Election can be held between August and October: Khasru

Stating that the national election can be held between August and October, BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday (18 May) alleged that the government is focusing on everything except their main task of arranging the national election.

"Why aren't they (govt) doing the work they need to do? They need to immediately declare an election roadmap, give themselves time for that, and focus entirely on the election," he said.

Talking to reporters at a city hotel, the BNP leader also said the government is doing everything except working on the election. "Who has given them the responsibility to do everything? That is the question."

He said it may take a week, a day, or even a few hours for the government to announce reforms on which the political parties have reached consensus.

Khosru, a BNP Standing Committee member, said the government can resolve the reform issue based on the agreement among the political parties and then immediately declare the election roadmap.

"So, there is no reason to wait until December for the election. The election could be held within the next three to four months, or from August to October," he observed.

The BNP leader said the responsibility of the interim government is to hold a fair election, hand over power to the elected government, and restore democratic order and the people's ownership of the country.

Instead of holding the election, he said, the interim government is rushing in other directions and taking major political decisions such as providing a human corridor and handing over the management of Chattogram port to foreigners, pushing the country towards danger.

"It is not their responsibility to decide on these matters. It will be decided by the elected government in consultation with political forces. These arranged political decisions, but why are they making these decisions and wasting time? What do they want to demonstrate? Khosru said.

He said the country's people did not give the interim government any mandate to take major and political decisions.

The BNP leader said the government must make visible signs of arranging the national election.

Khosru said the people of Bangladesh had made huge sacrifices for the election, the restoration of democracy, and their ownership of the country. "It can't go in vain in any way."

The BNP leader said the government had held an investment summit and was undertaking many other activities beyond its duties. "It is a transitional government in an interim situation. This is a stop-gap government whose main responsibility is to organise an election and peacefully hand over power to an elected government… There is no scope to delay the polls."

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the non-implementation of a court order regarding the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation. "When court orders are not followed, isn't the rule of law breached?"

Khosru said different people are constantly taking on various responsibilities despite having no connection with people. "They are imported, and they will not understand the problems of the people. Who are they? Who has given them the responsibility to determine in which direction Bangladesh will head in the future? The people of Bangladesh will make this decision through a democratic process."

He also said that reform must be carried out through a democratic process instead of implementing any particular quarter's agenda. "The reform will be done as per the people's wishes and, based on that the future of Bangladesh will be shaped."

The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh want to regain their ownership of the country through an elected government and parliament.

Bangladesh is now in an uncertain situation, and no one knows in which direction it is moving forward.

He said the people of Bangladesh ousted a fascist and autocratic regime to restore a democratic system. "There's still no visible sign that the country is moving towards a democratic order."

"There is a fear among everyone as to whether Bangladesh will go through a democratic process at all—whether the people of the country will regain their ownership of the country, whether they will get their elected parliament and government," the BNP leader said.

He said all the discussions and activities are taking place as if an elected government is running the country. "But there are no efforts towards the election. We cannot see any indication of Bangladesh heading towards a democratic process."

Khosru said the more the election is delayed, the more the country is being pushed towards uncertainty and danger, leaving the people of the country and its foreign friends in indecision.

He said all future elections must be held through a fair democratic process. "This should become a routine."