The ruling Awami League is still not concerned over whether its arch-rival BNP is contesting the upcoming general elections or not.
The party is confident about sweeping to victory even if BNP participates in the polls and is equally hopeful of winning the elections if BNP does not contest, reports Bangla Tribune.
The ruling party does not think that the elections will not be participatory without BNP.
However, Awami League policymakers hinted that they would take up different strategies based on BNP’s participation in the elections.
If BNP does not take part in the polls, then Awami League will try to encourage all other parties registered with the Election Commission to enter the fray. But if BNP takes part, the Awami League will not bother about other parties.
According to policymakers, Awami League will not make serious efforts to convince BNP to participate in the polls. In that case, incumbent opposition Jatiya Party will be the rival of the ruling Awami League.
Other parties of the Awami League-led grand alliance will also be asked to contest separately. Moves will be made to convince a portion of BNP to take part in the elections.
All these efforts will be made in order to establish the fact at home and abroad that the elections were participatory without BNP.
According to Awami League top brass, people of the country have now got used to the elections without BNP. The party did not contest the last national election in 2014.
People will not be surprised either if BNP does not participate in the next general election scheduled to be held in December.
Awami League Presidium Member Faruk Khan said: “We will not take any initiative to convince BNP to contest the election. But we want all registered political parties to take part in the polls.”
“The Awami League does not bother which parties are contesting the election. We will definitely win no matter whether the BNP takes part in the polls or not,” said the party’s Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman.