Reforms, polls can go together, no conflict among them: Fakhrul

There is no conflict between reforms and elections, both can go together, commented BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday.

He said that the report given by the reform commissions to the chief adviser of the interim government should be discussed with the political parties quickly and a final decision should be taken. Because nothing is possible without consensus.

He made the remarks while talking to journalists after paying tribute to late President Ziaur Rahman at his tomb in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on his 89th birth anniversary. 

To a question that many are saying that elections in July-August are impossible, the BNP Secretary General said, reforms will continue, elections will also continue. Those who come to power after the elections will take these reforms forward. We can clearly say on behalf of our party that we will take every reform forward. Moreover, there is no obstacle to reform and elections going together.

Remembering the late President Ziaur Rahman, Mirza Fakhrul said, Martyr President Ziaur Rahman came to power through the Sepoy-People's Revolution. At that time, he started working by reforming all areas in a very short time to build a modern and prosperous Bangladesh.

He said, Ziaur Rahman, through the first reform, changed Bangladesh from a single-party regime to a multi-party regime. After taking charge of running the state, he planned to transform the closed economy into a free market economy. Under his leadership, there was a revolution in agriculture and industry.

Saying that the nationalist party was created under the leadership of Ziaur Rahman, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was created under the leadership of this great leader. That party overcame all obstacles and dangers and is today established as the largest party in Bangladesh.

He also said, after Ziaur Rahman, his successor Khaleda Zia took charge of this party. She took charge and strengthened the party even more. Today, she is ill and undergoing treatment in London. We all pray for her. Today, another worthy successor, Tarique Rahman Hasina, is giving new leadership to fascism-free Bangladesh.