by Manik Miazee in Dhaka Tribune, June 19, 2017 at 08:57 PM
BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury speaks to the Dhaka Tribune’s Manik Miazee about his party’s strategy for the next general election and its ‘Vision 2030’ development plan for Bangladesh that Khosru helped design.
What are the differences between Vision 2030 and the BNP’s election manifesto?
Vision 2030 is not our election manifesto. It is our vision of Bangladesh’s future taking into account the socio-economic reality. We welcome suggestions from everyone on how to improve that vision.
It is BNP’s dream to develop the private sector, turn one party rule into a democratic government and increase production in Bangladesh.
This is not an unachievable vision. We think it is very attainable and can be successfully implemented, unlike the Awami League’s vision that they call Roopkolpo 2021/2041. Theirs is an entirely impractical development plan; ours is not a dream but an achievable future plan for Bangladesh.
How does Vision 2030 differ from the Awami League’s Roopkolpo 2041?
There are many differences. The road-map of Awami League’s vision is a three-page long plan that does not describe the means of income acquisition and expenditure.
But the BNP’s Vision 2030 clearly states where ours will come from, what we will invest in and it is open for public discourse. All worthy suggestions will be incorporated into our vision.
Why has the BNP-led alliance member Jamaat-e-Islami not been involved in the Vision 2030 programme? Has the BNP distanced itself from Jamaat?
Because the vision is BNP’s. It has nothing to do with the alliance. We invited political parties, members of the civil society, diplomats and others.
We have not distanced ourselves from our alliance member.
How well is the BNP prepared for the next national election?
The BNP is always prepared for contesting the election, provided that is it a free and fair one that reflects the people’s wishes.
What is BNP’s plan in participating in the next election?
The election is a fundamental issue, it is not a party issue. If a party forcefully calls an election and the people must obey, then its not a good political environment. People are losing faith in the electoral system as it is broken now.
If the election commission organises an election in this broken system, then the people will not accept the results.
The 2014 election was questionable from all aspects, and for this, we demand changes in the electoral system to hold a free, fair, credible and acceptable election.
First, the government should change the election system and then provide an election road-map. Pragmatically, incorporating the election system with the constitution, the results of which can not be questioned in future.
If the ruling party held an election without paying heed to the nationwide concerns, then the BNP will not participate in that election. The country is not obligated to partake in that election, either. We are not participating to feed into the one-party power structure that exists now.
Party insiders say that BNP is feuding at the grassroots level causing all the party’s initiatives to fail. What do you make of that claim?
This is a matter of maintaining a democratic environment and norms, which is absent in Bangladesh. When a political opponent is a state terrorist, then it becomes difficult to be engaged in politics.
This is not a normal environment to do politics in this country, where we face forced disappearances, torture, killings and homes [of opposition leaders and activists] raided on a regular basis.
People are not allowed to exercise their democratic right. This is why the BNP and other political parties cannot hold programmes. Not because of internal feuds.
The government has taken away human rights, civic rights, eroded the rule of law and has suppressed press freedom. We do not hold programmes precisely for this reason, to protect our lives.
Why does your party allege that the Awami League is using the Election Commission for its own advantage?
There is no question that the Awami League is doing so. They have completely broken down the EC. If the EC really wanted to, then they can conduct a free and fair transparent election.
The country does not trust this government or its ability to hold a neutral election. If they want to regain that trust then they have to let the EC do its job and that is to organise a free and fair election.
If BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is convicted by the court then who will be the next party chief?
That is the central question that the BNP is wrestling with right now. The party will take a decision when the time comes.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/2017/06/19/vision-2030-bnps-vision-bangladeshs-future/
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