Fair election govt’s only mandate: BNP

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday said that the interim government’s only mandate was to organise a fair, neutral and transparent general election.

The party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, while addressing a rally in Khulna city, also warned the government of growing public discontent and potential unrest if a general election was not held within the promised timeline.

The rally titled ‘Establishing Youth Rights’ was organised by Chhatra Dal, Juba Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal at Khulna Circuit House ground in the afternoon.

‘In this country, it now seems that all ports and corridors fall under the authority of the government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus. We don’t know what contracts you have signed abroad. Are you planning to hand over our seaports, river ports, and corridors to foreign powers without any transparency? What authority do you have? Your only mandate is to organise a fair, neutral, and transparent general election,’ Salahuddin said.

The BNP leader urged the government to complete necessary electoral reforms without any delay and to hold the national election within December 2025.

The rally saw a high turnout from leaders and activists across the Khulna and Barisal divisions.

Referring to the National Citizen Party, Salahuddin criticized the composition of the interim government’s cabinet and said that the government was widely perceived as an ‘NCP-style government’.

‘Two of your advisers are known to be affiliated with the NCP. Though not officially, everyone knows it. It’s an open secret. If you want to maintain neutrality, ask them to resign. If they refuse, you must remove them,’ he said, drawing the chief adviser’s attention.

Salahuddin also condemned the appointment of a foreign national as the National Security Adviser, questioning the government’s judgement.

‘You’ve appointed a foreign citizen to oversee our national security. Have you lost all sense? That adviser is trying to turn Bangladesh into a battlefield, using the pretext of a so-called Rohingya or humanitarian corridor,’ he said.

Salahuddin said that the adviser must be removed. ‘He should resign or be dismissed.’

‘No foreign citizen should be entrusted with responsibilities related to national security,’ the BNP leader said.