BNP’s Salahuddin warns against tactics that will delay democracy

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed today urged all to refrain from using tactics to further prolong the path to democracy.

“As the days go by, we feel that some cunning tactics are being devised to further prolong the path to democracy… I am calling on all concerned to refrain from that,” he said.

The BNP leader was addressing a discussion on “Role of Politicians in Ensuring Human Rights” at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

He asked the interim government to expedite the democratic process as soon as possible to establish a representative national parliament and accelerate the responsibility entrusted to them by the people of Bangladesh following the mass uprising.

Though they were assured indirectly that this government is working to arrange the national election by December this year, its activities must be made public and cleared before people, he said.

“Because the longer the journey of transition to democracy, the more scope the deposed dictator and its allies will get to create various kinds of unstable situations. Our proposal is to ensure that that period should not be longer,” said Salahuddin.

He said BNP also wants reforms and if the party can come to power, it will implement its 31-point reform proposal to build a prosperous democratic state with the help of all who are in the democratic struggle against the fascism.

“We will reform all state structures in democratic ways.”

The BNP standing committee member said the interim government needs to identify and implement the election-related reform issues through a national consensus.

“At the same time, an election roadmap including electoral preparation design should be provided. The nation should be assured of it,” he added.

If so, he said, the unrest in the country and instability in the economy would go.

Salahuddin expressed concern over the price hike during the holy month of Ramadan.

“The market situation is not good… people are suffering a lot due to the rise in commodity prices,” he said.

He asked the government to try to improve the supply of essential items to the market and control the prices of the commodities so that the essential items would remain within the purchasing capacity of the poor.

BNP vice chairman Abdus Salam Pintu, BNP chairperson’s advisory council member Abdus Salam, and BNP executive committee member Nazimuddin Alam, among others, spoke on the occasion.