Holding election within 3 months could have averted many troubles: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that holding elections within three months of the interim government taking office could have prevented many problems.

Speaking at a discussion on Wednesday at the National Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Hall, Fakhrul pointed to rising prices and banking difficulties. “My wife tried to withdraw money from the bank this morning, but they told her they couldn’t give more than five thousand taka. If this situation isn’t resolved within a year, what will happen?” he asked.

The event was organized jointly by the Bhasani Janashakti Party and the Bhasani Anusari Parishad to mark the 10th death anniversary of Kazi Zafar Ahmed, a key organizer of the Liberation War and former Prime Minister.

Fakhrul urged the government to complete the July Charter and necessary reforms quickly and take final steps toward holding elections without delay. “Political parties must be election-focused. The people’s representatives should be elected through a proper election. There is no alternative,” he said.

He also criticized some political groups for making unfamiliar demands aimed at derailing the election process. Fakhrul explained that many voters do not understand the proposed proportional representation system, which could cause confusion about candidates.

Recalling his previous call for elections, Fakhrul said, “After August 5, I demanded elections within three months. I was criticized and accused of wanting power. But the real issue is that when change happens, others take advantage.”

Fakhrul also accused factions within the government of preventing democratic forces from coming to power. He expressed concern over reports of attacks on BNP advisors and officials by Awami League supporters in New York.

He further alleged corruption, saying a bank robber gave Sheikh Hasina billions of taka and accused her of planning from abroad to disrupt elections in Bangladesh.

Other speakers included Mustafa Jamal Haider, chairman of the National Party (Kazi Zafar), Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party, and Najmul Haq Nannu, advisor to the BNP chairperson.

Haider recalled Kazi Zafar Ahmed’s 1970 declaration of an independent democratic East Bengal, which led to his imprisonment by the Ayub government.

Saiful Haque emphasized that constitutional amendments must be made by elected representatives and condemned attempts to complete reforms via ordinances before elections as irresponsible, accusing some of seeking to delay the February polls indefinitely.