If polls delayed, govt has to present its logic: Salahuddin

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today spoke at a discussion meeting Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday

Dhaka, Jan 29 - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today said the government should present the reasons if the next general election is delayed.       

“If the next election is delayed, the government will have to present the logical reasons for it before the people,” he said.

He was addressing a discussion titled 'July Mass Uprising: Media and Journalism' organized by the Bangladesh Journalists Association (BJA) at the Abdus Salam Hall of  Jatiya Press Club here.

The senior BNP leader called upon the interim government to place the issues quickly about the reforms on which the political parties, social and democratic forces can reach a consensus.  

He, however, said the government has already passed six months and the reform commissions have submitted their reports.

As the reports are submitted, the government  is supposed to present those before the political and democratic forces of the country, he said. 

“But 14 days have already been passed but no such activities have been seen from the government,” he said.

Salahuddin said his party goes for a movement soon to create pressure for the demand of holding national elections.

 "We, on behalf of the party, are thinking that we will take very quick steps to correct the government's mistakes and clear the way for an elected political government. You can call it a movement or you can call it criticism," he stated.

He stressed the need for 'sufficient criticism' to keep the interim government on the right path.

“If we want the interim government to succeed, then we will have to criticize enough to guide and manage the government. We may even have to hold street protests to bring the government on the right path,” he remarked.

The senior BNP leader said one good quality of this government is that even if the government sometimes makes wrong decisions, it corrects those mistakes in the face of criticism. 

“When the government corrects mistakes, we must remember that this government is the people's government,” he said.

About constitutional reform, he said that everyone has proposed to amend the constitution instead of changing it.

“Now everyone has understood one thing that no one is proposing to rewrite the constitution. Everyone has proposed amendments,” he said.

Regarding the trial of the Awami League, he said that they have clearly stated that the people of Bangladesh will decide the fate of the party which committed genocide in the country with a fascist character and  is responsible for crimes against humanity.

“The head of this party, Sheikh Hasina, became the prime minister without being elected. Genocide occurred in this country due to her decision. Therefore, the organization along with the individual must be tried,” he said.

The meeting, chaired by BJA President Partha Sarathi Das, was also attended Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) President Shahidul Islam, journalist leader Bashir Jamal, and Gano Odhikar Parishjad President Nurul Haque Nur. – Source: BSS News