BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has stated that if the public loses faith in the electoral process, the interim government must take full responsibility. He made this remark while addressing a BNP-organized rally at the Municipal Mukta Mancha in Brahmanbaria on Monday (February 24) afternoon as the chief guest.

Amir Khasru emphasized that the current interim government enjoys broad support as it was necessary to restore democratic norms following the downfall of a fascist regime. He argued that the primary role of such an interim administration is to ensure free and fair elections and to transfer power to an elected government. However, if this government fails to uphold public trust in the electoral process, they alone must bear the consequences.

Highlighting the repression faced by BNP leaders and activists over the past 16 years, he recalled incidents of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and brutal crackdowns. He pointed out that BNP members were among the most affected during the July-August movements, with many killed and others left permanently injured. He also criticized what he described as an attempt to sideline BNP’s role in past democratic struggles, suggesting that some student leaders were trying to hijack the movement’s narrative.

Regarding the rising cost of living and deteriorating law and order, Amir Khasru expressed skepticism about the interim government’s ability to address these issues. He insisted that only a government elected by the people, and accountable to them, could effectively tackle such problems. He further claimed that stability and tolerance in governance were hallmarks of BNP’s rule, whereas previous Awami League-led governments were not democratically elected, leading to skyrocketing prices and worsening law and order conditions.

The rally was organized to address various public demands, including improvements in law enforcement and the announcement of a clear electoral roadmap. Presided over by district BNP Convener Abdul Mannan, the event was also attended by several prominent BNP leaders, including Barrister Rumeen Farhana, BNP’s Central Economic Affairs Secretary Khaled Hossain Mahmud Shyamal, and Cumilla Divisional Organizing Secretary Principal Mohammad Selim Bhuiyan.

Meanwhile, BNP activists from different upazilas, along with members of affiliated organizations such as Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Olama Dal, participated in the rally with processions, demonstrating strong grassroots support for the party’s demands.