Bangladesh’s fast-paced week of events saw the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, widespread violence and the formation of an interim government, but on Saturday the country’s chief justice agreed to step down. While it is not clear when elections will be held, it is certain that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia, one of the country’s two major political parties, will play a key role in them.
Speaking exclusively to NDTV on Saturday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the chief justice had to step down due to the student protests as he was known to be closely associated with Ms Hasina’s regime, which had “killed many people” in the country.
In a wide-ranging interview, Mr. Alamgir said Ms. Zia would lead the BNP into elections if she was qualified enough and that the party would work to improve India-Bangladesh relations if it came to power. He said attacks on Hindus in the country were the result of some people trying to take advantage of the situation and insisted they were not part of any “systematic agenda.”
The BNP leader also said that she believed the Bangladesh Army would not interfere in the political process going forward and also claimed that there were no extremist elements involved in the protests.
When asked about the Chief Justice stepping down, Mr Alamgir said, “The Chief Justice is known here as an ally of the previous regime which killed a lot of people in this country and during this period extraordinary, unprecedented corruption was carried out… so there has always been a demand for him to step down. He was not completely independent, impartial and neutral and that is why the demand was very high.”
He said, “The judiciary in Bangladesh has been completely destroyed. It is an institution, but it has been completely politicised with the help of the previous government.”
Election deadline?
While Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as head of the interim government and is considered popular among the movement that ousted Ms Hasina from power, the question on everyone’s mind is when will Bangladesh hold fresh elections.
When Mr. Alamgir was asked about this and the role of 78-year-old Khaleda Zia, who was released from jail this week, in the election, he said, “She is very ill. She is in hospital. She is suffering from a number of ailments. Her treatment was not going well in this country and we requested the judiciary and the government several times to send her abroad, but it did not happen… The doctors say she is not fit to travel right now and we will have to wait for some time before taking her out of the country. If she is physically fit, she will definitely contest the election.”
The BNP leader said his party was ready for elections at any time, but the interim government would need more time to hold the polls.
He said, “The entire election system has become totally polluted and they are not in a position to conduct free and fair elections. Therefore, they will have to bring some reforms in the election system as well.”
Mr Alamgir also rejected claims by Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed that the prime minister had not resigned and dismissed reports that she was removed at gunpoint.
He said, “The President herself said in the presence of political parties and the army that she has resigned. There was no coercion or anything… It was a revolution. When a crowd of lakhs of people was marching towards Ms Hasina’s residence, her security forces and the armed forces told her that she had two options: stay here and face the crowd or leave the country. And, at the last moment, she decided to leave the country.”
Relations with India, attacks on minorities
Mr Alamgir stressed that India-Bangladesh relations will remain good and said BNP will try to improve it if it comes to power.
When the leader was asked about attacks on minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists and Christians in the country and whether it was a systematic attack, he said, “That is absolutely not true. When there is any change in our country or any country, especially third world countries, there are some people who try to take advantage… In Bangladesh, unfortunately, with every revolution, the leaders of the ruling party are victimised, whether they are Muslims or Hindus. There may have been some sporadic attacks (on minorities), but it was not a political or systematic agenda at all. Never,” he claimed, adding that the communal harmony in the country is “fantastic”.
United Nations involvement
When the BNP leader was asked if there would be retaliation against supporters of Hasina’s party – the Awami League – or if former military and police officials considered close to her government would be removed, he said the United Nations had been asked to investigate.
“If anyone is found guilty of human rights violations, planned killings of the opposition or enforced disappearances, their cases will naturally be investigated and action will be taken against them,” he said.
Mr. Alamgir also said he did not believe there would be any interference from the military in the political process going forward.
He said, “People have faith in the army that they are the protectors of the country. So I don’t think they will do anything that will be against the wishes of the people.”
Extremist elements?
Mr Alamgir said violence in the country has reduced significantly, and sought to allay fears of extremist elements joining the movement against Ms Hasina’s regime.
He said, “Jamaat (Jamaat-e-Islami) is not an extremist political party but there were other extremist groups in Bangladesh and I don’t think they exist anymore… Extremist elements are not involved (in the protests) in any way. Not at all. It is led entirely by students and most of them are very progressive elements. Some of the people leading the movement are exceptionally talented. I am very confident that this revolution will definitely succeed.”
