Dhaka, Jan 17 (V7N) — BNP Chairperson's advisor Zainul Abdin Faruk has urged the interim government to announce the national election date without delay, linking the demand to preserving the dignity of the July mass uprising. He made the remarks during a civic rally held in front of the National Press Club on Friday.

The rally, organised by the Nationalist Cultural Party, aimed to push for an early election roadmap.

Faruk stated, “If we want to uphold the honour of the second independence achieved through the sacrifices of Abu Sayeed and Mughta, the election date must be announced immediately. Reforms and preparations can proceed alongside the announcement. I demand this date be declared without delay.”

Faruk criticised the interim government for imposing additional VAT on essential goods and services, which he claimed was burdening the public. “People are struggling to survive on 25,000 taka a month, where 10,000 was once sufficient,” he remarked. He also accused the government of failing to curb syndicates that exploit sectors like air travel, alleging a sharp increase in Umrah ticket prices from 40,000 to 90,000 taka due to syndicate activities.

The BNP leader referenced the 1991 elections conducted under then-Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, which he described as fair and acceptable. He argued that extensive reforms were unnecessary to achieve a similar outcome. Instead, he emphasised reforms aimed at improving the affordability of daily necessities, such as rice.

Faruk demanded that the July-August movement manifesto include historical milestones such as the liberation war of 1971, the anti-dictatorship movement of 1990, and the sacrifices made by BNP leaders and activists over the years. He highlighted the imprisonment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia as a critical moment in the party’s struggle against fascism.

The event, presided over by Nationalist Cultural Party president Humayun Kabir Bepari, was attended by several prominent figures, including BNP Chairperson’s advisor Habibur Rahman Habib, Workers’ Party General Secretary Altaf Hossain, and Fishermen’s Party member Ismail Hossain Siraji.

The rally concluded with renewed calls for an election date announcement and demands to alleviate the economic burdens on the public.

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