BNP does not see the need to launch a movement against the Prof Yunus-led administration, for now, to compel it to hold the next national election in December, said BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan.
“We don’t think we have to do anything like that [waging a movement], because we brought this government to power with the expectation that it would play a role in establishing democracy in the country and act according to the people’s aspirations,” he said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. Nazrul, also a member of the BNP Standing Committee, made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office following a meeting with leaders of the 12-party alliance — one of the components that carried out a joint movement with BNP against the Sheikh Hasina regime.
“We don’t think there is a need to initiate a movement against this government. We believe it will work in line with the people’s wishes,” he added.
However, Nazrul said a final decision regarding their next course of action will be made after discussions with other parties and alliances that took to the streets against the Awami League government.
The BNP leader claimed that during a meeting with BNP leaders on February 10, the chief adviser had clearly stated that the national election would be held by December this year.
“They [the interim government] are now saying the election will be held between December and June. But they also said this doesn’t mean it won’t be held in December. It still can be,” he explained.
On Wednesday, a seven-member BNP delegation led by party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with Prof Yunus at the state house, Jamuna, to press for a specific election roadmap.
However, the chief adviser reiterated that the polls would be held between December and June next year—a response that did not sit well with the party.
Nazrul said yesterday that BNP has begun holding meetings with parties and alliances that participated in the movement against the Awami League government, to inform them about the outcome of their recent meeting and work out the next steps.