine-and-a-half months.

For the sake of keeping the unity, he said the interim government was supposed to maintain the highest neutrality. 

"But it is being observed that implementing the agenda of some quarters to gain political benefits has become a part of the government's action plan. Some of the recent activities of the interim government have created doubts in the public mind about the government's neutrality."

He said they were demanding the removal of controversial advisers whose statements and actions were tarnishing the image of the government. 

"The only mandate of the interim provisional government is to hold a fair, free and impartial national parliamentary election. However, the press secretary of the chief advisor, as the government spokesperson, said 'this government has a mandate to do everything.'"

'Besieging EC embarrassing, mysterious'

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said despite the ongoing discussions within the process of making a "reform charter" based on the consensus of the political parties, besieging the Election Commission on the same issues and over calls for local polls was embarrassing. 

"Although the Election Commission was formed as per the law through a search committee, a group wants the Election Commission to be reconstitute," he said, adding the body was being questioned unfairly and irrationally over issuing a gazette notification centring Ishraque Hossain's mayoral election win as per a High Court order.

Terming the issue of besieging the Nirbachan Bhaban as purposeful and mysterious, he said the culture of the government taking action owing to pressure instead of doing so on time had undermined its capacity and dignity.  

"We believe that the government is entirely responsible for this undesirable and embarrassing situation. The constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission is to hold presidential and parliamentary elections. The issue of besieging the Election Commission over local government elections is purposeful and mysterious."

'Interim govt doesn't have authority to make nationally important decisions'

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain also said it was necessary to take into consideration whether national interest was being protected in the various statements and activities of the government regarding the humanitarian corridor and Chittagong port. 

"The people of this country do not think that the interim provisional government has the authority to take such nationally important and long-term policy-making decisions." 

He said such decisions should be taken by an elected government only.