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BBC Bangla //

Although the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed support and confidence in the interim government from the beginning, the party’s leaders are now constantly expressing dissatisfaction as their expectations regarding the ‘clear’ timetable for the elections have not been met.

Faced with the pressure from political parties, especially the BNP, to announce a roadmap, the chief advisor to the interim government announced a possible timetable for the elections. However, the party’s secretary general expressed dissatisfaction, alleging that it was ‘unclear’.

Earlier, the party has also been seen reacting angrily to the statements of some of the advisors. Analysts believe that the comments made by the advisors about the political parties in those statements were an indication of BNP.

In Bangladesh’s national politics, everything revolves around elections and reforms.

Political forces are divided over which one should take priority, elections or reforms.

BNP is in favor of holding elections with minimum urgent reforms, while Jamaat and several political parties, which are leading the anti-discrimination movement, are in favor of prioritizing reforms.

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that returning the country to the democratic order is the number one priority. For 16 years, people have given their blood and lives for democracy, to regain their ownership of the country. Those who cannot understand that are their problem, not ours.

Salauddin Ahmed, another member of the BNP Standing Committee, said that we still hope that they will take our opinions into account and run the country properly and hold elections in the future.

However, the government’s legal advisor Asif Nazrul said that they do not feel that the interim government has any major differences with any party in the anti-Awami League movement. State reforms, elections, and trials are complex processes. A commission is being formed under the leadership of the chief advisor to establish consensus among differences in these matters.

He claimed that there was no crisis of confidence.

According to political analyst Professor Tarana Begum, the government’s suggestions that the time required for the election could be reduced or increased by being strategic are only adding to the confusion and doubt.

Another political analyst, Professor Sabbir Ahmed, says that the election deadline has been made somewhat clear in the speech of the chief advisor. Considering the overall situation in the country, it should not be otherwise.

In such a context, is the statement of the BNP leaders a sign of a change in their attitude towards the government or does it have some other political dimension?

After the interim government took office, it initially formed six commissions, including the Election Reform Commission.

Before their report came, a new Election Commission was formed under the old law.

After the Chief Advisor announced the possible deadline, his press wing said that this time it was the Election Commission’s responsibility to announce the date, i.e. the schedule. The government’s job is to provide them with support.

Even then, the BNP leaders’ insistence on the deadline has not decreased. So has the party’s attitude of ‘trust’ and ‘support’ towards the government changed?

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that the peaceful transfer of power to the elected government through the electoral process is now the country’s priority. There has been no change in that regard. However, since there is a dilemma among the people of the country regarding the election, we are talking about making it clear as a political party.

Another BNP Standing Committee member, Salauddin Ahmed, said that not everything should always be praised. Criticism is actually cooperation with the government by pointing out mistakes and errors, if you think differently.

Law Advisor Professor Asif Nazrul considers the statements of BNP leaders as part of their political strategy.

Professor Nazrul explained that political strategy is one thing and political planning is another. Now BNP may be saying these as political strategies. But we never feel that there has been any major disagreement with BNP or any other political party who supported the movement.

He does not want to discourage differences either.

This government advisor said that there is a crisis of trust. But I do not think there has been a crisis of trust.

Referring to the National Consensus Building Commission led by the Chief Advisor, he said that we believe that we can reach a consensus through the discussions of this commission even if there are differences of opinion on any issue.

BNP’s political strategy?

In his speech to the nation on Victory Day, the Chief Advisor mentioned ‘if there is a need for reforms’ several times. Political analysts believe that the government’s reference to the election deadline as a condition for reforms has not alleviated the concerns within the BNP.

Tarana Begum, a professor in the Department of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University, said that the government’s tactful statements that it may increase or decrease are increasing the confusion and uncertainty. As a result, the general public is in a state of confusion about what may happen in the future, so are the political parties. Therefore, there should be a transparent announcement.

Sabbir Ahmed, a professor in the Department of Political Science at Dhaka University, said that if we put all the statements of the BNP together, the BNP is suffering from instability as a party. They are worried about whether the 111 incident will be repeated.

However, Professor Ahmed does not see any ambiguity in the government’s statement.

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