BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday, "We didn't find any roadmap to democracy in the speech of Chief Adviser Dr Mohammad Yunus. We hope he will soon begin talks with the political parties in this regard."
Speaking at a discussion marking 9th death anniversary of Jatiya Party (Zafar) at National Press Club, he said, "We're still in a state of confusion as things remain unclear. We anticipated that the Chief Adviser would present a roadmap."
He said that the Chief Adviser, in his speech, indicated some reforms, but these cannot be implemented in a short timeframe.
He said, "Dr Yunus correctly stated that the timing of the election is a matter of political decision.
But, for this decision to be made, the government needs to engage in discussions with political parties and politicians."
Fakhrul said, "That is why we hope that the interim government will soon engage in talks with political parties to take a decision on the national election and reforms."
"We believe the situation is moving in a positive direction for the benefit of the people," he said.
On Sunday evening, Interim government's Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus addressed the nation and assured that a free, fair, and participatory election would be arranged after completing necessary reforms in the administration, judiciary, election commission and the electoral system.
He, however, said the timing of the election is a political decision, and it is up to the people to determine how long the interim government will remain in power.
Fakhrul said the BNP needs to proceed with great patience and caution as it aims to give the interim government the opportunity to perform its duties. "We've repeatedly said we're willing to give them a reasonable and logical time to arrange a free and fair election."
He said that, people will not accept a return to the previous situation where they lost all their rights. They are waiting with patience. But it must happen within a reasonable time frame.
Fakhrul appreciated the Chief Adviser for his remark that the interim government will create a situation where no one can turn the country into a police state.
He supported the views of the Chief Adviser on police reforms and said, "We want the police to be transformed into an ideal force for the people. We want it to happen very quickly."
He said, "We don't want Bangladesh to become a police state, where the police control us, dictate what we can and cannot do, falsely accuse us, take money from us, and ruin our lives through corruption... We do not want to see our people being shot at."
Fakhrul said, "Dr Yunus assured that justice would be ensured for all extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. This is what we want, and we repeatedly said that justice must be done."
