BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the ‘Note of Dissent’ in the recommendations of the National Consensus Commission on the implementation of the July Charter has been completely ignored. This cannot be unity. Then why was this commission formed? He said, this is a fraud on the people. This is a fraud on the political parties.

Mirza Fakhrul made these remarks at the launch of journalist and novelist Ehsan Mahmud’s book ‘Judicial Reform Election: Bangladesh During the Interim Government’ at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Auditorium of the National Press Club in the capital on Wednesday.

The BNP Secretary General said, such a big coup, at the cost of so much sacrifice, at the cost of so many lives, cannot be properly utilized for the welfare of the nation. Unfortunately, it is seen that as the days go by, the divisions are increasing. We also need to understand who is doing this and why. In the media, especially on social media, how many sides are being taken completely. Efforts are being made to completely defeat the opponent.

The National Consensus Commission submitted its recommendations to the interim government on Tuesday on ways to implement the July National Charter. In this regard, Mirza Fakhrul said that they had given notes of dissent on the issues on which they did not agree. The commission had promised to include those notes of dissent in its recommendations. But to their surprise, they noticed that those issues were not in the recommendations. The notes of dissent have been completely ignored. Ignored. This cannot be unity. Then why was the consensus commission formed?

The BNP Secretary General said, ‘…I will say this, it is a fraud on the people. It is a fraud on the political parties.’

Mirza Fakhrul said that at this moment, this interim period is a time of unity. He said, “Here, by agreeing on the minimum issues, taking a road, taking a track—that place is being divided. Surely everyone can understand who is doing it and why.”

The BNP Secretary General said that they want to say one thing very clearly, which they have said before. They think that the root of all crises is a truly acceptable election. The parliament of the people that will be formed through that election, in that parliament, the elected representatives of the people will bring all these problems into the constitution. That is how the country will run. That is why they talked about elections only after the August 5 revolution. At that time, many said that they want power, that is why they are demanding very quick elections. Today, it is being proven that the more this election is delayed, the more those forces are getting stronger, the fascists are getting stronger. Those who want to see Bangladesh unstable, want to create anarchy here.

Drawing attention to the interim government’s chief advisor, Mirza Fakhrul said, “But this time you are committed and committed to the people. You will make the reforms that are truly needed here and hold an election that is acceptable to the people. The parliament that comes through that election will solve the crises of this country. So if there is any deviation from this today, if you go beyond it, you will have to bear the full responsibility. I want to say this very clearly.”

At the publication ceremony, Jonayed Saki, the chief coordinator of the Mass Solidarity Movement, said, “Suddenly yesterday they saw in the recommendation that there was no mention of a note of dissent. This is not a consensus. The commission will surely explain this question. They signed the July charter. The charter contains a note of dissent (objection). The parties will give it in their respective manifestos. The party that gets the majority, the mandate, will resolve the objections according to its own proposal.”

Regarding the issuance of the July Charter order, Jonayed Saki said, “Many are demanding that the chief advisor issue the order. By what authority will the chief advisor issue the order? The government issues the order, it goes to the president, this is the rule of any state. The president is the symbol of the state. If the chief advisor himself issues it, it means he is declaring himself the head of the state and is effectively suspending the constitution.”

Jonayed Saki warned that if someone imposes a decision on someone else without consensus, it will not be effective. Everyone needs to realize this.

Other speakers at the publication festival included Sohrab Hasan, editor of Charcha.com, Nurul Haque, president of the Gana Adhikar Parishad, and writer and journalist Shahnaz Munni.