BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that steps will be taken so that the loan defaulters don't get party's nomination in the next general election.
He said it is not possible to change everything overnight. However, they will try their best so that the loan defaulters don't get nomination in the next parliamentary election.
The BNP Secretary General made the remarks at the closing session of a day-long symposium on "White Paper and Then Economic Management, Reforms and Budget" organized by the White Paper Preparation Committee 2024 at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in the capital on Saturday (January 18).
At the closing session of symposium, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Chairman Professor Dr Rehman Sobhan and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were present at the discussants. The session was moderated by White Paper Preparation Committee head Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya.
Professor Rehman Sobhan first delivered his speech at the session. Then Mirza Fakhrul delivered his address. Later, he replied to a volley of questions made by the audience.
Professor Rehman Sobhan asked Mirza Fakhrul what his party BNP would do when the loan defaulters would try to take part in the election paying 5 per cent of their loans just ahead of the polls. In response, Mirza Fakhrul assured the audience that he would try his best so that the loan defaulters could not take part in election.
About the initiatives of the interim government, the BNP Secretary General said it is almost impossible to resolve those issues within six months. Because of it, it has become essential to announce the election date as early as possible. It is possible to go to the doorsteps of people through elections. Election is the only way to meet the hopes and aspirations of people. The parliamentary democracy didn't exist in the country over the last 16 years. "We will have to make efforts to reintroduce the parliamentary democracy," he said.
When an audience posed a question to Mirza Fakhrul asking why BNP has been putting so much pressure on the interim government to hold the election, he said only an elected government could resolve all the problems including reforms.
Replying to a question about the possibility of Awami League in the next national election, Mirza Fakhrul said: "We have made it clear many times. People will give decision in this regard. We will not take decision about any political party."