BNP’s Khosru seeks immediate election roadmap for democratic transition

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru today (27 April) urged the interim government to quickly publish an election roadmap to reassure the public that the country is progressing towards elections and the restoration of democracy. 

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) at the BNP Chairperson's office in Gulshan, he warned that the lack of a clear election roadmap is creating suspicion and uncertainty among the people, which could negatively impact the future of democracy and the electoral process. 

Khosru said the people of the country are uncertain about when they will regain democratic governance and their rightful ownership of the nation through an election.

"So, an election roadmap must be presented without delay to assure the public that the nation is on the path to restoring democracy. Election is the main vehicle of democracy," he observed.

As part of BNP's liaison committee's ongoing discussions with like-minded political parties on the next election, Khosru, along with BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu, held a meeting with a 10-member BJP delegation led by its Chairman Andalib Rahman Partha.

Khosru said the government should move towards the election after formulating a national charter based on the reform proposals on which political parties have reached a consensus.

"In Bangladesh, we are not going to establish Baksal. It's a Baksal-like notion that everyone must agree on everything…different parties will have different philosophies, different thoughts and there will naturally be differences of opinion," he said.

The BNP leader also said there is no scope for reforms beyond the points of consensus among political parties. 

"To do anything outside of that consensus, one must come through the democratic process, the electoral process and with people's mandate."

He said questions remain as to why the issues on which consensus has already been reached are not being presented before the nation.

Khosru mentioned that all political parties have already submitted their reform proposals, and a considerable amount of time has passed since then, with discussions now concluded.

He believes it should not take more than a week to identify where consensus has been reached among the political parties.

"Inform the nation where the consensus has been reached, and based on that consensus, we can sign the charter and move forward with the elections. There is no scope for going beyond this," the BNP leader said.

"You have to tell the nation that you will proceed with a democratic transition. Preparations are necessary for the election both inside and outside the country," Khosru said.

BJP Chairman Andalib Rahman Partha said their position is clear that a national charter should be drawn up based on the reforms on which there is consensus, and the country should proceed towards elections accordingly.