Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus-led interim government will not be able to hold elections if it cannot maintain neutrality, said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of BNP, one of the main political parties in Bangladesh.
He said this in an exclusive interview with BBC Bangla on Tuesday (January 21).
It is learnt that the students who led the July uprising want to form a new political party and participate in the next elections. In this case, the BNP Secretary General also commented that if they want to participate in the elections by keeping their representatives in the government, other political parties will not accept this.
In the interview, Mr. Alamgir highlighted the party's position on many other issues including thoughts on the next elections, participation in the Awami League elections and reaction to the reform proposals.
The BNP Secretary General was interviewed in two parts by BBC Bangla editor Mir Sabbir. The first part is presented here:
BBC Bangla: Mr. Alamgir, thank you very much for joining the BBC Bangla interview. How are you?
BNP Secretary General: Good, good. Very good.
BBC Bangla: First, I would like to start with the elections. Recently, you said in a press conference that it is possible to hold elections between July-August of this year (2025). Are you talking about a possibility, or do you want the elections to be held in July-August?
BNP Secretary General: We want early elections. We have said it before. Reforms, which are minimum reforms, should be carried out within a reasonable time and the national parliament elections should be held as soon as possible. We have been saying this from the beginning and we believe that based on the experience we have seen in the past caretaker governments, it is not impossible. It is possible that if the government wants to hold elections between June-July or August, they can do it.
BBC Bangla: Do you have any specifics that you want elections within this time?
BNP Secretary General: We don't want to say a specific time because it won't be useful because the government will also have to ask. Different political parties will also have to ask, everyone will have to ask together. But from our side, we think it's not impossible. It's very possible and the sooner it happens, the better for the country.
BBC Bangla: But don't you have any deadline or time frame?
BNP Secretary General: We haven't given a deadline yet.
BBC Bangla: If you see that the election doesn't happen within the time frame you expect. What will be your move in that case?
BNP Secretary General: In that case, we will discuss and decide. We will discuss and decide in our party and we will also discuss with those who were and are in the movement with us. We will discuss and decide.
BBC Bangla: The head of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has said that they want to do some reforms and when those reforms are completed, they will go to an election. So are you willing to wait until the reforms are completed?
BNP Secretary General: We have been making our words clear. I have said that if you try to make as many reforms as he has done, you will not finish them even in ten years. And reforms are an ongoing process. Two years ago, we gave 31 points to repair the state. These are among them.
There is the issue of constitutional reform, we talked about the Judicial Commission, we talked about the Election Commission, we talked about bureaucracy reform in 31 points, we talked about a bicameral parliament - these are all things we have said. Now, in that case, we do not know what report they are bringing.
If the reports show that they agree with us, then there is no problem. But those that do not agree, there must be a minimum consensus. Then that will have to happen.
Another issue is, you have given reforms, but who will approve them for you? Only those who have the legal right to do so can do so. That is Parliament.
Without parliament, any constitutional reform will be difficult. There are even other issues that need to be changed in your constitution. But they are not possible without parliament. That is why we think, the sooner the election is better.
BBC Bangla: Do you think that the interim government should not go to such policy decisions until the elected government comes or they cannot go?
BNP Secretary General: We are not saying that they should not go. But they cannot go because it would not be right for any of them to go unless there is a consensus of all parties.
BBC Bangla: There has been a lot of talk about the tenure of this government and everyone thinks that this government will remain in power until the elections.
BNP Secretary General: If the government maintains complete neutrality, then only they will remain until the elections are conducted. Otherwise, a neutral government will be needed.
BBC Bangla: Do you think that any change can come in this government?
BNP Secretary General: The question of neutrality can come. Because, here we are observing that your students are thinking of forming a political party. If there are student representatives in this government, then they will not be able to remain neutral. That is, it is possible. But if they think that they will be elected from (the government), then the political parties will not accept it.
BBC Bangla: Do you think that there is a question about the neutrality of the government now?
BNP Secretary General: No questions now. We have no questions.
BBC Bangla: When the formation of an interim government was being discussed after August 5th, you were also in the discussion. The interim government was formed later on the basis of that discussion. So, what would be the tenure of this interim government?
BNP Secretary General: No. At that time, there was talk of holding elections quickly. There was talk of holding elections quickly.
BBC Bangla: How long do you mean quickly? No idea, no deadline - there was no talk of anything like that?
BNP Secretary General: No, no deadline was set. There was no such opportunity then.
BBC Bangla: So after the formation of the interim government, you yourself said that you would provide all-out support to this government.
BNP Secretary General: I am doing so.
BBC Bangla: Is it still continuing?
BNP Secretary General: It is continuing. Whenever they call, we go and talk. If they don't call, we can't go, and even then we talk ahead of time. We tell them what we think should be done. And we are cooperative. So far, we have not made any movement against the government, nor do we speak anywhere. However, one or two mistakes have to be pointed out.
BBC Bangla: Is the relationship that the interim government had with you from the beginning still the same? Or has a distance been created here?
BNP Secretary General: We think that it is.
BBC Bangla: It is often said from different levels of the government that one of the objectives of the reforms they are doing or want to do is to prevent the kind of dictatorial or autocratic government that was created, the kind of dictatorial system that was created in Bangladesh, from being created again. Do you think this is pointing at you?
BNP Secretary General: Not at all because we were never autocratic. We were always in favor of democracy. We are bringing multiparty democracy here. Sheikh Mujib had a one-party regime; from there Ziaur Rahman did the transition to a multi-party system. We did the media freedom. We are bringing your parliamentary democracy. We have introduced the caretaker government system. You see everything. There can be no question about it. We will never accept that someone will point an autocratic finger at us.
BBC Bangla: Or so that such an opportunity does not arise in the future.
BNP Secretary General: There is no question. Our party is not like that. Our party is a democratic party. We believe in democracy. You have always tried to practice democracy. We fought for democracy. We fought for this democracy for 15 years, to restore democracy. Khaleda Zia was detained for almost six years for this case, for this democracy. And our Tarique Rahman is still abroad. False cases have been filed against about 6 million of our people. Nearly seven hundred of our people have disappeared. Thousands of our people have been killed - for democracy. The people of this country fought for independence for democracy. That is why that question cannot arise in our party. You can call us champions of democracy.
BBC Bangla: You were talking about the reform commission. Some of the reform commissions that have been formed have already submitted their reports. One of which is the Constitution Reform Commission, which you were talking about. There are several issues in that proposal; one of the biggest issues is that there is a proposal to change the basic principles. It has been said to drop secularism and socialism, to bring pluralism. What is your opinion on this?
BNP Secretary General: We will not talk about this right now. A committee has been formed in our party. That committee is doing the analysis. After doing this, we will bring our statement publicly.
BBC Bangla: When will that be?
BNP Secretary General: Quickly, very quickly. And this is a draft.
BBC Bangla: A proposal for a bicameral parliament has come.
BNP Secretary General: We have also made this proposal.
BBC Bangla: The proposal talks about a bicameral parliament, with the lower house being elected and the upper house being elected on a proportional basis. Do you agree with this?
BNP Secretary General: No, we do not agree. We have a different proposal; we will discuss it through discussion.
BBC Bangla: We have seen that the anti-discrimination student movement has raised several demands at various times, which you have opposed or not faced any obstacles. Let me give a few examples, such as the removal of the president, the announcement of the July coup, and recently there was an issue of local government elections, which you have opposed. What is the reason for your objection to these issues?
BNP Secretary General: (Laughs) the reason for the objection is very valid. We are under a constitution. We are under the constitution of the state. This government has also taken an oath under that constitution. Who will remove the president there? That is one. Number two is, who will bring in the president? Number three is, who will have the legitimacy of this? There is no parliament. So we think that question is an unrealistic question. And where there was no crisis. No such crisis was created. We thought that it was creating a crisis again. The only main problem before us now is that you have held elections too soon, given power to an elected government. This is your essence of democracy.
That's one. Your other question is the declaration of the July uprising. There was no discussion with us before, we don't even know about it. And is there any logic to this declaration five months after (the coup)? Is this like giving back the jobs of your government officials? What has happened is that those who were removed during that government are now getting their jobs back? It's not like that. It's a coup, a movement. The declaration of that movement should have been made then. The students can give it. But we will be a part of that only when the question of the whole nation comes up, the total thing. We can't do it without any discussion. No question can arise.
BBC Bangla: So the thing they are saying is that it was a coup, a revolution and they were in the leadership there. They want to give it (declaration) now.
BNP Secretary General: They can give it. As students, they can give it. As a nation and as a party, we cannot be in it. We have a narrative. We have fought and struggled for 15 years. These issues will remain here. Before that, the issues of November 7th have to be there, the mass movement of 1990 has to be there - these have to be there. And 1971 is our existence, the liberation war. There can be no talk of giving only importance to 24th without giving importance to those issues.
BBC Bangla: You were saying that the issue of 1971 is not being given importance.
BNP Secretary General: I have said this before. I think why, it seems to me that one party wants to put 1971 a little behind.
BBC Bangla: Who?
BNP Secretary General: There may be some. They are trying. I think that. I cannot tell you exactly, I cannot say. But it seems to me that some people may have a thought of putting 1971 behind.
BBC Bangla: What will be the benefit of this, if 1971 is put behind?
BNP Secretary General: You all know who will benefit. I do not want to repeat it.
BBC Bangla: Let me talk about the July coup. When it comes to elections, the student movement is also saying that the July coup was not for elections. Contrary to your demand for elections, the spirit of the July coup is also often mentioned. So how do you view this issue?
BNP Secretary General: We have made it very clear, brother. We are agitating; we are a political party, for a democratic setup in the country, for the institution of democracy. And the first step to entering democracy is elections. Since the Awami League government has ruined three elections, the people could not vote. My right to vote is the first right as a citizen. I am the owner of this country. My only tool is my vote. We could not give that. So it is wrong to think that elections are not important or that elections are not important. We think elections are important. Because only through these elections will I be able to return to the democratic system. I will be able to bring changes to the democratic constitution. I will be able to rebuild a democratic state. I have no other option.
BBC Bangla: You have seen a disagreement about banning the Awami League.
BNP Secretary General: No, it is a misunderstanding. The media is broadcasting it in a completely wrong way.
BBC Bangla: Where is the misunderstanding?
BNP Secretary General: We have clearly said that banning the Awami League is a matter entirely for the people. If the people want to ban a party, they can do it. How will that happen? It can be in parliament or through some other means.
BBC Bangla: But how will you know whether the people want it or not?
BNP Secretary General: That will be known through voting. That will be known only through elections. I am a political party. I protested against another political party, Jamaat-e-Islami, when it was banned in principle. We have never agreed on banning any political party, those who believe in the independence of Bangladesh and do politics, in principle. We have said that the people will decide whether the Awami League will be banned or not. I know there is a lot of debate about this. But I do not find any reason for this debate.
BBC Bangla: You were saying that it will be known through voting. So what about the next election, Awami League...
BNP Secretary General: If the Awami League can come, it will come, if it can't come, it won't come. That's not my point. We have no say in this matter. We want to make it clear that the parties themselves will decide whether a party will come in the election or not. The setup at that time will decide, the Election Commission will decide. We are saying this very clearly that we do not think it is our responsibility to ban any party. We want everything to be decided by the people.