Dhaka, Mar 26 – BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is going to place her party’s elaborate development plan, ‘Vision 2030’, before the nation by this month while the election-time ‘supportive government’ by next month, prior to going for mobilising public support.BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir revealed this during an interview with UNB on Friday.
He said their party has carefully given a clear message that it is interested in the upcoming general election by presenting a proposal on the formation of a stronger Election Commission. “As we want to join the polls, our Chairperson will give a framework on election-time supportive government within a month (by April) to ensure a neutral and credible election and level-playing field.”
The BNP leader said their party is still working on the framework and taking opinions from different stakeholders and experts of the related fields to make it a pragmatic and acceptable one.
Asked whether they are going to retreat from their party’s caretaker government demand, Fakhrul said, “We’re not totally retreating from it, but will give different options in the supportive-government proposal.”
In their proposal, he said, there will be some options for the formation of an acceptable election-time government by amending the constitution. “Our options will be very pragmatic based on reality so that an understanding over the issue can be reached.”
Replying to a question what will be their strategy if the ruling party does not go for negotiations, the BNP secretary general said, “They (AL) will be in trouble if they don’t do it despite the growing pressure from the country’s people and the international community. The government is suffering from a legitimacy crisis as the last election was not acceptable. They must come out of their current position to hold the polls this time.”
He also said if the government again tries to hold the January-5 (2014)-like election, it will be branded as a fascist and despotic regime like ones in Africa. “Elections are held in Afghanistan and governments also formed there. But those are ineffective. So, if they (ruling party) try to form such a government making the entire nation hostile that’s different. But, the reality of Bangladesh and Afghanistan is quite different as people here have a strong urge for democracy.”
Responding to another question what message they will give to attract voters’ attention before the polls, Fakhrul said their party Chairperson will present before the nation elaborately her party’s ‘Vision-2030 within this month, and their election manifesto will be prepared based on it.
“Before placing the supportive-government framework, we’re coming up with the Vision 2030 with our detailed plans. “We’ll share our thoughts how we want to strengthen democracy, gear up economic progress and ensure people’s welfare based on the reality, and also to build a free society,” he added.
In the Vision 2030, the BNP leader said they will also give outlines to build democratic institutions if they are voted to power. “We’ll offer to introduce bicameral parliament and the country’s intellectuals and experts on different sectors will be made members of the upper house to ensure country’s development.”
He said they will also propose to introduce a positive and quality political culture in the country coming out of the current politics of vengeance, confrontation and annihilation.
In the Vision 2030, Fakhrul said, they will also promise to bring a balance in the executive authority of the Prime Minister and the President with necessary amendments to the constitution.
He said they will also assure to make the Judiciary, the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission and other democratic institutions completely neutral and independent.” We’ll also promise not to regulate the media in any way.”
About BNP’s participation in the next polls, “We’ll surely take part in the next election, but it has to be held in a credible and neutral manner after creating a level-playing field for all parties.”
Asked whether public support to their party marked a decline from what it was before 2014 polls, Fakhrul said, “We believe support in favour of our party has increased now than in 2014. We can in other way say public opinion against Awami League and the government gets increased.”
“Whether we’ll be able to create a strong public opinion and give our movement a momentum before the next polls, it depends on how we act, proceed and perform. We’re trying to pick up things as much as possible and hope we can do that,” he said.
Asked what will be their party’s relation with Jamaat ahead of the next polls, he said they will decide it considering the political developments in the days to come. “We’ve electoral and arithmetical equitation with Jamaat regarding polls. “There’re around 50 constituencies where we suffer defeat with a margin of 2,000 to 5,000 votes where Jamaat has average 15,000 votes.”
He, however, said BNP’s ideology is completely different from that of the Islamist party. “We believe in welfare state while they in Islamic one … we say people are the source of all power while they say it is Allah.” – UNB
