Fakhrul urges parties to focus on JS, not street protests

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged political parties to channel their activities through Jatiya Sangsad (JS) rather than street protests, stressing the importance of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh, report agencies.

Speaking at a conference of the Bangladesh Water Development Board Nationalist Workers and Employees Union in the capital's Pani Bhaban on Saturday, he also called upon political parties to set aside minor differences and come together to make the upcoming election truly meaningful.

"We must come up from the streets to the parliament. How long will we stay on the streets? We have been on the streets for 50 years. We must try to solve problems and make democracy a political culture through the National July Charter," the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul acknowledged the interim government's efforts, saying they are trying to do good work. "But no one can clear all the mess in just one year. The Awami League has created heaps of problems and destroyed a lot over the past 15 years, and it is impossible to fix everything in such a short time," he said.

Fakhrul said political parties must now act responsibly to ensure a free and fair election and to strengthen the parliamentary system.

"Through the parliament that will be formed by the election, we must focus on strengthening the parliamentary system. All activities must be centred on parliament. Otherwise, parliamentary democracy will not function," the BNP leader said.

He said in countries where parliamentary democracy has been successful, parliament has always been the main focus of politics.

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has said the decision of a few political parties, including the National Citizen Party (NCP), not to sign the National July Charter will not have any significant effect on the upcoming national election.

"As far as I know, the NCP and three to four left parties could not attend the signing ceremony. I will not say they didn't sign it. The opportunity to sign remains open," he said.