Carry out reforms fast, aim for polls

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed optimism yesterday that the interim government would promptly implement the necessary reforms and proceed towards organising a national election.

“We hope they [interim government] will complete their jobs as early as possible and move towards holding the election,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Fakhrul said that Muhammad Yunus outlined the vision of his government.

“We have stressed the importance of the reforms, and we hope that these reforms will be implemented promptly.

“We believe the interim government is working, and we are committed to giving them the time and the chance to complete these tasks,” he added.

The BNP leader said the country should be governed by the people’s representatives elected to a parliament by the people. “We hope this will be done swiftly.”

Fakhrul said his party wishes success to the interim government because it has been formed through a movement. “We hope they will meet the people’s aspirations.”

He said democracy is the only system that can truly reflect people’s hopes and aspirations.

Preparing the democratic institutions is the most crucial task now and the people must be involved in this process, he added.

“We hope the interim government will realise this. Those entrusted with the responsibilities should carry out their duties efficiently.”

‘MESSAGE PRECISE AND CLEAR’

In his reaction, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader said Yunus’s message to the nation was “precise and clear”.

“The reforms and the measures this government wants to take appear to be logical and acceptable. We stand by this government and are willing to give the chief adviser the time needed for reforms,” he told The Daily Star over the phone.

However, implementing reforms will take time as the country’s key institutions have collapsed, the JP leader said.

He said that the interim government could have handled the law and order situation and the labour unrest in the RMG sector in a better way.

Quader said the government should take steps to stop the indiscriminate filing of cases and bar a section of people from “putting pressure on the judiciary” for filing cases.

“Otherwise, the situation will be like that period when the Awami League suppressed dissent. If all are arrested in such cases, it will not be good for politics,” the JP leader said.

Expressing disappointment over the chief adviser’s speech, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said that Yunus did not mention the measures to restore law and order, control the prices of essentials, break the syndicates, and address the current power crisis.

“On the one-month anniversary of the government, we expected to hear the concrete steps on those issues rather than just a summary of the government’s activities,” he said.

Prince, however, appreciated the formation of six commissions by the interim government. He said reforms should be made after consultation with the political parties.

“We would have been happier if the chief adviser had discussed electoral reforms. He could have said that he would reform the electoral system radically and arrange elections soon.”

The CPB leader said Yunus kept mum on the recent attacks on shrines and distortion of the history of the Liberation War.

He said he had expected that the chief adviser would speak clearly on the controversial appointments to some key posts, including the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal.

He said they had hoped that Yunus would announce a roadmap for implementing reforms and holding polls.

Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque viewed Yunus’s address positively as it outlined both the activities and limitations of the interim government.

“The six commissions constituted to reform six sectors seem to be a good initiative. The government should engage with political parties regarding reforms because if things happen otherwise, the reforms may not be sustainable after the takeover of power by a newly elected government,” he said.