BNP expressed displeasure over Mohammad Yunus’ speech, said ‘There was no clear roadmap for democracy in Bangladesh’

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday expressed displeasure over the address to the nation by interim government chief Mohammad Yunus. The BNP said that the chief advisor’s speech did not have any clear roadmap to take the country towards democracy.

Mohammad Yunus took over as the head of the interim government on August 8 after the coup of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5. He assured on Sunday that his government will conduct free, fair, inclusive elections in the country and will carry out reforms in various sectors.

Yunus said, “After completion of necessary reforms in the administration, judiciary, Election Commission and election system, law and order and information flow systems, a free, fair and inclusive election will be held to give a successful outcome to the mass protest of the student-people.”

The 84-year-old Nobel laureate said the timing of elections was a political decision and people would decide how long this interim government would remain in power.

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We are still in a state of confusion: BNP

Reacting to Yunus’ address, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed disappointment that Yunus’ address to the nation did not contain any roadmap to take the country on the path of democracy. He hoped that the interim government would soon hold talks with political parties to decide on national elections and reforms.

“We are still in a state of confusion because things are unclear. We had expected the advisors to present a roadmap. But we did not find that roadmap in his speech,” the senior BNP leader said.

‘Some signs of improvement’

He said Yunus hinted at some reforms in his speech, but these cannot be implemented in a short time frame. However, Fakhrul expressed optimism, noting that he believes the situation is moving in a positive direction for the benefit of the people. Fakhrul said Yunus was right in saying that the timing of the election is a matter of political decision, but the government needs to discuss with political parties and politicians to make this decision.”

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Meeting with parties of 12 party alliance

Let us tell you that the interim government of Bangladesh has already released BNP President Khaleda Zia from house arrest and acquitted her of corruption charges. Meanwhile, BNP held a meeting with the 12-party alliance and other like-minded parties on Sunday to address the political situation of the country after the fall of the Hasina-led Awami League government.

The meeting was part of their efforts to stabilise the country through cooperation, the Daily Star newspaper reported. During the meeting, the leaders agreed to support the interim government.

BNP liaison committee chief and standing committee member Najrul Islam Khan called a meeting with the 12-party alliance and other allied groups at the BNP chairperson’s office.

Standing Committee member Selima Rehman said, “We talked about how our teams should respond to the flood situation. We also discussed about supporting the students who were injured during the agitation and are still recovering.”