(BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said BNP is never against reforms but it has been seeking a specific roadmap for elections following necessary reforms within the shortest possible time.

"This is not correct that BNP does not want reforms, but elections. We have repeatedly said we want elections after completing required minimum reforms. We have talked about elections and are still saying this because elections are the main gateway to a democratic system in any country," he said.

Mirza Fakhrul was addressing a two-day national dialogue titled `Unity in which path` organized by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in the city`s Khamarbari.

Interim government`s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the dialogue through a video message in the morning.

The BNP secretary general said the main problem is that there has been no real democratic practice in the country as this culture has not been developed.

Noting that the issues came to the fore now are unity, reform and elections, he said "It`s a matter of great sadness that we have to discuss these issues even after 53 years of independence. It would have been great if we could have worked together on these issues from the very beginning and reached a place."

"It is very important that we do not forget 1971. We should never forget 1971. We need to remember the continuous struggle for democracy since 1971. Through that struggle, in exchange for the sacrifices of the students, we have reached this place today. Therefore, we can only assure you that on behalf of the BNP, we are always in favor of democratic reforms. We are working for this and will continue to do so," he said.

Mirza Fakhrul said BNP started its struggle against fascism by taking a stand since 2012. At that time, many BNP leaders and workers were killed, many others were maimed, and sent to prison, he said, adding that false cases were lodged against 60 lakh leaders and workers of the party while more than 700 of our leaders and workers became victims of enforced disappearance and more than 20,000 people have been killed.

Mirza Fakhrul said, "Everyone knows about the `Aynaghar`. Also, prominent political leaders were hanged. Even in such a situation, we never stopped. We tried to be vocal from the beginning, and then we did not get many people with us. Now, we are seeing them in front, we feel very good," he said.

Mentioning that BNP is very sincere about reforms, the BNP Secretary General said in 2016, BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia announced Vision 2030 where political reforms were mentioned very clearly and now the issues we are talking about changes were mentioned in a consistent process.

He said the issue that has come to the forefront today is maintaining the balance of power of the Prime Minister and the President. Ensuring that one person cannot come to power in the state twice and forming a bicameral parliament, Fakhrul said.

Later, in 2022, 10 points were first given at a rally in Golapbagh ground, he said, adding that subsequently acting Chairman of BNP Tarique Rahman presented a 31-point state reform proposal to the people and all democratic political parties supported those. BNP has been working on these 31 points for 2 long years, he added.

The BNP secretary general said that elections under the caretaker government have been acceptable in the past.

The people accepted this system and considered it as essential one, he added.

"If we had gone to a presidential government then, it seems to me that the people would not have accepted it. I think that nothing will be possible without the people. Therefore, everything will have to be done with the people," Fakhrul said.

The BNP secretary general also mentioned that even if there are mistakes, unity should be maintained by ignoring them.

Interim government`s Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, White Paper Preparation Committee head Debapriya Bhattacharya, Constitution Reform Commission head Professor Ali Riaz, Election Reform Commission head Badiul Alam Majumder, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Junaid Saki, Executive President of Gono Forum Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, JSD Vice President Tania Rab, Gono Odhikar Parishad Convener Nurul Haque Nur, Bangla Academy Chairman Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Mamun Ahmed, retired secretary AFM Solaiman Chowdhury, Ambassador Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari and leaders of various political parties spoke at the event which was conducted by Dr Zahed Ur Rahman.