Mirza Fakhrul speaks out on voting age, election delay, and the rise of new political parties

In a recent statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressed several pressing political issues, including the proposal to lower the minimum voting age and the ongoing delays in the election process. 

Fakhrul spoke at a discussion held by the National Democratic Party (Jagpa) on December 28, 2024, at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Controversy Over Lowering the Voting Age

Fakhrul responded to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’ suggestion of lowering the voting age to 17, calling it a “controversial” issue that had caused confusion among the public. Fakhrul emphasized that the decision about voter age should be left to the Election Commission.

“I saw in the newspapers that Dr. Yunus proposed a new idea. He suggested that the voting age should be 17.

If that’s the case, then a new voter list would need to be created,” Fakhrul explained. 

“I think it would have been better if this matter was discussed with stakeholders first, before making such an announcement. That way, there would not have been any controversy. Now, people will be more disappointed, thinking it will take more time to implement.”

Fakhrul said that discussions should have taken place with all concerned parties before such proposals were made.

Urging for a Quick Election

Fakhrul also expressed concern over the slow pace of the election process. He mentioned that there is growing anxiety among the public, with many believing that the government is intentionally delaying the elections. 

However, he clarified that this perception is not entirely true, but it has nonetheless created concerns among people.

“We are fully supporting the interim government and are ready to cooperate with them. But what we want is for elections to be held quickly. 

If the elections are delayed, it will only worsen the crisis and the various challenges facing the country,” Fakhrul added.

Fakhrul’s Comments on Dr. Yunus’ Proposal

Addressing Dr. Yunus’ proposal to lower the voting age, Fakhrul urged that the matter be left to the Election Commission to decide. “You are the Chief Executive, Dr. Yunus, but when you say something like this, it puts pressure on the Election Commission,” Fakhrul stated. 

He explained that the Election Commission should be the one to make decisions regarding the voter age, not an individual.

“If they want to propose lowering the age by one year, they should do it. But when you say it first, it creates pressure on the Election Commission,” he continued.

Concerns Over New Political Parties

Fakhrul also commented on the rise of new political parties, following a statement from Sarjess Alam, an activist from the National Citizens‍‍` Committee, who hinted at the formation of new parties in the next couple of months. 

While Fakhrul stated that there is no problem with the creation of new parties, he expressed concern about how these parties might impact the country.

“We don’t mind if more political parties are formed. If there are 100 or even 200 new parties, we have no objection,” Fakhrul said. 

“But the question is how much these parties will actually benefit the nation. Everyone needs to think about that.”

He added that people are still feeling uneasy and uncertain about the future. 

“People want reforms, but they also want peace in the markets, and they don’t want to be afraid of being killed on the streets or dying in car accidents,” Fakhrul remarked.

Call for Better Governance and Accountability

Fakhrul also urged the interim government to focus on improving governance and addressing corruption. He expressed frustration over the lack of accountability for those who have been accused of embezzling public funds.

“The government should pay more attention to governance. They haven’t even filed cases against those who looted money from banks. Instead, cases are being filed against unknown individuals,” he said.

No Objection to Reform of the Interim Government

While Fakhrul made it clear that BNP has no objection to reforms in the interim government, he stressed the importance of understanding the people’s expectations. 

“The biggest issue in Bangladesh today is instability. These problems could be reduced if we had an elected government,” Fakhrul concluded. 

“An unelected government should not stay in power for too long.”

Rising Prices and the Government’s Inaction

Fakhrul also accused the government of failing to address the rising prices of essential goods, saying, “We haven’t seen any of the government advisers going to the markets to speak with people or understand their problems.”

The discussion was chaired by Jagpa President Khondkar Lutfor Rahman, and General Secretary Zakir Hossain Riaz moderated the event. 

Several political leaders, including Mustafa Jamal Haider from the National Party (Kazi Jafar), Fariduzzaman Farhad from the National People’s Party (NPP), Aman Ullah Aman from BNP’s advisory council, Abu Taher from NDP, Syed Nazrul Islam from the Communist Party, and MN Shawon Sadeqi from NAP, participated in the event.