BNP demands smaller council of advisers
The BNP wants immediate removal of advisers Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, and national security adviser Khalilur Rahman for the sake of maintaining what the party says is the government's impartiality and image.
The BNP also calls for a smaller advisory council because the interim government's "responsibility is just to organise a national election" and handle the routine administrative tasks, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, BNP Standing Committee member, said yesterday.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "As these advisers are known to all as directly or indirectly involved with a new political party, their presence in the advisory council calls into question the nonpartisan identity of the interim government."
A top-heavy government is not needed for such tasks, he told a press conference at the BNP chairperson's office in the capital's Gulshan.
LGRD Adviser Asif and Information Adviser Mahfuj should be relieved in order to maintain the government's neutrality, BNP leaders say.
"As these advisers are known to all as directly or indirectly involved with a new political party, their presence in the advisory council calls into question the nonpartisan identity of the interim government. Therefore, to protect the government's image, they must be relieved of their duties," said Mosharraf.
He did not mention Asif and Mahfuj's name, but it was almost obvious who he was referring to.
"Khalilur Rahman's comments about BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday sparked fresh controversy. To protect the integrity of the government, he too must be relieved of his duties," he said.
The BNP earlier raised the demand for the removal of some advisors who are "cohorts of fascists", he said.
On Wednesday, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain during a sit-in at Kakrail intersection called for the resignation of advisers Asif and Mahfuj.
The same day, the National Citizen Party demanded the resignations of Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, and Law Adviser Asif Nazrul.
Addressing a rally in front of Election Commission's office on Wednesday, NCP's Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari said the party would stage protests to force the resignations of three advisers as their mismanagement was causing the downfall of the finance, law, and other ministries.
At yesterday's press conference, Khandaker Mosharraf said the party would be compelled to reconsider its cooperation with the government if a specific roadmap for holding the next general election within December is not announced immediately.
"We are demanding immediate announcement of a specific roadmap, and holding national elections by December 2025. The people believe that giving the highest priority to this public expectation should be the top agenda of the government.
"Otherwise, as a party of the people, it will become difficult for the BNP to continue its cooperation with this government," he said.
According to sources attending the standing committee meeting on Monday night, the party will launch street programmes to press the government to meet its demands, with plans to intensify pressure on multiple issues in July.
Responding to a journalist's question regarding the need for a smaller advisory council, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the advisers who have mired into controversy must be removed, suggesting that the number of advisers should be reduced and an election roadmap be announced soon.
"The nation expects an election in December. With that in mind, it is time to move towards a caretaker-like mode. If we are to proceed in that direction, then today's advisory council must be smaller," he added.
"We know the number of [advisers of] the caretaker government. It had 10 members. We are not insisting on that exact number, but you have to move in that direction," he added.
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