BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi questioned the ongoing debate surrounding the sequence of elections, where some are insisting that local elections should precede parliamentary elections. Speaking on Friday afternoon at a prayer gathering in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, organized to mark Shab-e-Barat, Rizvi addressed the issue, emphasizing that such discussions are unnecessary.
He asserted that the decision of who will come to power lies with the people, and restoring this right to the public has been the focus of BNP's 17-year-long struggle. Rizvi argued that it is the responsibility of an interim government to return this power to the people. He stressed that parliamentary elections are a national election, which transfers power to politicians and derives its legitimacy from the people. Only through this process can political strength flourish, which will subsequently guide all other elections.
Criticizing the debate on whether local or parliamentary elections should come first, Rizvi used the analogy of determining whether the head or the tail is more critical, emphasizing the importance of understanding the driving force behind a system. He further warned that undermining political power could lead to the rise of extremism, which can emerge from both the left and right, urging all to remain mindful of this threat.
Publisher: Mustakim Nibir
Copyright © 2026 The Times OF Dhaka. All rights reserved.