Dhaka: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the interim government should hand over power to the people through early elections.

The BNP Secretary General said this during a 48-hour program titled 'Jago Bahe, Save Teesta' across a 130-kilometer area of 5 districts along the Teesta, demanding the implementation of the Teesta Agreement and the master plan.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the program at around 2 pm on Monday (February 17) at the char adjacent to the Teesta Railway Bridge in Rangpur district.

Under the slogan 'Jago Bahe, Save Teesta', the 'Tista River Protection Movement Committee' is simultaneously holding rallies, marches and cultural performances at 11 points in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts. He inaugurated the 48-hour program.

To implement the program, a stage has been set up on the Teesta, food arrangements have been made, and tents have been pitched for overnight stays. Students, farmers, fishermen, environmental activists, teachers, doctors and members of various professional organizations have joined the rally in a row demanding the protection of the dried-up Teesta.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "Will we take the movement that is starting today to the end. Just as Maulana Bhashani started the movement to protect the Ganges, today, after many days, Asadul Habib Dulubhai has started that movement again."

He said, "The interim government calls itself a neutral government, so we must ask India for the fair water of the Teesta. Reform it quickly and hold elections. The people have not been able to vote for many years. Therefore, the people want their representatives to be sent to parliament by voting and have their demands implemented by them." Many people are told, "We vote, if we vote, the instability going on in the country will stop. The people will get representatives to speak for them."

Addressing the people present, Mirza Fakhrul said, "Nothing can be achieved without fighting. We will fight to achieve our rights and get our fair share."

The two-day program, which was announced earlier, was announced to demand the implementation of the Teesta water sharing agreement and river projects.

As part of the movement program, the Teesta River Protection Movement Committee will hold rallies, marches, and cultural performances at 11 points in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Gaibandha districts bordering the Teesta River. Among them, the Rangpur program is being held on the banks of the Teesta River adjacent to the Kaunia Railway Bridge in Rangpur and Gangachara Mohipur Bazar.

It is learned that the acting chairman of the BNP will join virtually at 11 points in 5 districts on the evening of February 18. In addition, leaders of various political parties, including the central leaders of the BNP, have come to the Teesta banks to express solidarity.

Present as guests at different spots of the rally are BNP Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, BNP Vice Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Jatiya Party Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider, Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque and Gana Sanghati Andolon Chief Coordinator Jonayed Saki.

The National Consensus Commission wants to sit with political parties as soon as possible, said the vice-chairman of the commission, Professor Dr. Ali Riaz.

He told reporters after leaving the meeting of the National Consensus Commission held at the Foreign Service Academy on Saturday (February 15) evening.

At the same time, Ali Riaz said that in today's meeting, all political parties have agreed that there is no alternative to national unity in the current situation of the country. Even all parties have agreed to cooperate with the interim government in carrying out the reform activities, and they have even said that they will participate in the government's reform activities. We think that it is the responsibility of each political party to take our reform activities forward.

He also said that a separate meeting will be held with each political party soon regarding the reports of the reform commissions.

The first meeting of the National Consensus Commission with political parties will be held today, Saturday (February 15). A 6-member delegation led by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will participate in the meeting today.

This information has been given by the BNP media cell.

According to media cell sources, along with the BNP Secretary General, the party's standing committee members Barrister Zamir Uddin Sarkar, Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salauddin Ahmed are scheduled to participate in the meeting.

The Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Professor Mia Golam Parwar, has said that elections will not be fair and acceptable without reforms.

He made this statement after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Thursday (February 13).

He said, No elections without reforms. At least all the institutions and organs involved in the election process... should be reformed and elections should be held. Give the time needed to make the elections neutral and hold the elections.

He also said, Jamaat is preparing to hold elections in 300 seats. Candidates have been finalized. There was an exchange of views on making the elections fair, neutral and participatory. There was a discussion on capacity and limitations. We have made 23-point demands.

He said, we have spoken in favor of proportional elections. This is necessary for Bangladesh, it is necessary for the functioning of the parliament. Expatriate voters should be given the opportunity to vote.

Golam Parwar said that the registration issue is pending in the court, and Jamaat hopes to get justice.

In response to a question, he said that the people's desire is for local government elections to be held earlier. The strict rules and regulations for the registration process of political parties should be abolished. Everyone has the right to do politics.