BNP’s Tone Aligning with Awami League: Nahid

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25 Jan 2025, 10:32

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The tone of BNP's statements on the interim government is increasingly aligning with that of the Awami League, remarked Nahid Islam, Adviser on Information and Broadcasting.

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In an interview with BBC Bangla on Friday (January 24), Nahid Islam highlighted this observation.

On Thursday, Nahid posted on Facebook, interpreting BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's demand for a neutral government as a signal for forming another 1/11-style government. Speaking to BBC Bangla, Nahid said, “The discussions about 1/11 and Minus Two first came into political discourse through BNP recently.”

He expressed doubts about Mirza Fakhrul’s comments regarding "neutrality," pointing out that the interim government that formed after the overthrow of the Awami League government had the support of BNP and its stakeholders.

He stated, “I see a resemblance between Mirza Fakhrul’s recent statements and the Awami League’s current stance, in addition to ‘domestic and foreign conspiracies’ aimed at destabilizing or removing the interim government.”

A post on the Awami League’s Facebook page on Friday quoted Mohammad Ali Arafat as saying that Professor Muhammad Yunus’s government is an “unelected and unconstitutional government.” The post claimed that the next election would not occur under this government and that a new (caretaker) government would be required.

Referring to this, Nahid Islam said, “Awami League Central Executive Committee Member Mohammad Ali Arafat has stated that this is an illegal and unelected government, and that a fair election is not possible under it. When BNP’s statements echo the same tone, it raises suspicions.”

He added, “I don’t believe BNP is saying this with the same intent, but their tone matches the Awami League’s tone.”

Nahid Islam further told BBC Bangla that while judicial proceedings, reforms, and elections are priorities for the current government, BNP seems to believe that this government’s sole purpose is to organize an election.

On elections under a neutral government, he said, “We consider the interim government to be neutral. BNP should clarify why they don’t see the government’s actions as neutral.”

He added that as the election approaches, the government will clearly address these issues or consider steps to maintain neutrality if there are concerns.

He also noted, “If there are BNP-affiliated individuals in various levels of administration or constitutional positions, the question of neutrality may arise. But now is not the time to address this.”

The adviser stated that the Chief Adviser has provided a potential timeframe for elections between the end of this year and June of next year. Until then, patience and consensus are essential for moving forward.

“When discussions on disappearances or the July massacres’ judicial processes and reforms are progressing, BNP and other political parties should focus on reforms, negotiations, and cooperation with judicial proceedings,” he remarked.

Regarding joining a political party, Nahid Islam clarified that he would leave his government position if he joined a political party.

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