Neither people of Bangladesh nor foreigners support BNP’s one-point demand: Information minister

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) expected that the visiting foreign representatives would talk about a non-party caretaker government and the resignation of incumbent government but none raised the issues, said information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud on Friday.

“This caretaker government issue was not raised in any conversation. The BNP’s one-point demand is the resignation of the Awami League government and formation of a non-party government. They neither got any support for the demand from the people of Bangladesh nor from foreigners,” he said.

Hasan, also joint general secretary of ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL), said this while replying to queries from journalists after delivering a speech as the chief guest at a certificate-distribution ceremony of the Computer Science-Breeze programme on the UG campus of the Asian University for Women in Chattogram.

The programme was organised in cooperation with Stanford University of the United States.

Noting that only a free and fair election was discussed during talks with foreign representatives, the minister said even the issue of inclusive elections for all did not come up in the discussion.

“Definitely, we want the participation of all political parties, including the BNP in the next election. We want to contest the polls with everyone,” he said.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government will perform its routine duties during the election and the election will be held under the election commission in line with the country’s constitution.

Asked about BNP’s 31-point demand, the information minister said BNP announced one-point two days’ ago and the next day they declared 31 points.

He said the BNP’s Wednesday’s demand for the resignation of the government is not a new one.

“I have been hearing about their one-point movement since 2013. It is like changing the shell of a snake and playing the same drum over the years. There is nothing new,” he added.

He further said the BNP wanted to call a rally during the visit of a delegation from the European Union, the United States of America and other countries with a view to showing the foreigners how many people they could gather in their rally.

The information minister said, “30,000 people gathered in front of Naya Paltan and there were not more than 40,000 people there”.

AL gathered millions of people across three junctions within a 12-hour notice and everyone witnessed the number of AL leader and activists in its peace rallies, he said.

Responding to another question about holding dialogue with all political parties, Hasan Mahmud said the election commission (EC) is the authority to organise elections and so, dialogue can certainly be with the EC.

“If anyone wants to talk about the election, he or she will have to talk with the election commission. So, the BNP can approach the EC to present their views. If the election commission calls us, we will also go there,” he added.

Earlier, while delivering a speech as the chief guest, Hasan Mahmud said he saw a big difference between other private universities with Asian University for Women, as students from many other countries take admission in the university.

“Students from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand and many other countries come to study here and meritorious students are given full-bright scholarships here. After completing a four-year course of study, a student achieves a great transformation,” he added.

The minister hoped the computer science-bridge programme would play an important role in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

“The world’s first industrial revolution was the invention of the steam engine. A hundred years later, railway operation began in India. The second industrial revolution was the generation of electricity. The third industrial revolution was the invention of the computer. And the fourth industrial revolution is the entry into the world of ICT or robotics,” he added.

Hasan Mahmud said the AL raised the slogan of Digital Bangladesh as it election manifesto in 2008 while India and the UK did it in 2011.

“At present, 180 million of mobile SIM cards are in use in Bangladesh, although our population is less than the number of subscriptions as one person is using multiple SIM cards. If someone wants to send money to a family from the Middle East, it is possible within an hour. A student from remote areas like Kutubdia, Maheshkhali or Shahparir Dwip (island) can also join classes online from their respective residences. This is a Digital Bangladesh,” he said.

Hasan called upon the university authorities to impart training to the students on the 4IR.

“Apart from Bangladesh, students from different countries of the world are also getting ready for this university. Now you can organise international seminars on various topics which will be beneficial for the students. Besides, the reputation of this university will spread in the international arena as well,” he added.

Noting that Dr Kamal, the founder of the Asian University for Women, has expressed his interest in setting up an international standard medical school and hospital here, the minister said it needs some more land for that institution.

“I have talked about the issue with the district administration. You also continue the process from your position. If an international standard medical school and hospital can be built in Chattogram, students here as well as patients of Chattogram will get international standard treatment here.” he added.

Asian University for Women vice-chancellor Rubana Hoq presided over the function while pro-vice-chancellor David Taylor, director of Computer Science Bridge Programme principal Shams Ahmed and professor Shahadat Hossain, joining it online from Japan.

Later, the minister distributed certificates among the students of the course.