BNP leader Zainul Abedin Faruk stated that as the country advances towards a free and fair election under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, some political parties are attempting to hinder the process by raising various unfounded excuses. Faruk said that friends of Jamaat-e-Islami once stood by them. Now, while the people of Bangladesh await change, opposing the election on baseless grounds is tantamount to betraying the public. Some demand a caretaker government system (PR), while others insist no election will be acceptable without constitutional amendments. These excuses lack any foundation. Faruk also praised the initiative to crack down on extortionists but urged the government to publicly reveal the list of extortionists responsible for siphoning off Tk 200 billion. He added that people are eager to know the election date. Referring to former President Shahabuddin Ahmed, who ended Ershad’s decade-long repression and conducted elections within just three months, Faruk criticized the current delay, saying that even after 11 months, no election date has been announced. He urged the government to reduce gas and essential commodity prices, take strict action against extortionists, maintain law and order, and promptly announce the election schedule.