It’s not true BNP prioritising election over reforms: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that it is a misconception to believe that BNP is solely focused on elections and not on reforms.

“We have been sincere about reforms from the very beginning. Unfortunately, we’re now hearing statements that the BNP does not want reforms, but only elections. This is not correct,” he told a dialogue.

The Forum for Bangladesh Studies organised the dialogue titled 'Unity, Reform, Election' at the Krishibid Institution in the capital on Friday (December 27).

Fakhrul said that the BNP is committed to participating in the elections only after necessary reforms are carried out to ensure a free, fair and credible voting process.

“We keep talking about elections because it’s the main gateway to democracy and the democratic process,” he asserted.

Describing the BNP's sincerity regarding reforms, he mentioned that their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia presented Vision 20-30 in 2016, outlining several reforms, including ensuring a balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, limiting any individual to serving as Prime Minister for no more than two terms and introducing a bicameral parliament.

He said BNP also unveiled a 31-point reform proposal after consulting with other democratic political parties, who had joined the movement against fascism, in 2022.