Ask Mahfuj, Asif Mahmud, Khalilur to step down

BNP Chairperson's Adviser Zainul Abedin Farroque yesterday urged Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to immediately ask two advisers and the national security adviser to resign.

"Request them to step down on their own. You must drop the three," he made the remarks while speaking at a protest rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club.

BNP demands the removal of Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam, Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, arguing that this step is necessary to uphold the government's impartiality and image.

On Thursday, the party asked the government to downsize the advisory council, limit itself to routine work, and unveil a plan for the national election by December.

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"Nine months have passed, and still no polls roadmap has been announced. On whose advice? That is why our party has said the three must resign," the BNP leader added.

Addressing the chief adviser, he said, "Don't implement such reforms through which conspirators delay the election and make you unstable."

"To overcome this situation, you must announce the election roadmap today, tomorrow, or the day after.We don't want to take to the streets."

Farroque said they would be hurt if interim government chief Yunus were to leave due to this instability.

"Let your name be written in golden letters in history. You have conducted a credible election. You have ensured our right to vote. These will be in history. You will remain in our minds as a respected individual. Future generations will take pride in you."

BNP would not take responsibility for this instability, he said, adding, "You cannot blame us because we are the ones demanding an election. Carry out reforms, but don't implement such reforms through which a corridor will be given, and the Chattogram Port will be handed to others."

He stated that instability prevails in the country.

"Who are the masterminds behind it? Who is creating this? Who wants to delay the polls? These are the questions we wanted to ask you [the chief adviser]."

Farroque also reacted to media reports that "the chief adviser hinted at quitting".

"Dr Muhammad Yunus is the pride of 18 crore Bangladeshis. But I was shocked by yesterday's [Thursday] incident. I saw in newspapers -- how true it is I don't know -- that you told an NCP leader: 'I have no option but to resign'.

"I'm deeply upset hearing this. Why did we place you in this position? Have you been able to move forward in that direction over the last nine months? You have not. We want to know why."

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