BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the Awami League must be cancelled through the people's vote, warning that attempts to "cancel" the party by any other means will not succeed.
Fascists should be defeated through decisive electoral losses, Khasru said on Tuesday at a roundtable titled “Take Back Bangladesh: Citizens' Concerns” at the National Press Club.
Khasru said: “Together, we worked towards the fall of Hasina. Now, we must unite to build a new Bangladesh. BNP is not just about revolution; it stands for solidarity. Through national unity, we promote nationalism in Bangladesh. Whatever we establish through unity will endure.”
The senior BNP leader criticized narratives that exclude the people, describing them as unacceptable.
He compared the historical narratives of Sheikh Mujib, autocracy, and what he referred to as the “fascist” narrative of Sheikh Hasina, who prioritized development over democracy. “Development must go hand in hand with democracy,” he said. “Otherwise, it only benefits a few.”
He said restoring the people's ownership of the country through elections is the only acceptable path forward, dismissing the need for any other narrative.
On the issue of reforms, he said: “Reforms are nothing new for BNP. In 2016, Khaleda Zia proposed Vision 2030. Tarique Rahman has since put forward a 31-point reform agenda, based on the opinions of all parties in the simultaneous movement.”
He added that a national government, comprising representatives from all anti-fascist parties, would oversee the implementation of these reforms. “An unelected government cannot enact reforms based on its own philosophy. However, we have no objections to implementing reforms on which there is consensus.”
Reaffirming BNP’s commitment to the 31-point reform agenda, Khasru said: “Through 16 years of struggle, BNP has been refined into pure gold. Our leaders and activists have learned to make sacrifices, shed blood, and give their lives. We will not step back from the fight for democracy, human rights, and voting rights.”
“We will support the interim government to ensure it does not fail. The country must be brought back on the right track,” he added.