Maruf Sarkar, reporter:
AB Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju has said that the interim government is in power but its authority is not yet clear. He said that any election in such a situation would be dangerous for us. If you go to the election without confirming your authority, then this election could be very bad.
He made these remarks after leaving a meeting of the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Saturday (February 15).
Manju said, the chief advisor told us that he has received assurances from many places internationally for the economic development of Bangladesh. If we get that cooperation, then it is possible to move the economy of Bangladesh forward. The cooperation that the United Nations has spoken about is a big milestone for us. But foreigners have said that we can help you economically but we cannot do the reforms that you do. So he said, everyone's cooperation is needed for these reforms.
He said, "On behalf of the AB Party, we said that when we first met you, we said that you should form a team based on unity to discuss with the political parties. But you did not do that, you did it late. We also said that the proper authority of this government has not yet been established. So how can you hold elections in such a fragile situation? We clearly said that you should hold national elections first. But you will need administrative authority."
Giving advice, he said, "I told them to have one of your advisors go out on the streets in disguise. You see what kind of help you get from the police when you are caught by a robber."
Mujibur Rahman Manju said, you should have taken a role to create national consensus. But you did not take it. If you do not accept the struggle and movement we have done in the last 15-16 years, but in July-August, BNP's Nazrul Islam Khan was arrested, Jamaat's Abdul Taher was arrested, Gana Sanghati's Junaid Saki was injured, we were shot and went to jail. But where in any of your discussions is there any place for those who have gone to jail and been injured. Then how are you creating national work? How are you seeking the cooperation of political parties?
He said, "Lastly, I said that you listen to our words. But we don't understand how much they take into account. So I hope the interim government will take our words seriously."
