Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with a group from the US-based Carter Center this morning at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan.
The political and economic conditions of the nation, the restoration of democracy, and the impending parliamentary elections were among the topics discussed at the meeting.
Abdul Moyeen Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, told reporters after the one-hour meeting that two main topics were covered: the democratization process and Bangladesh’s general political climate.
He said the specific issue they raised was the possibility of coming to monitor the upcoming elections.
“If that happens, the main issues discussed are how it can be possible and when,” he said. Jonathan Stonestreet, Senior Associate Director of the Carter Center’s Democracy Program, led the six-member delegation.
The other members of the delegation were Senior Associate Directors Tara Sharif, Michael Baldassaro, Saira Zahedi, Daniel Richards and Kazi Shahidul Islam.
Abdul Moyeen Khan, Ismail Zabihullah, a member of the Chairperson’s Advisory Council, Shama Obaid, the Organizing Secretary, and ABM Abdus Sattar, the Private Secretary to the Party Chairperson, were all with the BNP Secretary General.
Moyeen Khan responded, “I don’t want to criticize anyone,” when asked if the discussion covered the election schedule. I’ll give a straightforward illustration. I also gave them an overview of Bangladesh’s history, explaining that following Ershad’s downfall, an interim caretaker government was established. However, after 90 days, they gave crores of Bangladeshis a fair election, and to this day, no one in the country has criticized those results.”
“Therefore, it should be understood that there is no logic in taking a specific schedule to make the election fair and impartial. The election can be held within 90 days. It has already been nine months. These issues will come up for discussion among the people. If we do not do it, people will not remain silent. There has been a discussion on how quickly it can be done and when BNP expects this election.”
Stating that the BNP’s position on the election has already been made clear, the senior BNP leader said, “You know, we have said that if the election is held by the end of this year, it will be acceptable to the people.”
He cautioned that any unnecessary delay might worsen the current political, social, and economic situation in Bangladesh.
“Therefore, if the stability of the country is disrupted for any reason, it will not be pleasant for the 18 crore people of the country,” he added.
“That is why we have put emphasis on true representation of the people… that true representation can be determined only through a fair and impartial election. The sooner that election is held, the better we believe it will be for Bangladesh; we have told them.”
Former US President Jimmy Carter founded this organisation in 1982. The organisation works to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering in different countries of the world.
The delegation is exchanging views with different political parties on the upcoming elections.
This meeting with BNP was held as part of the process.
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