Arrange elections after required reforms

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday reiterated his party's demand to the interim government for holding a fair national election after completion of necessary reforms.

"This is not true that we don't want reforms. We want election after completion of the required reforms," he said.

He made the demand while addressing the 'National Dialogue 2024' on the topics of "Oikya Kon Pahe (Unity in which way)" at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the capital.

Over 700 leaders and activists have become victims of enforced disappearance, over 20,000 people have been killed and everybody knows about secret detention centres, Mr Fakhrul says.

"We've never stopped. We've tried to be vocal since the beginning and we didn't find many people with us at that time. But we see them now on the front rows and we feel good."

"It is unfortunate we are discussing on those issues even after 53 years of independence. Many of our party leaders and activists have been the victims of enforced disappearances during the last 15 years," the BNP secretary general said.

"We must not forget 1971 and keep in mind the gradual struggles of democracy since 1971. Today, we have come this far through those struggles and the sacrifices of the students," he continued.

"There must be balance between premier and presidential power, one could not remain as prime minister for more than two times and there should be a bicameral parliament."

"Caretaker governments held three elections that earned praise. There must be favourable structure so that we could establish real democracy. We must not forget all our democratic struggles in the past," he said.

Many of his party leaders were killed, maimed and jailed, Mr Fakhrul said, adding that six million cases were filed against BNP leaders and activists.

The dialogue on unity, reforms and election, which was launched by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies (FFBS), would continue until today (Saturday).

Dr Zahidur Rahman presided over the session. Participants at the dialogue discussed on unity, reform and election and said democratic culture is yet to establish in the country.

Adviser Adilur Rahman said students and mass people have fought against autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina during the last 15 years.

"The collaborators of the previous regime are still everywhere. We are at the crossroads. We want a Bangladesh so that fascism won't come back to the country," he said.

Chief of Constitution Reform Commission Prof Ali Reaz said that they were getting recommendations from people.

The people of the country want to ensure their rights to vote, personal freedom and not to allow power to be cumulated in one person hand, he added.

He also said political parties and civil society should be agreed to establish a country that will ensure accountability.

"There must be institutional structure for ensuring accountability. There must be a unity so that autocratic system is never established in the country further."

He also said that preparing a good constitution country doesn't mean to ensure good governance unless establishing a political culture. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said there was no instance of creating national unity in the past.

Stressing the need for national unity, he said that 2,000 students and people sacrificed their lives in the July-August movement that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government.

He called upon the government to take measures for ensuring treatment for those injured in the movement and assist the families of those sacrificed their lives.

"It will take time to complete all reforms, but we, however, expect election within a rational time after completion of necessary reforms," he said.

Mushfiqul Fazal Ansary, Bangladesh's Ambassador to the United States, said that the whole nation is now united, but conspiracy is going on to split the unity.

"We should also need to bring reforms of our mentality apart from doing institutional reforms. We must be tolerant to other people," he said.

Zonaid Saki, chief coordinator of Ganosanghati Andolon, said the political system that was established in Bangladesh during the last 15 years was fascism.

The bottom line must be cleared that autocratic system will never come back to Bangladesh, he said, adding: "We are at the crossroads so we must reach consensus on unity."

On the other hand, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya said the people should be given some relief from problems like high prices and disturbances alongside doing reform, as he mentioned some policy paradoxes.

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, who headed the panel for preparing the 'White Paper on the state of Bangladesh Economy' following the political changeover, stressed not exclusively putting focus on "superficial discussion" but also paying attention to people's livelihood and security.

He made the comments at the National Dialogue 2024 organised by Forum for Bangladesh at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh at Farmgate in Dhaka.

He said despite so much of discussion on administrative reforms, there is also a risk of its lacking, that is, whatever is discussed on upper structure, discussion on the base county and society doesn't take place that much.

"This dialogue doesn't discuss how a garment worker could get rational salary, whether the farmers could get fair prices of their produce, about the employment of youths. How the employment for young people created? Did we see that reform?

The economist also pointed out another policy dichotomy that dearness allowance for government employees was discussed but how the rest of the people could get dearness allowance missed discussion.

Priding himself on preparing the white paper on the state of Bangladesh economy that was during the previous Awami League government, he said, "We could not imagine the extent of plundering of an economy. What type of dangerous economic situation we have inherited (from the deposed Awami League government)! So, we have to fix it."

Dr Bhattacharya notes that reforms are a big dream, and unity is needed for that.

"We must also go for election. But before that we must give a relief to the people."

He called upon the post-uprising government to ensure law and order, arrange public food and job apart from carrying out reforms.

"We should be cautious so that we couldn't lose the best while trying to get the excellent. We want to reach the highest echelon. But we could not reach that level if we don't give attention to addressing those problems," he said.

He stressed ensuring universal human rights and right to live, earning assembly for the backward people, including people affected by river erosion.

"We must build a Bangladesh of unity. We must reach consensus on at least one point," he said.

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