BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said campaigning for the referendum is not the responsibility of the BNP, stressing that participation and choice rest with the people.
“It is the people’s responsibility to vote. Whether they decide ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will be their choice,” he told journalists at his residence in the Kalibari area of Thakurgaon town at around 10:30am on Monday.
Responding to questions about the exclusion of cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, Mirza Fakhrul said: “I used to play cricket and was also involved with the cricket board. Now I am in politics. Cricket involves international issues, and the honour of our country is linked with it. One of our cricketers has been humiliated, which we see as an insult to the country. We agree with the decision of the cricket board. However, there should always be scope to resolve minor issues through discussion.”
On foreign policy and water-sharing, he said that if the BNP comes to power, it would ensure Bangladesh’s fair share of water from the Teesta, the Padma and other common rivers through dialogue with India based on mutual respect.
In response to another question, the BNP secretary general said party chairman Tarique Rahman would visit the northern region and pay tribute at the graves of those martyred in the mass uprising, including Shaheed Abu Sayed of Rangpur.
Commenting on the electoral environment, Fakhrul said a fair atmosphere currently exists, adding that the real situation would become clear once election campaigning begins.
Referring to the recovery of weapons and the overall law and order situation, he expressed dissatisfaction and said the BNP hoped all necessary steps would be taken to restore normalcy ahead of the election.