Interim Government Speaking in Authoritarian Tone: Amir Khasru

Staff Reporter

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has accused the current interim government of displaying clear authoritarian tendencies in its statements and actions.

He stated that an unelected administration is now showing signs of turning autocratic, pushing the nation and its people toward uncertainty and instability.

Speaking as chief guest at a discussion titled “Ten Months of Interim Government: Questions of Democracy and National Security” organized by the Democratic State Council at the National Press Club on Tuesday, Amir Khasru remarked, “Thousands of administrative reforms will bear no fruit without political reforms. The people are ready for change and await it. If the government fails to deliver, public trust will erode.”

He added, “Students, citizens, BNP, and the military jointly worked to overthrow autocracy. There was collective support for a new government, with hopes that elections would restore people’s ownership of the country. Yet after ten months under this interim administration, citizens remain deprived of rights.”

Addressing the government, he said, “If you believe in democratic processes, announce a neutral electoral roadmap. Elections and judicial reforms aren’t mutually exclusive—they can proceed simultaneously. What’s there to fear? Only those disconnected from the people flee from elections.”

Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haq noted, “No visible progress has been made in prosecuting the ‘July Massacre’ despite ten months. The government’s extrajudicial interference in bypassing due process is glaring. Even the Secretariat is now tense.” He questioned, “Who authorized this overreach? Shouldn’t electoral system reforms take precedence over unwarranted meddling?”

My Bangladesh Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju observed, “This government has lost control. Their failure explains the current escape preparations. Dr. Yunus similarly speaks of retreat. Yet political parties have pledged electoral cooperation—so where’s the problem?”

Communist Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince warned, “The interim government’s recent actions threaten national security. They’ve failed to bring political stability in ten months. Their stance remains ambiguous. Though many advisory council members are experienced, do they not understand their jurisdiction?”

He further alleged, “Decisions like outsourcing university governance, corridor/port management to foreigners, even splitting NBR—all exceed mandates. First, fix the destroyed electoral system. Otherwise, the crisis will deepen.”

The event was chaired by Democratic State Council Coordinator Sheikh Abdun Nur and moderated by Member Secretary Babar Chowdhury, attended by leaders from various political parties and organizations.