Farroque demands clear statement over elections 

Zainul Abdin Farroque, BNP chairperson's adviser, today urged the interim government to give a clear statement over the next general elections.

"Carry out reform quickly. We have no objection. . . but when will the election be held? We need a clear statement in this regard from you (interim government)," the former opposition chief whip said this while addressing a civic dialogue titled "Elections and New Bangladesh' as the chief guest at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

Bangladesh Satyer Shakti organised the dialogue with its convener writer and columnist Rakesh Rahman in the chair. 

Farroque said after assuming the office, Fakhruddin-Moinuddin had said they would hand over the power to public representatives soon. 

But they did not do that, rather hatched conspiracies jointly with Hasina, he added.

"In the name of eye treatment, Hasina held meetings with representatives of Moinuddin in London and America and the election date was declared after making a treaty through which Fakhruddin-Moinuddin brought the AL in power," the BNP leader said. 

Noting that friends of ousted AL are now trying to create a political crisis in the country, Farroque said, they are owners of huge amounts of money and partners of numerous corruptions.

"Why is the price of green chilly Tk700 [per kg] now? Is the syndicate of AL's Sheikh Hasina still active? If they still remain active, please assign someone to find them and disclose their names," he said.

The BNP leader demanded quick actions against the syndicate behind the commodity price hike. 

Speaking about the recent chaos in the Durga Puja mandaps, Farroque said, "I think it is very easy to identify those who are carrying out these illegal acts."

The illegal arms owned by the goons of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League are yet to be recovered, he said, adding, it is normal that they would hatch conspiracy against the government and create anarchies in the puja mandaps.

Calling upon the government to oust the cohorts of fascist Awami League from administration, Farroque said the sacrifice of Shaheed Mugdha and others will never be properly evaluated until all the cohorts of AL are ousted from the secretariat and the constitutional bodies.

He urged the interim government to disclose all the treaties signed between Sheikh Hasina and India in the last 16 years.

Bangladesher Biplabi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Labour Party chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party Assistant Member Secretary Barrister Sani Abdul Haque, BNP Voluntary Affairs Secretary Sarfat Ali Sapu, BNP Training Affairs Secretary ABM Mosharraf Hossain, BNP Media Cell Member Mahmuda Habiba, BNP National Executive Committee Member valiant Freedom Fighter Anwar Hossain Bulu, Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP former Senior Joint Convener Anwaruzzaman Anwar, Arafat Rahman Koko Smriti Sangsad founding President Md Alamgir Hossain, Aparajeyo Bangladesh General Secretary Ismail Hossain Sirazi and Jatiyatabadi Muktijuddher Prajanma General Secretary Md Ibrahim Hossain spoke as special guests.

Md Manjur Hossain Isa of Bangladesh Satyer Shakti moderated the dialogue.