No need for movement against interim government: BNP’s Nazrul

Expressing the hope that the interim government will act in line with people's aspirations, BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan today (19 April) said they do not think it is necessary to launch a movement against Dr Yunus' administration to compel it to hold the election by December.

"We don't think we have to do anything like that (waging a movement) because we have placed this government in power with the expectation that it will play a role in establishing democracy in the country and will act according to the people's aspirations," he said while talking to reporters at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office after a meeting with the 12-party alliance.

"We believe the government will work according to the wishes of the people. We are expressing our opinions and hope that the government will listen and act accordingly," he said.

Nazrul, however, said a final decision regarding their next course of action will be made after discussions with all other parties and alliances that had taken to the streets against the fascist Awami League government.

The BNP leader said the chief adviser, during a meeting with BNP leaders on 10 February, had clearly stated that the national election would be held by December this year.

"They [interim govt] have now said the election will be held between December and June. They also said this does not mean it will not be held in December. It can still be held in December," he explained.

Nazrul said they told the chief adviser during their meeting on Wednesday to announce a clear roadmap, confirming that the election would be held in December this year.

In light of the situation, he said they have begun meetings with the parties and alliances that were part of the movement against the Awami League government, to inform them about the outcome of their meeting and work out the next steps.

Earlier on Wednesday, a seven-member BNP delegation led by party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at the state house Jamuna to press for a specific roadmap to hold the national election by December this year.

Following the meeting, Fakhrul expressed dissatisfaction, as Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus reiterated that the national election would be held between December and June, without providing any specific roadmap.

When asked about the BNP's strategy following the disappointing meeting with the Chief Adviser, Fakhrul said the party would decide its next steps after holding internal discussions and consultations with its like-minded allies.