Interim govt has mandate to hold election only: BNP

The interim government has a mandate to hold a free, fair and impartial national election only, said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

They also demanded removal of National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman as well as some other advisers "linked to a party", said the party at an emergency news conference at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office on Thursday.

At the conference, party's Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, "People believe that public's top priority should be the main focus of the interim government. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the BNP to continue its cooperation with this government."

Since reform is an ongoing process, both reform and electoral processes can go on simultaneously. The trial process of the fallen fascist forces and individuals, the party and those accused of crimes against humanity will continue, he added.

In addition, people of this country do not believe that the interim government has the authority to make decisions of national importance or those involving long-term policymaking.

He also said that it is necessary to take into consideration whether the national interest is being protected through various statements and actions of the government regarding the humanitarian corridor and Chittagong port.

He called for considering the sensitive and national important security issue as the highest priority. Any decision in this regard should be taken only by the elected government on the basis of national consensus, he said.

"To what extent has the public expectation or the aspiration of the mass uprising been fulfilled in the last 9 and a half months? Rifts have started to appear in national unity against fascism," he said, adding that there is no alternative to building a strong democratic Bangladesh by maintaining this unity.

The seasoned BNP leader also hoped that the government will soon take measures to administer oath to Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, complying with the verdict of the Election Tribunal and the High Court.

nsrafsanju@gmail.com