Jumbangla Desk: After BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned the government about the 'minus 2' formula, various discussions have started within and outside the party. Details from BBC Bangla news-

In the present situation, the question whether the party is getting any indication of removing 'BNP or its top leadership' from politics is also being discussed.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, however, said he had referred to the 'minus two' formula while 'cautioning against depoliticisation'. However, he did not give any direct answer to the question whether 'depoliticization' is being attempted in the country or not.

However, an advisor of the government said in response to the questions of journalists in the secretariat, the current government has no concern about minus two.

On the other hand, Abdul Hannan Masood, the main organizer of the anti-discrimination student movement, said that they want to do politics with everyone. He said, 'There is no question of excluding BNP. Now we don't know why BNP is thinking like this.'

An analyst says that the issue of minus two formula within the party may have come to the fore due to the apparently less importance given to the election and various statements pointing to the BNP.

Earlier, the army-backed caretaker government came to power in 2007 and initiated reforms. Then, after two main leaders, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, were jailed, the discussion of the minus two formula intensified.

At the time, many, including their party, complained that 'two leaders were being tried to be removed from politics' - which later became known as the 'minus two formula'.

Awami League and its leader Sheikh Hasina were overthrown in this mass coup and forced to leave the country. Since then, BNP has been demanding elections at the earliest. However, the government has repeatedly emphasized on the implementation of the reform program. However, in the meantime, the search committee formed to form the Election Commission has started its work.

On the other hand, many of the agitators are trying to signal that 'first reforms, then elections'.

Besides, commissions formed for reforms in various sectors have also started functioning, including commissions for constitutional, police and administrative reforms.

What did BNP Secretary General say about 'minus two'?

In an event in Dhaka, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, 'There was a failed attempt to depoliticize and implement the minus two formula during the political change of 1/11 in 2007. Don't even think about following that path. We want to make it clear, do not try to exclude BNP as part of any conspiracy. Because the people of Bangladesh will never accept it. Awami League tried to break BNP in various ways. But failed, will not be able to in the future.'

He said, 'An adviser to the interim government made unexpected and unsolicited comments saying that politicians are restless to come to power. It is very unfortunate. We do not expect a person like him to make such comments. We did not expect such a person to say such things. We politicians do not aspire to power. We have worked to make Bangladesh free of Hasina. I have given my life, I have given my life, now we are demanding quick elections to establish democracy.'

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on the interim government to create an environment for elections in the country very quickly and said, 'The more you delay the elections, the more the Hasinas will come back. So I say again, I say again, create an environment for elections very quickly. Clean up the mess.'

Incidentally, an advisor to the government said in an event at the secretariat, 'We have very little time. I don't know how much work I can do in less time. Politicians are eager to get into power. I also want to go back to my teaching profession.'

What is being said from the side of the government

After the BNP Secretary General's statement came out in the media today, two advisors of the government answered the questions of the journalists on the matter.

Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters, 'BNP will give priority to elections, that is normal and that is the ultimate goal of the government. However, the government has to pay attention to how much reform is needed somewhere before the election.

Another advisor, Farida Akhtar, said, 'Minus two is not an agenda of the current government. Such talk creates unnecessary arguments, unnecessary problems and fear in the public mind. The interim government has no such thing in mind.'

Why did the topic of 'minus two' come up?

Explaining his statement on Minus Two, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, 'We are actually warning everyone about depoliticization. We have always been asking for reforms as well as elections so that the transition to democracy is possible as per the people's expectations.

He said, 'We are hearing that many people are saying different things. We have said that these are the work of the people's elected parliament or people's representatives, including constitutional reform. That is why we are talking about urgent reforms as well as elections.'

But in response to the question of minus two, i.e., whether BNP has any fear of removing the BNP chairperson or the top leadership from politics, he said, 'No, we are not saying that. We are talking about warning everyone about depoliticization. The thought of depoliticization has not brought good results for the nation before, nor will it bring in the future.'

No activity of Awami League has been seen for the last three months since it was ousted from power. Most of the party's leaders, including Chief Sheikh Hasina, General Secretary Obaidul Quader, have fled or are hiding in different countries. Meanwhile, Chhatra League has been banned.

Hundreds of cases have already been filed against many leaders of the party including Sheikh Hasina. Many leaders including former ministers and MPs have been arrested. The process of trial of party chief Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity is going on.

Describing the Awami League as 'a fascist party' late last month, information adviser Nahid Islam said, 'If the Awami League comes back, there will be mass uprisings and martyrdom. We will not be allowed to live our lives.'

As a result, Awami League and its leader Sheikh Hasina have practically left the politics of Bangladesh. Now there is a fear among BNP that there may be an attempt to push them out of the political arena.

Speaking to several leaders of BNP, it is said that the leadership of the party is somewhat dissatisfied with some issues, including the attempt to change the president without starting the process of parliamentary elections quickly, the efforts of those close to the government to form the King's Party, excessive interest in constitutional reform and the slowness in removing the legal obstacles in Tariq Rahman's return to the country. .

Apart from this, the statements of some advisors of the government and some of the student leaders who are close to the government have also angered the party's leaders and activists. Some of them feel that 'a sign of ignoring BNP' is increasingly visible.

Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, a member of the party's standing committee, said that they believe that BNP is the biggest political party in Bangladesh and that's why BNP should do everything with confidence - this is what the BNP Secretary General wanted to convey.

He said, 'But the comments of some or some quarters are giving the impression that they are trying to ignore BNP. It should be remembered that Sheikh Hasina could not minus Khaleda Zia despite her efforts. BNP cannot be ignored as a big party there.'

But when asked if there is any issue in keeping Khaleda Zia out of politics or creating any problem in allowing Tariq Rahman to return to the country, he said, 'Someone can harbor such a problem. But it won't do any good. Rather, we can clearly say that nothing will happen in Bangladesh by bypassing Khaleda Zia and Tarek Rahman.'

Incidentally, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to go abroad for treatment this week. On the other hand, the party has not yet confirmed when Tariq Rahman, the party's acting chairman who is staying in London, will be able to return to the country.

Although he was acquitted of some cases, the administrative slowness in removing all legal hurdles has created discontent among many in the party. In the meantime, the leaders of the party feel that the speeches of some of the leaders of the recent student movement have also been pointed to the BNP.

Again, despite the opposition of BNP, President Md. Senior leaders of the party did not like the 'language' of some of the student coordinators' speeches about removing Sahabuddin.

In the meantime, many BNP leaders consider the process of forming committees across the country started by the anti-discrimination student movement as the process of forming the 'King's Party'. Some of them think that such a party with government support will make the situation more confusing.

A member of BNP chairperson's advisory council said, 'a chaotic situation is seen. If its aim is to ensure that BNP does not come to power - such an unrealistic thought would be sad and undesirable.'

However, Abdul Hannan Masoud, the main organizer of the anti-discrimination student movement, said that they do not want to exclude anyone from politics.

He said, 'We want to do politics with everyone. There is no question of excluding BNP. The government is also talking to everyone. First of all, BNP is being called in the discussion. Rather, the government is giving priority to BNP. Now we don't know why BNP is thinking like this.'

Mamun Al Mostafa, political science teacher and political analyst at Dhaka University, says, 'It seems that the so-called minus two formula discussion has come about in BNP because many people associated with the government or the anti-discrimination movement have given less importance to elections and more to reforms.'

He said, 'In 2007, the One-Eleven government also took the first initiative to reform. In the end, it was alleged to have turned into the minus two formula. This time, a large party has been overthrown in a mass coup. BNP may be thinking that they are trying to delay their coming to power by delaying elections in the name of reforms or through the King's Party. I think, that's why they brought up the issue of minus two formula.'

Photos of Hasina and Kamal in the meeting room, which was explained by the Ministry of Home Affairs