BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam spoke to Samakar about the interim government’s roadmap, before reforms, not before elections, the distance between the government and political parties, relations with India. Interviewed by Farooq Wasif
Samakal: Chief Adviser says interim government appointed by students. Tell about the relationship of this government with political parties including BNP.
Mirza Fakhrul : Those sitting in the interim government are naturally appointed by the students. They sat with political parties only once. That is specifically about August 15. But we told them very clearly at that time, you have to sit on political issues as a whole. The main issue is when you will hold the election. For this I asked them for a few days to give a roadmap. We hoped that when he addressed the nation, he would give the roadmap. But we have not seen that roadmap.
Samakal: Chief Adviser says it is a political decision. That means there is an opportunity to talk with political parties?
Fakhrul: It is a political decision. If you want to take a political decision, you have to call the political parties and talk to them. Have to share with them. The government should take the initiative and do the work. Because, they’re in charge now, they’re in the driving seat. We still hope that he will talk to the political parties soon. Try to move things forward. His only aim should be election. However, the necessary reforms need to be done before the elections. He will do those things. If not, a problem like that 1/11 will be created again. There is already a fear of depoliticization among the countrymen.
SAMAKAL: Do you see the shadow of 1/11 in this government?
Fakhrul: I will not say that I am seeing a shadow. We are afraid. If this continues, there may be a danger.
Samakal: But even a week ago you said that whatever it takes to make fundamental reforms, this government will take that much time.
Fakhrul: I think I didn’t use the basic word. I have said that necessary reforms ‘for the elections’. And I still think that. The administration needs time to prepare for fair elections and at the same time get the economy going. They can do whatever reforms they need for these. I don’t think it will take long. It shouldn’t take much time to do this. If they have the will, they will surely do it in no time. There are several basic problems. For example, the police force should be restructured. The Election Commission should be reformed, the judiciary should be changed. There is no alternative to them. Elections will not be fair if these are not done. That is why they have to do these things. But it should be done as soon as possible. Otherwise confusion will arise; Otherwise, questions will arise among people. Various types of chaos will be created. There will be rumours.
Contemporary: When the interim government came in through a coup, there was talk of two mandates from among the students. One is that this government will reform the state system, reform the constitution, reform the administration. It means fundamental reforms. And at the end of all this will give an election.
Fakhrul: There is a fundamental question that who will do these reforms? Who has the right to mean? Whose legal right? That right belongs to the elected representatives. So the basic reform should be done by them. He will need an election. We are saying that the necessary reforms are done to hold the elections, and the rest of the work should be left to the hands of the new parliament. Who is the authority to change the constitution? Where is your authority? To do this, proposals must be brought to Parliament.
Samakal: If Sri Lanka’s experience is anything to go by, elections are being held there too after two years. The political government was there. They also talked about reforms. But it didn’t happen in the end.
Fakhrul: Because, it doesn’t. As happened in Sri Lanka, it was the political parties in power who rebelled against the government of the day. There is only a change in the main man, because of which there is no reformation. You made a reform in the country, who will give it legal validity? No reform process can be carried out without the participation of political parties. It’s impossible. You must dialogue with the political parties and proceed on the basis of consensus.
Samakal : Do you think the current government will reform without the political parties?
Fakhrul: I really don’t understand them. Frankly speaking, their position is not clear to me. A few things seem to be working within the interim government. One wants everything to be reformed now. Others want, without going that far, we will make the necessary reforms within the existing constitution. But the government is not opening its mouth. Nothing vague is good. The biggest problem with this government today is that the policy statement given by the Chief Adviser is also very vague. What they want to do, the words should be clearly presented in front of the people. If not, that opportunity will be taken by others. Misunderstandings will arise.
Samakal: Will there be any deadline regarding the election?
Fakhrul : No, I don’t want to go to any deadline. We don’t want to burden them with deadlines. But we want early elections to be good for the country, for the people. The longer you delay, the more damage you will do.
Samakal: If no such deadline is given within a year, what will BNP do?
Fakhrul : BNP will do whatever it takes.
Samakal : Will you approve the participation of Awami League in the next election?
Fakhrul: We are a democratic political party. We have always fought for multi-party democracy. It was our party, our leader Major Zia, who established it after 1975, after their one-party rule, right? Awami League still held elections. If Awami League wants to hold elections this time, if there are no obstacles, then it will be done. Why not? The party is not the problem. The problem is the people who run the group. To establish democracy, equal rights must be ensured for all parties.
Samakal : If there is a quick election then it will not be possible for this government to commit genocide, looting or other crimes. In that case, if the BNP is in power, how will it be judged?
Fakhrul: The judicial system is separate and independent, why should it not be there? If the work starts now, it will be completed after the elections.
Samakal: Jamaat-e-Islami may regain registration. In that case, what will be your relationship with them?
Fakhrul: Don’t always tag us with Jamaat that Jamaat-BNP. No, that’s not true at all. Jamaat is a separate party, BNP is a separate party. The views of the two parties are not the same. We have already expressed solidarity with many political parties to oust fascist political parties. Jamaat was also present along with other parties in the simultaneous movement. The movement is still there, and will be in the future. But we will decide what to do in the election.
Samakal : Now if there is any kind of major instability, then you have to be active again.
Fakhrul: We will definitely stand with the people. We will support this government as long as this government is with the people.
Samakal : But there is another thought, BNP has been persecuted for a long time, their organization has been destroyed. So all in all, BNP is ready for the election at the moment?
Mirza Fakhrul : BNP is now over prepared. In each of our constituencies there are 10 to 15 candidates for the following. At the moment it is supposed to increase.
Samakal : What is your promise to break the one-party system we were in, its signs, its laws and institutions?
Fakhrul: It is not a very difficult task. We had promises, we will break them. It is not difficult to break even for those who are there now. Can be done in three days. Those of you who understand the law can do it all in three days. And we certainly will. This is our commitment. We will cancel all the undemocratic laws of the previous government and bring forward the pro-people laws through the Parliament.
Samakal : People are blaming India for the floods. The India question is returning to politics. What is the attitude of the BNP in this regard?
Fakhrul: India is completely responsible for the floods. India has always done this. I don’t know why, since 1971 I don’t think India has ever worked with Bangladesh in a positive or friendly role. They have always thought of Bangladesh as a big market, as a client state. Unfortunately they are upstream, we are downstream. The water of 54 rivers has not been shared so far. It is very urgent. See what happened with Teesta. Not only Teesta, 54 rivers. I don’t think Indian diplomacy is realistic. It is very important for them to maintain a good relationship with us. It is more important for them to have a good relationship with the people than to have a good relationship with the Awami League. Large masses of people today are openly speaking against India. right?
Samakal: We have secret agreements with many countries including India, which are against national interest. BNP will demand to publish them?
Fakhrul: We have demanded it. We have also made demands to India, we have also made demands to this interim government. The secret agreements of the government in the last 15 years should be disclosed.
Samakal: Would you like to say something to the revolting students who are currently carrying out relief work across the country?
Fakhrul: We congratulated them, saluted them. Under their leadership, the people of Bangladesh have achieved an impossible feat. They removed a fascist force. Because such movements against fascist governments usually do not succeed. But they did it. They deserve credit. At the same time, it should be remembered that it is not permanent. If they think that they have to establish leadership in everything, then it probably won’t be right. Their performance so far is undoubtedly commendable and we are pleased with them.