Delays being engineered to push back election, says BNP’s Mosharraf

BNP’s senior leader Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain has said attempts are being made to delay the national election by creating new excuses, instead of presenting a clear roadmap.

He also criticised the Advisory Council’s recent statement as “vague and confusing”.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Tuesday afternoon, the Standing Committee member said: “We are disappointed that the government’s media statement, issued through the chief advisor’s press secretary after meetings with political parties, failed to outline a clear roadmap for the national election.

“The BNP and other political parties have never called for the resignation of the chief advisor, nor do we want that now,” he added.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus held separate meetings at his official residence State Guest House Jamuna on May 24-- first with the BNP, followed by Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP).

The next day, he met representatives from 20 other political parties.

‘DECEMBER SUITABLE FOR POLLS’

“December has always been our proposed timeline for the election, not something new,” said Mosharraf. “We believe December is the right time for holding the polls, and we continue to stand by that position.”

The BNP’s reaction followed a National Standing Committee meeting on Monday night, presided over by the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

The press conference was called on behalf of the committee to present the party’s views on the outcome of recent discussions between political parties and the chief advisor.

Mosharraf said there is no guarantee that reforms can be completed within a fixed time frame.

“Excuses are being created to delay the election,” he said. “One such excuse is the need to complete trials. But we too want justice.

The BNP leader added, “This authoritarian, fascist Awami League government tried to eliminate us. They carried out extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and murders. From our leader Khaleda Zia to Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, none of us were spared from false cases or jail time.

“So why question whether we want justice?”

“BNP wants justice more than anyone,” said Moshrarraf. “But we believe that trials must happen within an independent judiciary. You can’t say you want independent justice while also imposing deadlines for verdicts. That’s contradictory.

“We are saying reforms, elections and justice should run in parallel, independently. There is no conflict in that,” he added.

‘ADVISORY COUNCIL’S STATEMENT MISLEADING’

Referring to the Advisory Council’s statement issued after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on May 24, Mosharraf said: “We have observed that the statement presented to the nation was vague and misleading.

“Since the beginning, we have extended maximum cooperation in enabling the Advisory Council to carry out its duties.”

He added, “It is natural for the public to develop doubts and suspicions due to the government’s lack of neutrality and weakness in governance. The government’s claim that unreasonable and politically motivated demands and overreach are disrupting its regular functions is actually a reflection of its own failures.”

Mosharraf said the BNP has continued to cooperate with the government across all areas. “We discourage and oppose all activities that may obstruct government integrity, reforms, the judicial process, fair elections, or normal functioning.”

“Yet the Advisory Council’s statement vaguely claimed that ‘certain quarters are making it impossible for them to fulfil their responsibilities.’ This is an abstract allegation.”

Mosharraf also called on the interim government to take steps to install BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as Dhaka South mayor.