In a post via his official Facebook page, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday night reiterated calls to the interim government to make sure that elections are by the end of this year.
Earlier during the day, as thousands of BNP activists and leaders gathered for the grand youth rally organized by three of the party’s youth organsations, Tarique had echoed the same thought.
While virtually addressing the massive crowd gathered in front of BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, he had said, “A kind of dilly-dallying is going on over voting. But the election must be held by December.”
In the post on Facebook, addressing the interim government directly, Tarique stressed on the importance of transforming one’s mindsets over mere changing “texts or institutions on paper”, going on to say that it is “adherence, not articulation, that defines democratic integrity,” demanding that the interim government “demonstrate visible, concrete preparations for a national election.”
Stating that neutrality and credibility are the greatest assets of any interim government, Tarique urged the interim government to not see “democracy loving citizens or political parties as adversaries”, and if there is anyone within the current government who wishes to continue to stay within the government, they must do so through the democratic process, with a mandate from the people through elections.
Citing previous interim administrations in history, there is precedent, he says, that national elections can be done within three months; this government, on the other hand, 10 months into its tenure, has yet to announce an election.
He concludes thus: “The call to the interim government is simple: ensure that national elections are held by December.”