BNP to back govt as long as it’s committed to democracy

FE Team | Published: August 16, 2024 00:10:11

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said his party will continue to support the interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, as long as it remains committed to democracy, report agencies.
"We have to support this government. It is the outcome of a mass upsurge and movement. We will back this government as long as it remains in favour of democracy and democratic transfer of power," he said.
Fakhrul Islam came up with the remarks while addressing a sit-in programme in front of BNP's Nayapaltan central office in the capital on Thursday.
The BNP observed a two-day sit-in programme across the country on Wednesday and Thursday, demanding the trial of deposed ruler Sheikh Hasina and her aides for carrying out genocide during the recent student-led mass movement that toppled her 16-year regime.
Fakhrul expressed the expectation that the interim government would hold an election after providing relief to the people. "We will also allow a reasonable amount of time, as we want power to be transferred to an elected government through a democratic election," he said.
He said the sacrifices made by the BNP over the past 16 years for democracy are rare in history, noting that many party members have been killed, repressed, or forcibly disappeared.
Mirza Fakhrul also thanked the students for their role in creating a mass upsurge that led to the removal of the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jatiatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) observed a sit-in programme at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city on Thursday, demanding exemplary punishment of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the killings that occurred during quota reform movement.
Students from different units of Chhatra Dal, including Chhatra Dal Kendrio Sangsad, Dhaka University Unit of Chhatra Dal, Jagannath University Chhatra Dal, Dhaka College, Tejgaon College, Kabi Nazrul College, Bangla College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnessa Govt Girls' College and various private colleges gathered on the premises of the Shaheed Minar and staged a sit-in programme from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm there.