BNP National Standing Committee Member Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain on Wednesday said: "the responsibility of a caretaker government is to quickly hold elections and return that authority to the people."
He said the people want to regain their authority over state affairs without delay. "The party’s 31-point reform plan is part of its broader roadmap for structural changes," he added.
He called for the announcement of an election roadmap without delay to ensure that people can freely exercise their voting rights.
“People will vote for whoever they want. It is their elected representatives who will determine the direction the country should take,” Dr Zahid said while addressing a special meeting of the district BNP at the Bengal Convention Hall in Moulvibazar.
“BNP has never acted for its own benefit,” he continued. “The party has always stood by the people and prioritised the interests of the country and the spirit of reform. We have never abandoned the people. Even when our chairperson was given offers, privileges and opportunities, she chose to remain in Bangladesh despite extreme challenges and personal illness. She never gave in or compromised,” he added.
Dr Zahid further said: “Whatever progress we see in women’s education and empowerment today—BNP has contributed to that. BNP upheld people's voting rights, and it was our proposal that was passed in parliament to incorporate the caretaker government system in the constitution. That is why, after the election of February 15, 1996, another general election was held later that year under the caretaker government system.”
The event was presided over by Moulvibazar district BNP Convener Faizul Karim Mayun.