Stressing the need for holding an acceptable national election immediately, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country but the crisis is not over yet.

“All units within the administration must be urgently reformed to prepare the country for a credible election as the crisis is not over despite Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country,” he said while addressing a programme in Gazipur.    

Pointing finger at the incumbent administration, Fakhrul said all false and politically motivated cases lodged against BNP leaders and activists across the country must be withdrawn unconditionally to create a congenial atmosphere for the national election.     

While addressing the programme organised to mark the 8th death anniversary of BNP Standing Committee member ASM Hannan Shah, he also called for the immediate withdrawal of all cases filed against BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to pave the way for his return from London.

“We want to be very clear that we, the countrymen, believe in democracy. A parliamentary government must be formed through a free and fair election, and the government will then govern the country,” the BNP secretary general said, drawing the attention of the interim government.

Claiming that his party also seeks reforms, Fakhrul said, “We want to give the interim government a reasonable time for the election, but the sooner the election is held the better it will be for the country.”

About the false and politically motivated cases lodged against BNP men, he said no conducive environment for election can be created in the country unless these cases are withdrawn unconditionally.

Referring to the misdeeds of the Awami League government, the BNP leader said around 1,000 leaders and activists of BNP were victims of enforced disappearances in the last 17 years.

Besides, around 60 lakh BNP leaders, activists and supporters were implicated in baseless and politically motivated cases during the fascist rule of the Awami League government, he said.

“No party men could sleep peacefully due to the repression and oppression of the fascist government,” Fakhrul said, adding that this very party is still engaged in hatching a conspiracy to destabilise the country’s overall situation.