Elections are still about 15-16 months away. The BNP is now taking to the streets on contemporary issues and the police are also stopping you. Will the days ahead be more conflicting?
I think the government and the ruling party together are using the state apparatus to turn the whole issue into a conflict. The BNP started the movement across the country to press home issues of public concern. The protest programs were mainly about the problems that people are suffering from every day: the increase in the price of essentials, loadshedding, and the high price of fuel oils.
The BNP did not make any provocative slogans or show provocative behavior against the government. I myself have participated in many protests, but law enforcement agencies have also attacked us. Three of our workers died in police firing, but the police were not held accountable for this. There hasn't even been an investigation so far.
Also, BNP workers have been accused in cases over their protest rally, and cases have been filed against 4,000 named accused and 20,000 unnamed accused. It is a total violation of the right to freedom of expression, criticism, and protest.
The BNP has not been in the field for the past few years. How has it continued to exist?
A party has not been in power for 15 years, so this party was supposed to disappear. The biggest reason for this is that this party was not broken up or divided, and no significant person has left to join any other party. Even after being shot in the street, this party is fighting. Our success is the people's support, which we have seen in public meetings this time.
I will also thank the media for this because the media is under a lot of pressure in this country. There is a Digital Security Act, and new laws are being formulated to control the media; yet they are writing about political issues and torture.
I am not saying that the BNP will remove all anarchy from the country overnight. But there will be accountability, there will be democracy, there will be human rights and freedom.
Does the BNP have any committee to work as a shadow government to evaluate and advise on the government's various decisions, policies, etc?
Shadow government is a democratic process, and no dictatorial government has a shadow government. We are constantly giving advice through our speeches, statements, columns and talk shows. But they don't have the mentality to take it.
Do you think that the Awami League will accept the demand for non-partisan elections?
The Awami League has successfully created uncertainty among the 170 million people of the country. It did that in the whole country by destroying the institutions, the election system, and legislative and judicial systems. The public and political parties are asking what will happen next.
The Awami League has spoiled the normal process of election. Now a neutral government should be formed during the election amid the intense agitation of the opposition parties. Or I think time will tell how the people will claim their rights.
How many seats can the BNP get in the next election?
If the next election is fair, the BNP will win three-quarters of the seats, and will ally with those who believe that we must work together to ensure democracy, freedom of speech, human rights, rule of law, good governance, justice, and independence of institutions.
Currently, our only goal is to free the people from the hands of this unelected government. They are all welcome to join us on this journey.
The BNP is constantly criticizing various issues, such as disappearances, extrajudicial killings, corruption and traffic management. How will the BNP government solve these problems?
If the election is held under a fair system, then whoever the government is should return to the people's selections. If anyone commits corruption and abuse of power, they will have to answer to the people. If a political party is elected by the people's vote, then good governance is automatically established.
Starting from the power crisis, energy problem, commodity price hike, corruption, human rights violation and violence against women, all these things should be done under separate policies. And for this policy to work, you have to work in your own interest.
What will BNP do regarding militancy and ensuring non-communalism if it comes to power?
Militancy rose between 1996 and 2001. We have seen the CPD meeting bomb attack, Udichi event bomb attack, and Ramna Batamul blast. This rise happened during the Awami League government,and they did not stop it. In that sequence, some events happened during the time of the BNP. Bangla Bhai's trial took place during the government. After that, there has been no trial for the continuous murder of bloggers, foreign nationals, murders of LGBT people since 2014. And communal attacks are happening continuously. When there is justice, perpetrators will be afraid to do these things and these crimes will stop.
What is the BNP's response to the prime minister's recent visit to India and the Modi government?
We see one visit to India before every election. People of the country hope for the Teesta agreement, border killing will be stopped, trade disparity will be removed, or we will get something from India in exchange for our transit. We also hope that India will be on our side on the Rohingya issue and not on the side of Myanmar. We also hope that India will not scare us with NRC, and our people will get opportunities in India's labor market. It is natural that India will look after its interests as a whole, but it is a failure of the government that it has not beelabe to look after our interests.
What is the BNP's position on the rehabilitation and repatriation of the Rohingya? How can they be repatriated quickly?
The Rohingya problem also happened once during the Ziaur Rahman era, when they were properly repatriated under the supervision of the United Nations. Then he also warned Myanmar by taking a strong stand. If Myanmar sends a Rohingya, we'll give them a full reply. Khaleda Zia also saw successful repatriation during her tenure.
The government has been failing to repatriate the Rohingya because they are dependent on certain domestic and foreign powers, and China is one of them. The Rohingya will not leave Bangladesh as long as this government is in power.
