In a conversation with BBC Bengal, Interim Government Adviser Nahid Islam mentioned finding 'similarities in the talk of BNP and Awami League'. He sees the BNP's demand for 'neutral government' as an attempt to bring about a repeat of 'one-eleven'. Nahid Islam also said that the interim government is neutral. It should be clarified why BNP does not think so.
Earlier, in an interview given to BBC Bangla last Wednesday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam said that if the government is not neutral, elections will be necessary under a neutral government.
Basically from here the counter statements are going on. The backlash continued despite the reaction of two young advisors to the government, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, and Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the anti-discrimination student movement.
Senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas denied the claim of a repeat of 1-11 and said that BNPE suffered the most in 1-11. Apart from this, the leaders of BNP raised questions about the similarity of the position of Awami League and the interim government. Ruhul Kabir accused the Rizvi government of 'shaming' and said that the interim government was echoing the words of Sheikh Hasina.
In response to this, Nahid Islam told BBC Bangla on Friday (January 24), elections and reforms need time and consensus should be reached with patience. He emphasized on avoiding conflict and working together. Nahid also said that if he joins a political party, he will be out of the government.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's demand for a neutral government is an indication of the formation of another eleven government in a Facebook post by Information Adviser Nahid Islam.
In this context, Nahid told BBC Bangla, 'The talk of one eleven and minus two was first brought to the political arena by BNPE a few days ago.'
Stating that the government was formed with the support of BNP and its members after the coup and the fall of the Awami League government, he expressed 'doubt' about the statement of BNP General Secretary's 'impartiality'.
In Nahid's words, he sees similarities with the recent position of Awami League, along with domestic and foreign plots to destabilize or remove this government.
He said, “Recently, Awami League Central Executive Committee member Mohammad Ali Arafat, but he has given the status that it is an illegal and unelected government, a neutral government is needed, it is not possible to have a fair election under it. So when we see talking in the same tone, it creates a doubt.'
Friday from Awami League's Facebook page. Referring to Muhammad Yunus as an 'unelected and unconstitutional government', the next elections will not take place under this government and the next elections 'must be under a new (caretaker) government', the post quoted Arafat as saying.
In this context, Nahid told BBC Bangla, 'I don't think that they (BNP) said it with that intention, but the tone of their words matches the tone of Awami League.'
Nahid said, “judicial proceedings, reforms, and elections are the priorities of the current government, but I know why BNP thinks that this government has been formed only to give an election.”
Nahid Islam said about the election under a neutral government, 'We consider the interim government to be neutral. Why BNP does not think neutral behavior, BNP should make it clear.'
He also mentioned that when the election time comes, it is possible to say clearly about these issues or if there are any complaints, what steps can be taken for the sake of neutrality, then the government can take into consideration.
Nahid said, 'If there are pro-BNP people at different levels of administration or constitutional positions, whether that will also require neutrality, then that should also be considered. But now is not the time.'
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, however, said in an interview with BBC that this government will remain until the election is conducted if it can maintain complete neutrality. Otherwise neutral government will be needed. However, Mirza Fakhrul also mentioned that there is no question about the 'neutrality' of this government.
Although Mirza Fakhrul did not directly question the neutrality of the interim government, BNP leaders at different levels have said different things at different times. Last Friday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, 'When I hear reforms first then elections, it seems like an echo of Sheikh Hasina's words. Because, Sheikh Hasina used to say that development comes first and then democracy.
Mirza Abbas said, 'Many people say that BNP only conducts elections. Hey brother, I don't choose. You didn't say all this nonsense.'
BNP is talking about giving 'quick elections' almost every day. General secretary of the party Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir commented that it is possible to hold elections in July-August.
However, Nahid Islam told BBC Bangla that the chief adviser has given a possible time frame for the election between the end of this year and June next year. Until then, it is necessary to be patient and move forward on the basis of consensus.
Nahid said, 'When the trial process of missing or July massacre is progressing and the reform process is progressing, maybe the discussion, negotiation, bargaining (bargaining) will start in the next month, BNP or other political parties should focus on reform talks, cooperation in the process of justice. Should be done, at that time they are saying, a neutral government is needed than this government.'
Despite this war of words, the advisors of the interim government and the leaders of the BNP are always talking about staying united without creating conflict or division.
