Describing the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus as the weakest in the country’s history, BNP Vice Chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon on Wednesday said the next election must be held by 2025.
“The current interim government is the weakest in history. With such a weak government in power, the country's independence and sovereignty could be at risk, the law and order situation may worsen, and economic instability may arise. So, an elected government accountable to the people is essential,” he told a discussion.
Zia Shishu-Kishor Mela, a pro-BNP platform, organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 29th death anniversary of late Zahid Hossain Chunnu, former cultural secretary of BNP and former convener of the Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas).
Ripon said the people of Bangladesh will not accept it if the current government wants to cling to power for years in the name of reforms.
The senior leader said the main reason behind all the crises created in Bangladesh is the lack of credible elections.
"Elections are the cause of all the crises in Bangladesh. A properly elected government can never be an autocrat.”
He said the government is talking about reforms, but there are no visible efforts by it to complete the overhauling of state institutions.
Ripan said the government has already missed three important steps of reform by reconstituting the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission, and recruiting 23 judges, all following the same pattern as Sheikh Hasina, before the final report of the relevant reform commissions.
bd-pratidin/GR
