National election now a must, local polls can't restore democracy: BNP's Nazrul
Tarique's 31 points mirror interim govt’s reform plans, he says
BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan today (23 May) said what Bangladesh needs now is the national election as local government polls cannot restore democracy, stating that the main goal of the movement is yet to be achieved, even though the fascist feld the country.
"The country is passing through a period of political unrest, the sooner the national election is held, the quicker the instability will subside," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar.
The seminar titled 'Youth Perspectives on Agricultural Development, Environmental Protection, and Urban Issues' was organised in Bogura by the BNP's affiliated bodies—Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal.
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This senior BNP leader said, "The current interim government has formed several reform commissions, but all of them were already outlined in BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman's 31-point proposal."
He added that if BNP assumes power through people's votes in the future, it will implement those reforms.
Nazrul also noted that Tarique Rahman will prioritise the youth in shaping the country's political future, saying, "BNP is giving the highest importance to young people's opinions, dreams, and active participation in nation-building."
BNP aims to make political decision-making more transparent, accountable and people-oriented, he said.
Nazrul Islam said Tarique Rahman believes youths are the key to the country's future, which is why he [Tarique] instructed the party to hold this seminar focusing on agriculture, the environment and urban challenges.
"BNP has always been known as a youth-centric party," he said.
Nazrul emphasised the need to reopen all closed jute mills and ensure just compensation for the workers.
"To fulfil the dream of the martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the country must utilise educated unemployed youths in its journey of development and productivity," he added.
Bobby Hajjaj, Chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), Faysal Kabir Shuvo, strategic analyst at Sydney Water in Australia; Ridwanul Haq, professor at IBA, University of Dhaka; and Zulkarin Jahangir, assistant professor at North South University, among others, spoke at the event.
