BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan on Saturday said that swift reforms are essential to establish a government truly elected by the people.
“One aspiration from our 16-year struggle and the student and public uprising of July-August has been fulfilled with the fall of fascism. Yet, the further goal is to restore democracy and people’s rights,” he said at a rally in front of the National Press Club.
Nazrul emphasized the need to restore democracy in a way that it cannot be manipulated against the people.
“True democracy—people’s democracy—must be reestablished. It is now crucial to implement necessary reforms for an elected government and governance by the people,” he said.
He warned that delays in holding elections would only invite new organizations and individuals to step forward with various proposals, claiming to represent the people’s will.
“Even if the largest party in Bangladesh claims to know the people’s aspirations, it remains invalid unless approved by the people themselves,” he said.
Nazrul said that a government needs public trust and should operate according to the people’s consent and aspirations. He called for the inclusion of necessary provisions in the constitution and constitutional amendments to support this.
The rally was organized by the Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani Anusari Parishad, demanding the reinstatement of Bhasani’s biography in the seventh and ninth-grade textbooks.
Nazrul clarified that the current interim government did not seize power but was entrusted by all to meet the people’s immediate needs and fulfill their aspirations.
He emphasized that people alone hold the authority to decide on critical issues related to their interests, saying it is inappropriate to impose decisions on these matters.
“We had incorporated a referendum system in the constitution to allow the public to express their views on important state matters, but the previous government deprived them of that right by removing it,” Nazrul said.
He suggested reinstating the referendum provision in the constitution to allow the public to voice their opinions on significant issues. “It’s insufficient to rely solely on a few learned individuals regarding matters affecting the people’s interests,” he added.
Reflecting on Moulana Bhasani’s legacy, Nazrul claimed that the Awami League government attempted to erase Bhasani’s contributions from history.
“They have already faced consequences for this. They were not only defeated but forced to flee, an unprecedented incident in our country’s history,” he said.
Nazrul remarked that the Awami League’s prioritization of a family over the country’s esteemed leaders was a political misstep. “This should serve as a lesson for all politicians, not just them.”
He concluded by affirming that all historical contributions deserve acknowledgment. “Otherwise, history won’t forgive you,” he said.