Fakhrul for immediate election announcement
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for an immediate announcement of the national election date.
He made this statement during the closing session of a symposium titled "White Paper and Beyond: Economic Management, Reforms, National Budget," organised by the White Paper Preparation Committee at the BICC Carnival Hall in Agargaon on Saturday (January 18).
The event was presided over by Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and attended by renowned economist and former caretaker government advisor Professor Rehman Sobhan.
Speaking at the symposium, Fakhrul emphasised the urgency of political and economic reforms.
"We will try to ensure that loan defaulters do not get nominations. However, all changes cannot happen overnight. We will move forward based on past experiences," he said.
Fakhrul highlighted the BNP’s reform agenda, referencing the party's earlier 31-point proposal for economic and political changes.
"We aim to prioritise political reforms. Many describe the current mass uprising as a revolution, but I see it as a mass awakening. Political reforms are central to our vision," he explained.
He elaborated on the proposed reforms, saying, "The Prime Minister will not be allowed to serve more than two terms. We plan to introduce a bicameral parliament and create avenues for citizens who do not vote to still participate in governance. Reducing inequality is a key goal, which is why we advocate for a national government after the elections. Strengthening democratic institutions, which have been systematically weakened over the last 15 years, is essential."
Responding to whether the BNP can implement these reforms if it comes to power, Fakhrul expressed optimism. "We are united with the people. While expecting the interim government to resolve all issues within six months is unrealistic, our focus remains on conducting elections. Democracy has not been truly practiced in our parliament. We are committed to making efforts to change that," he asserted.
