Senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas on Thursday issued a blunt ultimatum to the interim government: stop playing favorites and schedule a national election now.
He warned that if the public even thinks the government is biased, it will only spark more unrest and destroy what little trust people have left.
Speaking briefly before inaugurating a silent procession in Dhaka, Abbas appealed for balanced governance. “We would like to tell the interim government—please, stop showing biased behaviour. This is harming the country,” he said.
The procession was part of a 36-day programme commemorating the July-August mass uprising. It was held in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
Call for Fair Play
Abbas emphasized that BNP is not opposing the interim government but has chosen to cooperate. He urged the authorities to reciprocate by arranging an election.
“We are still supporting you,” he said. “So, please, arrange a national election very soon. If an election is held, the ongoing unrest will cool down. But if not, people will believe you are keeping things unstable to hold on to power.”
He also pushed back against recent comments by some political figures suggesting BNP would soon disappear. “They want to erase BNP,” Abbas said. “I say to them, hold your tongue. It will be better for you, better for the country, and better for the people.”
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Reaction to Political Attacks
Frustrated by recent comments from opponents, Abbas called their remarks “nonsense” and warned they risk fueling public resentment and dividing the nation.
“You are trying to pick a fight with BNP,” he said. “But BNP will not engage in quarrels. BNP is not a party of chaos. BNP is a democratic party that fights for democracy and stands with the people.”
Referencing the events of 5 August, Abbas questioned the bold tone taken by some politicians. “I don’t know what they found or where they got their courage from,” he said. “We hope you grow strong and brave, but please, don’t spread baseless rumours and slander against a truly patriotic party like BNP.”
On Violence and Street Politics
Abbas also brought up the recent killing of a scrap trader in Mitford, allegedly linked to a local Jubo Dal leader. He claimed that some are using the incident to justify attempts to marginalize BNP and seize political space.
“BNP has been on the streets for 17 years, fighting for democratic rights and the right to vote,” Abbas said. “Now you want to erase BNP and take power. That’s not going to happen.”
He warned that any plan to sideline BNP would be met with resistance. “As long as even one BNP leader or activist is alive, your dream of eliminating BNP will never come true.”
Martyrs of July Remembered
At the beginning of his speech, Abbas paid tribute to the martyrs of the July uprising, offering prayers for their souls. He criticized unnamed political actors for, in his words, trying to use the martyrs’ legacy for narrow political advantage rather than working together to rebuild democracy.
“These martyrs deserve more than to be used for positioning,” he said. “They died for a cause, and we must stay true to that cause.”
Following the speech, BNP activists marched through several major intersections in Dhaka, ending the silent procession near Abul Hotel.
