Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has said the upcoming general election will not be participatory if the BNP does not contest it.
Kazi Habibul Awal was speaking to journalists following a meeting with election officers of Barisal division in the conference room of the deputy commissioner's office on Tuesday night.
“The government thinks that a participatory election requires the involvement of the BNP. The BNP is one of the main opposition parties – the government also acknowledges that,” he said.
The chief election commissioner said he wanted polls to be competitive through the participation of all parties.
“Parliament should be formed through participation and competition. If the government is formed through that parliament, the country's democracy and electoral system will be more organized.”