"Fakhrul promises restoration of order following the conducting of elections to TBS"

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is gearing up for the upcoming national election, with their leader, Khaleda Zia, set to be the prime ministerial candidate if she remains healthy. However, the path to the election is far from smooth, as some parties or individuals have allegedly threatened to derail the process.

In an interview aired on TBS on September 7, 2021, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed his concerns about the state of democracy in Bangladesh. He believes that the real problem lies in the absence of regular, free, and fair elections. Despite the challenges, Fakhrul remains optimistic, attributing his confidence to the efforts of the interim government and the cooperation among political parties.

Fakhrul also believes that parties joining parliament can help resolve differences through dialogue and debate. He did not name any party or person when discussing alleged attempts to derail the election, but he did imply that right-wing groups are gaining strength in Bangladesh.

Regarding coalition plans for a National Government if the BNP wins the election, Fakhrul has not been reported to announce any specific partnerships. He did state that if the BNP wins, it plans to form a national government with parties that participated alongside it in the recent democratic movement. However, no talks have taken place with Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party regarding seat sharing.

Fakhrul acknowledged the years of mismanagement under the Awami League and cited the need for a neutral and competent Election Commission and the government's impartial work as reasons for his confidence in the election process. He also expressed optimism that political and other crises in Bangladesh will ease after the national election.

The interview with Fakhrul was the second part of a three-part series. The third instalment, to be released by TBS Multimedia, will explore what a BNP government might look like.

Meanwhile, Fakhrul has also addressed another pressing issue in Bangladesh: mob violence. He stated that it is a major problem in the country and emphasised the need for a peaceful and fair election.

If Khaleda Zia is unable to serve as prime minister, acting chairman Tarique Rahman will take the role, as per BNP's plans. Despite the challenges ahead, Fakhrul remains hopeful that the upcoming election will be widely accepted and that Bangladesh will move towards a more democratic future.

"Fakhrul promises restoration of order following the conducting of elections to TBS"