Announce election roadmap: Mosharraf to govt

BNP senior leader Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain today (7 December) urged the interim government to quickly present an election roadmap, saying that it would not be wise for the current administration to remain in power indefinitely under the 'guise of state reforms'.

"The interim government's commitment was to establish an anti-discriminatory state, but it is not wise to stay in power indefinitely in the name of reforms," he told a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.

The National People's Party (NPP) organised the event titled "There is no alternative to elections to protect independence, sovereignty and establish sustainable democracy."

Mosharraf, a member of the BNP standing committee, said the interim government should prioritise reforming the election system and process. "People have expectations from the interim government, and it also has a commitment to carry out state reforms." 

"These reforms need to be done quickly. No single government can fix a date and implement all reforms at once. The process should begin now, and the next elected government will continue it," the BNP leader said.

Mosharraf said the people of Bangladesh are eagerly waiting to exercise their right to vote, having been denied this opportunity for the past 17 years.

He criticised certain vested groups for stirring unrest over trivial issues as part of a plot against the current government.

The BNP leader warned that conspiracies and instability would increase if the government continued to cling to power in the name of reforms.

"People must be oriented towards elections through a clear electoral roadmap. Only then all conspiratorial efforts can be thwarted," he added.