Although the party is “upset” about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's statement on the next general election, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said he is still confident that a meaningful solution to the crisis over the polls can be reached though talks in a congenial atmosphere.
"People have become frustrated, surprised, and worried due to the prime minister's address to the nation. There is no clear outline in her speech on how to resolve the existing national crisis. What she has said about the next parliamentary polls is very ambiguous and confusing," he said.
Speaking at a press conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office, the BNP leader also said the prime minister should take an initiative to hold dialogues with all stakeholders if she had any new ideas on forming an election-time government.
"Our party thinks it'll be possible to get a meaningful solution to the problem over the 2018 election through talks in a cordial atmosphere. We also want to believe that it will be possible to remove the uncertainty(over the polls) prevailing in the people's minds if dialogues are held in a congenial atmosphere."
BNP had arranged the press conference to give the party’s formal reaction to the prime minister's address to the nation on Friday.
In her address to the nation, Sheikh Hasina said the next general election would be held as per the Constitution, as she expressed optimism that all the parties registered with the Election Commission would take part in the polls and uphold Bangladesh’s democratic process.
"In line with the Constitution, the 11th parliamentary elections will be held towards the end of 2018. How the election will be held is clearly stated in our Constitution. An election-time government will be formed under the Constitution, which will provide all-out cooperation to the Election Commission to conduct the election," the PM said.
Opposing the prime minister's remarks, Fakhrul said her statements will only deepen the current crisis over the election as there is clear provision in the Constitution about the election-time government.
"The next election won't be free and fair if it's held under a partisan government, keeping parliament functional as per the current Constitution, because the election time-government will be similar to the existing one if parliament remains in place," he observed.
The BNP leader also urged the Prime Minister to shun her “stubbornness” and take steps for an acceptable election under a neutral government, through discussion with the opposition parties for the sake of peace,the people's welfare and stability. "It's the only way to take Bangladesh forward. Let's play a responsible role."
He added that BNP would come up with its proposal on the election-time government at the appropriate time.
Fakhrul further claimed that there is no similarity between reality and the statistics the prime minister presented about Bangladesh's development in her address to the nation.
BNP standing committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud were present at the press briefing, among others.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
