Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Begum Selima Rahman on Friday said that the interim government has no right to stay in power for five years.
Speaking at the special council of Bangladesh Diploma Medical Association held in Dhaka, Selima said the current administration must organise national elections by December this year.
Praising the chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus as 鈥榓 highly respected individual鈥�, she said that the BNP has confidence in his leadership.
鈥榃e hope he will fulfill his commitment and hold the elections by December this year,鈥� she added.
Underscoring the people鈥檚 desire for democracy, she insisted that a free and fair election is essential to restoring the country鈥檚 democracy.
鈥楾he BNP is not calling for elections to go to power but to return democratic rights to the people,鈥� she said, adding that only through a credible election can a legitimate government be formed, one that can uphold the people鈥檚 fundamental rights.
Selima further said a democratically elected government would help bring political stability to the country and resist the ongoing conspiracies.
鈥楾he BNP does not fear elections, even from the opposition,鈥� she said.
Criticising the Awami League, she alleged that the party has ruined every sector of the country through corruption and looting.
Selima stressed the need for reforms, saying that only an elected government can carry out full reforms effectively.
Urging an end to authoritarianism and one-party rule, she said, 鈥業t is now imperative to establish a truly representative government that will reflect the will of the people.鈥�
BNP vice-chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon on Friday at another event said that some advisers of the interim government have a desire to stay in power for five years.
鈥楾hey claim that the people want to see them in power for five years, but this is a false statement,鈥� he said while speaking at a public rally organised by the Louhajang Upazila BNP and its affiliated organisations at the premises of Louhajang Government College in Munshiganj.
The people want an accountable government, they want to vote, and a government established through elections, he added.
Talking to journalists after a programme in Sunamganj on Thursday, Home adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that people are telling them to stay for five more years in power.