BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas has called upon the interim government to announce the date of the next general election as early as possible without dilly-dallying.

"The interim government must make it clear what reforms they intend to make to the statecraft, and how many days will it require to do so," he said while speaking at a discussion on "Spirit of the Liberation War and Today`s Bangladesh" at the Dhaka Reporters Unity at Segunbagicha in the capital early Tuesday (November 5) afternoon.

The discussion was organised jointly by Muktijuddher Projonmo and Projonmo Academy in observance of the 21st anniversary of death of valiant freedom fighter Mesbah Uddin Ahmed Sabu.

Issuing a note of warning, Mirza Abbas said: "We won`t accept anything you will do keeping the nation in darkness. So, don`t keep the nation in darkness. The country`s people didn`t accept the Awami League-led voter-less government over the last 16 years. Now, they will also not accept this government for a long time."

The BNP leader said the country`s situation is very volatile now. It is going to be more volatile in the days ahead. "We want to believe that this government will show the nation a ray of hope. But, you should not do anything else so that the nation loses its faith in you."

Referring to the interim government`s move to amend the constitution, Mirza Abbas asked, "Who are you to amend the constitution? How could you say that you would amend the constitution without parliament? You should remember that the constitution is not a rough copy book that you will do whatever you like. If you want to amend or rewrite the constitution, you should first talk to those who fought the War of Independence and those who are the stakeholders of it."

The BNP leader said the interim government was constituted three months ago. "But, the cases filed against us including the BNP Acting Chairman Tareque Rahman have not been withdrawn. You can easily withdraw all the cases against the leaders and workers of BNP and other opposition parties which were filed from 2007 until the fall of the Awami League government by issuing an ordinace. But, you are not doing it. May be you do it or don`t do it."

The senior BNP leader said, "We used to live in jail in the past. Sometimes also got out of jail. Jails were our residential addresses, because dreadful torture and repression were inflicted upon us over the last 16 years. I want to ask the government -- please give us peace and relief. Announce the election roadmap as soon as possible."

BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy who took part in the discussion as the main speaker, said, "A smoky situation is now prevailing in the country. We don`t understand whether this government will stay in power for long, or leave the power in time. We also can`t understand whether you seek our cooperation."

A keynote paper on the theme of the discussion was presented by Syed Mozammel Hossain Shahin.

Chaired by Projonmo Academy president Kalam Fayezi and moderated by Muktijuddha Projonmo`s senior vice-president Md Jahirul Islam Kalim, the discisson was also addressed by BNP`s joint secretary general Abdus Salam Azad, central members Abu Naser Muhammad Rahmatullah, NPP Secretary General Mostafizur Rahman Mostofa, late Mesbah Uddin Ahmed Sabu`s eife Hosne Ara Begum Rina, former joint general secretary of Jubo Dal SM Mizanur Rahman, information secretary of the UK BNP Mojibur Rahman, Muktijuddha Projonmo`s vice-president Sharmin Ahmed Rina, Projonmo`s leader Mainuddin Ahmed Tuhin, Abu Haider Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman, SM Kamar Uddin, Ramiz Uddin Rumi, Dr Mamun Hasib Bhuiyan, BNP leaders Morshed Alam and Kabir Hossain, among others,