People won’t wait indefinitely for elections: BNP

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Friday urged the interim government to prioritise completing electoral reforms fast, as people will not wait indefinitely for the next national election.

“The interim government was tasked with the main issue of ensuring a credible election and restoring people’s voting rights. But it is focusing on other issues, straying from the primary problem,” he said.

Gayeshwar made the remarks at an introductory meeting of the Munshiganj district unit Nari O Shishu Odhikar Forum at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

He expressed concern over various statements made by some advisers that have raised doubts about holding the election within a reasonable timeframe.

“We’ll say Alhamdulillah for everything you do, but it should have a time limit, and patience has a time limit. Create a quick outline of the election and then do the rest,” Gayeshwar said.

The BNP leader also pointed out that if the government attempts to address everything, nothing will succeed. “There is no need for new reforms, as the people won’t wait indefinitely for elections.”

Stating that it is the responsibility of politicians to reform the state, he said the interim government should not take months for the reforms.

Gayeshwar noted that the BNP has already presented a 31-point reform outline which the government can review and engage in talks with political parties.

“Reforms should be based on consensus with political parties. Political problems need to be resolved by politicians,” he observed.

The BNP leader said that a plot of depoliticisation initiated during the 1/11 political changeover is still ongoing. “Politics has to be dealt with through politics.”

“If you (govt) think that only students put you in power, then you are wrong, and you’ll stumble. The anti-autocracy movement is the final outcome of years of agitation by people of all classes and professions,” he added.