Dialogue: Demand for speedy state reforms, formation of EC and electoral roadmap
October 6, 202411 Mins Read
Zoom-Bangla Desk: Most of the political parties including BNP have proposed to the interim government to quickly reform the state, form the election commission and announce the election roadmap. The chief adviser also told political parties that elections are the No. 1 priority of the interim government.
faqrul & younus
BNP made a total of 22 demands, including formation of election commission based on the consensus of political parties, bringing former Chief Justice Khairul Haque under the law, taking action against party appointees in the High Court department . Jamaat-e-Islami has sought two roadmaps for reforms and elections.
At the same time, they demanded prosecution of torture, disappearances and murders, creation of terror and money launderers under the Awami League government. The partner parties of Demokratia Manch, CPB, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, AB Party - these parties have also proposed to announce the roadmap for reforms and elections as soon as possible. Democracy stage said that the honor of the interim government depends on successful elections. The CPB said that not all reforms are the responsibility of the interim government.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh has demanded election by PR method and disqualification of murderers in student movement.
These proposals and demands were given in a dialogue with the Interim Prime Minister at the Rashtriya Hashit Bhavan Yamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser on Saturday. BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Democracy Manch, Left Democratic Alliance, Hefazet Islam, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, AB (Amar Bangladesh) parties held a dialogue with the Chief Adviser from 2.30 pm to 8.00 pm. Adviser Hasan Arif, Adilur Rahman Khan and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Mahfuz Alam accompanied the Chief Adviser on behalf of the government.
Six members of BNP participated under the leadership of the party's general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at 2:30 p.m. BNP's delegation was also a member of the party's National Standing Committee. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Salahuddin Ahmed.
BNP leaders talked about state reforms and related issues in the one-hour dialogue. The Chief Adviser has said that the election is their number 1 priority. They think that the demands of the BNP are the demands of the people and the interim government as well.
After the dialogue, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters, 'There are two or two people in the interim government, who are disrupting the main spirit of the interim government and the mass uprising-revolution. I have spoken of taking legal action against Justice Khairul Haque, who is the mastermind of destroying the electoral system and the main hero of abolishing the caretaker government.'
Mirza Fakhrul said, 'The discussion took place in a very good environment. Mainly I have discussed the issues related to the election. We talked about elections. I spoke about the reform of the Election Commission and electoral system. We have said that Election Commission should be formed immediately based on the consensus of the main political parties by suspending the Election Commission Appointment Act. I have asked to give a roadmap on when the election will be held.
He said, 'I have asked to cancel the decision to take the national identity card in the Ministry of Home Affairs through an ordinance. We have said that no controversial person should ever go to Election Reform Committee. I have asked to cancel all Union Parishads held during the Fascist regime through fake voting. Along with that, during the elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024, I have said that those who were the chief election commissioners, commissioners, and those responsible for conducting fake and biased elections will be brought under the law.
BNP Secretary General said, 'It's going to be almost two months, but unfortunately till now most of the administration who helped them in looting, lawlessness, torture, disappearance-murder, genocide during the fascist regime are still in their respective places. We have said to remove them immediately and bring neutral people.'
Mirza Fakhrul said, "We have asked to cancel the appointment of those against whom complaints have been made." Also asked to list the eligible people. I have proposed to cancel the contractual appointment.'
He said, 'I have said to ensure the underground promotion of the government officials who have not been promoted for 15 years.'
BNP Secretary General said, 'There has been no change in the High Court Department so far. But most of the appointments in the High Court Division were on party basis. There are still about 30 judges working under the existing system. We have said to take necessary legal action against them. There are some partisan judges, I have talked about their removal. Very soon we talked about appointing new PP and GP.'
He said, 'We are observing that those who are being arrested in view of specific charges like corruption and murder, are being granted bail. This is very worrying. This is what we asked to see.'
He also said, 'From 2007 to August 5, 2024, I have asked to announce a policy decision and take necessary measures to withdraw all the false, invisible, fake, fabricated, purposeful cases. Some bureaucrats, police officers, former ministers are fleeing the country; We have asked to see how they are escaping, with whose help they are escaping. Fascist leader Sheikh Hasina is in India. Because of his location in India, misinformation is being spread about him, through him. We have requested the Government to discuss this matter with the Government of India and remove him from that position. I have also told how they are trying to create instability in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Those involved in the disappearance and murder are still at large. None of them was caught except Ziaul Hasan. I have said to immediately identify and arrest those involved in the disappearance and murder and take action. Unfortunately, the Chief Adviser was also informed that the UN delegation was not being cooperated by the officers of various departments, who were involved in the crime. Some, not all, of the orthodox religion centered on Puja are very systematically inciting the people against Bangladesh. They are spreading propaganda that the Hindu community is being oppressed, tortured, which is completely false. To say that minorities are being tortured in Bangladesh is a conspiracy against Bangladesh. I have asked the interim government to consider these issues very seriously.
Jamaat wants two roadmaps
Jamaat-e-Islami has asked for two roadmaps on the issue of reforms and elections in a dialogue with the chief adviser of the interim government. Jamaat Amir said this to the journalists after the dialogue. Shafiqur Rahman.
Jamaat leaders discussed with the chief advisor for about an hour. Shafiqur Rahman said that reform was highlighted as the number 1 priority by Jamaat in the dialogue. He said, 'What will happen during the reform has been discussed. We have asked for two things, one is the roadmap for reforms, the other is for elections. Elections will be successful if reforms are successful. We have given importance to two issues.
In response to a question from the journalists, the Amir of Jamaat said, "We will open our proposals regarding reforms before the nation through you on October 9."
Amir of Jamaat also commented that this government did not come to rule the country, they came to build a fair way to rule the country. He said, 'Government's job is to create an environment where the nation has been deprived in the last three elections - an acceptable, fair and peaceful election. For this they have to reform some basic issues. What fundamental issues they will reform—we talked about that in the dialogue.'
Shafiqur Rahman said that the law and order situation of the country was discussed in the dialogue. How the people and the government can work together to improve the law and order situation; What could keep the nation united against all kinds of conspiracies—were talked about. He said, "We are hoping that the current government will be able to hold elections in a good way for the country from a neutral point of view without taking any kind of party-opposition mentality."
Amir of Jamaat said, "We have been saying since the beginning that we want to give reasonable time to the government for reforms. What would be that reasonable time? We will work on it soon. It won't be too late. This is how we want to move forward. We have also discussed the matters to be done to maintain the law and order situation during Durga Puja.'
Shafiqur Rahman led by Jamaat Naib Amir Syed Abdullah took part in the dialogue. Taher, ANM Shamsul Islam, Mujibur Rahman, Assistant Secretary General Abdul Halim etc.
The demand of the Islamic movement is PR method election
A six-member delegation led by Emir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim of Islamic Movement Bangladesh participated in the dialogue. Other members of the delegation are party presidium member Principal Maulana Syed Mosaddeq Billah Al-Madani, Professor Ashraf Ali Akon, Joint Secretary General Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, Engineer Ashraful Alam, Assistant Secretary General Principal Hafez Maulana Sheikh Fazle Bari Masood.
According to the party, in the dialogue, the Amir of the party said to the chief adviser, "The current interim government is a government that reflects public opinion. You have the people of the country with you, you are the most powerful government. But how did murderers, money launderers, dirty criminals escape from the country? Why did you allow them to emigrate?' He also said that as long as it takes time to complete the reforms, arrangements should be made to hold elections in the PR system.
A seven-point written proposal for the reform commission on behalf of Islami Andolan Bangladesh was handed over to the Chief Adviser.
Not all reforms are the responsibility of the interim government
After the dialogue last night, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh Ruhin Hossain Prince told reporters, 'All reforms are not the responsibility of this government. Thanking the six commissions for reforming various issues, the main one will be the reform of the electoral system. From today, we have to talk to various people including political parties and announce the roadmap for when the elections will be held.
He said, 'This government should not do anything that is questionable. To question this government is to question the mass coup that we have carried out.'
The general secretary of the Communist Party also said, "We have called not to debate the liberation struggle."
He said, 'The murder must be tried in a special tribunal. But we saw that controversial people were appointed to these tribunals. Instead of the occupiers, there was another occupier. These events will question the government. We want you to go back to your place with a good election.'
Ruhin Hossain Prince said, 'Why should the religious and tribal minorities of our country remain insecure? It's not right. Re-establish a harmony and focus on solving the puja festivals of the minorities and the problems of the tribals in the coming days.'
Interim government's honor depends on successful elections: Manna
A delegation of 12 members of the Democracy Manch held a dialogue with the chief adviser under the leadership of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna. The delegation included Saiful Haque of Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jonaid Saki of Mass Solidarity Movement, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu of Bhasani Anusari Parishad, Hasnat Qayyum of State Reform Movement, General Secretary of JSD Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, General Secretary of Nagrik Oikya Shahidullah Qaiser, Leader of Democracy Manch Akbar Khan, Abul Hasan Rubel, Abu Yusuf Salim and Imran Iman.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna told reporters after the dialogue at around 4 pm, 'The honor of the interim government depends on successful elections. We have told the Chief Adviser that reform should be carried out as far as possible by uniting the nation. The rest of the necessary reforms will be done by the next elected government. If people think that you are greedy, if they think that you will not choose justice and injustice as in the past, you will seek money, if corruption increases, the responsibility will fall on you. You will say, I don't know, I don't understand—that won't happen. Talk to us if needed. We work at the very bottom of society. We think that this entire crisis will be overcome with collective efforts.'
The leaders of the democracy stage have also urged to increase the involvement of the interim government with the political parties in the dialogue. In this regard, Manna said, 'I have talked about more and regular engagement with political parties. If necessary, a structure of regular meetings can be created with them. It can be weekly, fortnightly. They have agreed to this proposal.
When asked what has been said about reforms, Manna said, 'We have said, we are not agitating to change a government, we are not agitating for elections, we are agitating as a whole, so that a democratic state can be made in the process of reforming the electoral system and constitution. Again, so that fascism does not return. That is why reforms are needed. We are seeing some weaknesses in the administration, we are seeing failures, we are seeing limitations. I am seeing something in the administration, including the civil police, which is worth expressing concern.'
This leader of the democracy stage also said that one of the conditions of reform is that everyone will accept it. At least they have to make an effort of unity.
AB Party's six-point observation and 11-point proposal
My Bangladesh Party put forward their six-point observations and 11-point proposals in the meeting with the Chief Adviser. Convenor AFM Solaiman Chowdhury led by the team's representatives were also present as the joint convener Professor Dr. Major (Retd.) Abdul Wahab Minar, Member Secretary Mojibur Rahman Manju, Joint Member Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad and Assistant Member Secretary Barrister Nasreen Sultana Milli.
AB Party's observations include that the work of most ministries is slow and weak. There are still accomplices of fascism and genocide at various levels of administration. In some cases, the government is talking about obeying the law and the constitution, and in some cases, necessity is given priority over obeying the law and constitution. This shows the ambivalence of the government and questions its goodwill.
The party's proposals include taking effective steps to resolve the government's legitimacy crisis by amending or rewriting the constitution and announcing a roadmap for reforms and elections as soon as possible based on discussions with political parties and all social parties.
Custody wants to withdraw all cases
Hefazet Islam Bangladesh has demanded the immediate withdrawal of all the cases pending since 2013 in the dialogue. At the same time, the organization demanded the formation of a committee consisting of scholars for education reform. Hefazet Islam Secretary General Sajidur Rahman said, 'Dhaka, Brahmanbaria and Chittagong have been the most cases against Hefazete Islam leaders and activists. There are 80 cases in Brahmanbaria. I have promised to withdraw all the cases as soon as possible. I have talked about appointing qualified people in Islamic Foundation and Baitul Mukarram Mosque. Along with that, I have demanded to ensure maximum security during Durga Puja. Maulana Abdul Bashit Azad, Ahmad Abdul Quader, Mahfuzul Haque, Muhiuddin Rabbani, Manjurul Islam Effendi, Jonaid Al Habib, Ataullah Amin, Monir Hossain Qasemi, Azizul Haque Islamabadi and others participated in the dialogue among Hefazat leaders.
Student politics in Dhaka University is not closed now
Mahfuz Alam, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Dialogue, told a news briefing at the Foreign Service Academy last night that state reform and election preparations would run parallel. All political parties are ready to cooperate with the government.
