BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that the next elected government has the right to implement reforms.
He added that BNP will form a national government after being elected with people's mandate.
He observed that the present interim government is not an elected government.
The BNP senior leader talked to the Daily Observer in a special interview. Walid Khan, a reporter of the Daily Observer, took the interview. Following is the excerpt of the interview.
DO : Nahid Islam, the interim government's adviser for Information and Broadcasting, demanded in her Facebook status that the BNP does not agree to form a National Government after the ousting of Sheikh Hasina on 5 August. Why did the BNP not agree to form a National Government at that time?
MH : "We will form a national government only if the people of the country elect us through their votes. This government is not our party's government; they were not elected by people's vote. How do we propose to form a national government here?
If we can form a government with a public mandate, we will form a national government with our like-minded and democracy-loving political parties.
DO : There are many discussions about reform and election. Do you think BNP's demand for an election with minimum reform increases their acceptance to the people?
MH : BNP is the first political party to talk about reforms in the dream of building a new Bangladesh by restoring democracy and the right to vote in the country.
When Sheikh Hasina was slowly leading the country towards destruction in the last 15 years, our Chairperson Khaleda Zia expressed Vision 2030 to take this country in the right direction.
Our Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman first proposed a 27-point reform proposal. Later, we sought advice from our like-minded political parties and, based on their advice, we proposed a 31-point reform proposal.
In our 31-point reform programme, we proposed to control the price of daily necessities and stop bribery and corruption in the country. Without a people's elected government, it is not possible to control syndicates and corruption. That is why the country needs quick elections.
Ziaur Rahman, the founder of our party, also published a 19-point programme for the country.
DO : BNP demanded to hold national elections quickly with minimal reforms, whereas Jamaat and student leaders of the July-August movement want full reforms before elections. Why does BNP want elections first?
MH : It is not possible for a government to complete full reforms. If reforms are to be implemented in a democratic structure, only a government of the people can do it.
One of the most important fundamental rights of the people is the right to vote. In the last 15 years, the Upa-Zila has not been active in the parliament and they have not been able to form the preferred leadership by voting.
This government has made this commitment that they will restore democracy in the country through a fair election. That is why BNP is supporting the government.
Defeated fascist forces are conspiring to destabilise Bangladesh in various ways by staying in neighbouring countries. I will say that when the election date is announced, their conspiracy is defeated.
DO : Four reform committees submitted their reform proposals, where the constitution reform committee proposed changing four basic principles of the constitution. What is your opinion about the reform proposals?
MH : Right now, I cannot say anything about it. We will discuss this publicly after discussion at our Standing Committee meeting.
DO : If BNP can form the government, will they accept and implement the reform proposals that this Interim Government will present?
MH : If these reform proposals are good and beneficial for the country and people, then the next elected government must implement them.
DO : How would you evaluate the July-August movement?
MH : The anti-discrimination uprisings in July and August were the culmination of a series of anti-fascist and pro-democracy movements over the past 15 years. Today's Interim Government has been formed as a result of these continuous movements.
BNP and other like-minded political parties have continued this movement together.
From the BNP Chairperson to the party's grassroots and pro-democracy political leaders, all the political leaders have been victims of false cases, disappearances, murders, and torture.
Many BNP leaders and activists were injured and killed in the July-August movement.
DO : BNP has been agitating against the Awami League government for the last 15 years but has not been able to overthrow them. How do you assess the role of the anti-discrimination movement to oust the government on 5 August?
MH : I have said that 5 August was the final form of the anti-fascist movement. We have not been able to overthrow this government for the last 15 long years, but we have protested by enduring oppression and torture.
The people of the country saw that, and the spirit of establishing democracy and voting rights was formed in the people of the country, but they did not dare to protest because of the fear of disappearance, murder, and torture.
We had a movement before the election, where common people participated with our leaders and activists.
When the anti-quota movement started, this movement took a new form through the students. Here, the students have given their lives as a result of the combination of these subjects on 5 August.
DO : How do you evaluate the emergence of a political force through anti-discrimination movement leaders and activists?
MH : The founder of our party, Ziaur Rahman, established democracy in the country through multi-party politics. We also welcome new political forces. New political forces are needed in the country for a balance of power.
If someone wants to form a political party, they have to be elected. The future of every political power depends on the votes of the people of the country.
DO : To change the country, it is essential to bring reformation within the political parties as well as the country. How is the BNP working in these cases?
MH : Reform is an ongoing process, be it within a country or within a political party. Every political party in every country changes its committee members from time to time; policy changes are made through councils. These are reforms. These reforms are made to fulfil the expectations of the people. Similarly, like the past, our future reforms will also be to fulfil the expectations of the people.
DO : Based on the expectations of the people of the country, a programme has been started to build a merit-based political structure. How much is BNP evaluating this expectation of the people?
MH : In our 31-point reforms, it is said that we want to build a meritocratic political structure to build a justice-based society.
DO: Awami League has a vote bank. How do you plan to address this and potentially sway their supporters in your favour in the upcoming election?
MH : Awami League has a number of corrupt leaders and activists but no vote bank. If there were vote banks, then they would not have stolen votes in three elections anyway. Awami League had no respect for the people and voters of the country.
DO: What do you think of the political future of Awami League?
MH : The political future of Awami League depends on its leaders and workers and, above all, the people of the country.
DO : What are the reasons behind political disagreement between the BNP and Jamaat?
MH : It is the expectation of the people of the country that everyone will speak freely and do politics in Bangladesh, and BNP wants to establish such a Bangladesh. Therefore, these issues should be called the practice of democracy rather than disagreement.
Everyone will express themselves and establish ideals, but everyone must work together in the anti-dictatorship movement.
