BNP does not expect anything from new President Mohammed Shahabuddin as the party thinks he will not be able to play a courageous role in ensuring a credible national election.
“We know what role he [president] may play…He has no chance to go beyond the constitution and we do not think he has that courage,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Talking to reporters at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on Monday, he also said they do not have confidence in the new president.
Fakhrul said they got a little bit disappointed when Mohammed Shahabuddin was made president by the ruling party as people do not know him. “So, we cannot say much about it."
He said it is not clear to BNP as to why Awami League made Shahabuddin the 22nd president of the country. “This year's presidential appointment came as a bit of a surprise to people.“
Earlier in the day, Mohammed Shahabuddin took oath as the 22nd president of Bangladesh.
Fakhrul said people have doubts about if the new president will be able to play a role in resolving the country’s political crisis.
He said their party did not raise any questions about the background of the new president as they are not interested in him.
The BNP leader said they want to focus on the main point regarding the next national election.
“The existing election process is not democratic. Everything will become meaningless if the opposition cannot participate in the election and if an election-time impartial government is not formed. So, we are focusing on the matter,” he said.
Asked whether BNP would join if the president initiates dialogue to resolve the political crisis, he said the president has no power to do anything sidetracking the government.
"If the government wants it, the president will do it. The government has clearly said it will not engage in talks on caretaker government. So, there is no question of dialogue.”
The BNP leader said the government must accept the demand for a polls-time caretaker government if it wants to restore democracy, ensure a good future for people and avoid confrontational politics.
He also said their party will intensify the ongoing movement for forcing the government to accept their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under an interim government.
Fakhrul, however, said the country’s people will determine the nature of the movement based on the attitude of the government.
